Glutathione

Description

Glutathione (GSH, L-Glutathione reduced) is an endogenous tripeptide composed of glutamate, cysteine, and glycine (γ-L-Glutamyl-L-cysteinyl-glycine), with the molecular formula C₁₀H₁₇N₃O₆S, a molecular weight of 307.32 Da, and CAS number 70-18-8. As the most abundant low-molecular-weight thiol in mammalian cells, glutathione is the principal intracellular antioxidant and plays a central role in maintaining cellular redox homeostasis. GSH functions as a cofactor for glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in the reduction of hydrogen peroxide and lipid hydroperoxides, as a substrate for glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) in Phase II xenobiotic conjugation and detoxification, and as a modulator of the thiol-disulfide exchange cycle via glutathione reductase (GR) and the GSSG/GSH redox couple.

In laboratory research, glutathione is utilized in oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging assays, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase kinetic studies, Phase II detoxification enzyme activity measurements, thiol-disulfide redox potential determinations, mitochondrial membrane integrity and apoptosis pathway investigations, and cellular GSH/GSSG ratio quantification via HPLC or enzymatic recycling methods. Researchers also employ glutathione in studies of NF-κB redox-sensitive transcription factor regulation, protein glutathionylation as a post-translational modification, and age-related decline in intracellular thiol pools.

Supplied as a lyophilized powder with ≥98% purity verified by HPLC. For storage and handling conditions, refer to the Certificate of Analysis provided with each lot. This product is intended strictly for laboratory research use only (RUO) and is not for human consumption, therapeutic use, or any diagnostic purposes.