What is Glutathione (GSH)?
Biochemistry and Metabolism: Reduced Glutathione (GSH) is a linear tripeptide of L-glutamine, L-cysteine, and glycine. Technically N-L-gamma-glutamyl-cysteinyl glycine or L-Glutathione, the molecule has a sulfhydryl (SH) group on the cysteinyl portion, which accounts for its strong electron-donating character. As electrons are lost, the molecule becomes oxidized, and two such molecules become linked (dimerized) by a disulfide bridge to form Glutathione disulfide or oxidized Glutathione (GSSG). This linkage is reversible upon re-reduction. Glutathione is under tight homeostatic control both intracellularly and extracellularly. A dynamic balance is maintained between GSH synthesis, it’s recycling from GSSG/oxidized Glutathione, and its utilization. Glutathione synthesis involves two closely linked, enzymatically-controlled reactions that utilize ATP. First, cysteine and glutamate are combined by gamma-glutamyl cysteinyl synthetase. Second, GSH synthetase combines gamma-glutamylcysteine w
