Glutathione is an intracellular reducing agent. It is synthesized by a two step reaction catalyzed by γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase (γGCS) and glutathione synthetase.γGCS, which is the rate limiting enzyme in the synthesis of glutathione, is inhibited specifically by buthionine sulfoximine (BSO). The enzyme was partially purified from the parasitic nematode Brugia malayi, the causative agents of lymphatic filaraiasis. BSO inhibits the enzyme activity in an irreversible manner. The Brugia enzyme was found to be 24-fold more sensitive to BSO than its mammalian counterparts. The inhibitor was also found effective in depleting the glutathione contents of the parasites with low concentration. The results may conclude that γGCS is a potential target for the development of drugs against filariasis.

Title

An-Najah Univ. J. res. (N. Sc.), Vol. 19, 83-90

Publisher

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Publisher Country

Palestine

Publication Type

Both (Printed and Online)

Volume

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Year

2005

Pages

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