Open AccessEvidence that the gamma-glutamyl cycle functions in vivo using intracellular glutathione: effects of amino acids and selective inhibition of enzymes.
Author(s) -
Owen W. Griffith,
Richard J. Bridges,
Alton Meister
Publication year - 1978
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.75.11.5405
Subject(s) - glutathione , amino acid , biochemistry , in vivo , enzyme , intracellular , gamma glutamyltransferase , biology , metabolism , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology
The function of the gamma-glutamyl cycle was explored in in vivo studies in which amino acids and specific inhibitors of cycle enzymes (gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, gamma-glutamyl cyclotransferase, gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase, and 5-oxoprolinase) were administered to mice. The findings, which show that the gamma-glutamyl cycle functions in vivo, support the conclusion that gamma-glutamyl amino acids formed by gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase from externally supplied amino acids and intracellular glutathione are translocated into the cell and thus indicate that there is a significant physiological connection between the metabolism of glutathione and the transport of amino acids.