Abstract
This chapter presents the chemistry and properties of glutathione (GSH). GSH is ubiquitous in nature and is found in all living cells in more or less high concentration. GSH is a colorless crystalline compound melting at 195°C without decomposition. The SH-compound is relatively easily soluble in water, liquid NH3, and dimethylformamide and rather soluble in alcohol-water mixtures. The chemical properties of GSH may be summarized as (1) those of an acid, (2) those of α-aminocarboxylic acid, (3) those of a peptide, (4) reactivity peculiar to the presence of the rare γ-glutamyl linkage, and (5) reactivity because of its mercaptan nature. The peptide nature of GSH is proved by a positive biuret reaction. The other product of GSH-autohydrolysis, cysteinylglycine, undergoes cyclization when heated or on standing at room temperature.
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