Open AccessGlutathione Turnover in the Kidney; Considerations Relating to the γ-Glutamyl Cycle and the Transport of Amino Acids
Author(s) -
Ronald D. Sekura,
Alton Meister
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.71.8.2969
Subject(s) - glutathione , kidney , amino acid , biochemistry , glutamate receptor , protein turnover , in vivo , chemistry , biology , enzyme , medicine , endocrinology , protein biosynthesis , receptor , microbiology and biotechnology
The overall turnover of glutathione in kidney and liver was determined in studies in which L-[14 C]glutamate was administered to mice. Turnover was much more rapid (about 5 times greater) in kidney than in liver. Studies were also carried out in which 5-oxo-L-[14 C]proline was administered; the first order rate constants for glutathione synthesis from 5-oxoproline in liver and kidney were not far from those found for synthesis of glutathione from glutamate in these tissues. The findings are in accord with the fact that the activities of the enzymes of the γ-glutamyl cycle are much higher in kidney than in liver. The findings of high turnover of glutathione in kidney and the rapid utilization of 5-oxoproline by this organ for glutathione synthesis are consistent with the function of the γ-glutamyl cyclein vivo and the proposed role of γ-glutamyl derivatives in amino-acid transport.