Catalyzes the cleavage of the cysteine-S bond in various cysteine-S-conjugates (PubMed:17191898, PubMed:18515361). Cleaves L-cystathionine, as well as S-substituted cysteine conjugates S-benzyl-L-cysteine and S-ethyl-L-cysteine (PubMed:17191898). Releases four human body odoriferous sulfanylalkanols: 3-methyl-3-sulfanylhexan-1-ol (3M3SH), 3-sulfanylhexan-1-ol, 2-methyl-3-sulfanylbutan-1-ol and 3-sulfanylpentan-1-ol; the release is obtained after the sequential hydrolysis of the Cys-Gly bond of the odorless Cys-Gly-S-conjugate precursors by the dipeptidase TpdA, then the cleavage of the resulting Cys-S-conjugates by MetC (PubMed:17191898, PubMed:18515361). an S-substituted L-cysteine + H2O = a thiol + NH4(+) + pyruvate H2O + S-(1-hydroxy-3-methylhexan-3-yl)-L-cysteine = 3-methyl-3-sulfanylhexan-1-ol + NH4(+) + pyruvate H2O + S-3-(hexan-1-ol)-L-cysteine = 3-sulfanyl-1-hexanol + NH4(+) + pyruvate H2O + S-(4-hydroxy-3-methylbutan-2-yl)-L-cysteine = 2-methyl-3-sulfanylbutan-1-ol + NH4(+) + pyruvate 3-sulfanylpentan-1-ol-L-cysteine + H2O = 3-sulfanyl-1-pentanol + NH4(+) + pyruvate H2O + L,L-cystathionine = L-homocysteine + NH4(+) + pyruvate H2O + S-benzyl-L-cysteine = benzylthiol + NH4(+) + pyruvate H2O + S-ethyl-L-cysteine = ethanethiol + NH4(+) + pyruvate Belongs to the class-II pyridoxal-phosphate-dependent aminotransferase family. MalY/PatB cystathionine beta-lyase subfamily.