Glutathione 1500mg

Overview

Glutathione (GSH) is a tripeptide composed of glutamate, cysteine and glycine, and is the most abundant non-protein thiol in mammalian cells, typically present at millimolar concentrations. The unusual γ-peptide bond between glutamate and cysteine makes GSH resistant to most peptidases. Its reduced (GSH) and oxidized (GSSG) forms constitute the cell’s principal redox buffer.

Acu Aminos supplies reduced glutathione as a 1500 mg lyophilized powder for laboratory redox, enzymology and cell-culture research.

Chemistry & specifications

GSH is synthesized in two ATP-dependent steps: glutamate-cysteine ligase forms γ-glutamylcysteine, and glutathione synthetase adds glycine. The free thiol of the cysteine residue is the reactive center, serving as a nucleophile in conjugation reactions and as an electron donor for glutathione peroxidases. Two GSH molecules oxidize to glutathione disulfide (GSSG), which is recycled by NADPH-dependent glutathione reductase.

Cellular structure & mechanism of action

Inside the cell, GSH participates in three broad classes of reactions: direct scavenging of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, enzymatic reduction of peroxides via glutathione peroxidases, and conjugation of electrophiles by glutathione S-transferases for export and excretion. Protein S-glutathionylation, the reversible attachment of GSH to protein cysteines, is a recognized redox-signaling mechanism that modulates enzyme activity and transcription-factor function.

The GSH/GSSG ratio is widely used as an experimental readout of cellular oxidative stress, and exogenous GSH is a common positive control in antioxidant-capacity and cytoprotection assays.

Research applications

• Cellular redox-state and GSH/GSSG ratio assays
• Glutathione peroxidase, reductase and S-transferase enzymology
• Xenobiotic conjugation and detoxification pathway studies
• Oxidative-stress and cytoprotection cell-culture models
• Analytical reference standard for HPLC and LC-MS methods

Selected references

1. Meister A, Anderson ME. Glutathione. Annu Rev Biochem. 1983;52:711–760.
2. Wu G, Fang YZ, Yang S, Lupton JR, Turner ND. Glutathione metabolism and its implications for health. J Nutr. 2004;134(3):489–492.
3. Forman HJ, Zhang H, Rinna A. Glutathione: overview of its protective roles, measurement, and biosynthesis. Mol Aspects Med. 2009;30(1–2):1–12.

References are provided to help researchers locate primary literature. Acu Aminos makes no claims about the safety or efficacy of any compound in humans or animals.