title: Metabolism of methyl chloride by human erythrocytes.
abstract: Erythrocyte cytoplasm of rats, mice and humans was incubated in head space vials with methyl chloride and the decline in concentration of the substance monitored as a parameter of metabolism. The production of S-methylglutathione was controlled by tlc. Rats, mice, bovines, pigs, sheep and rhesus monkeys showed no conversion of methyl chloride in erythrocyte cytoplasm. About 60% of the human blood samples showed a significant metabolic elimination of the substance (conjugators), whereas about 40% did not (non-conjugators). The production of S-methylglutathione indicated enzymatic metabolism of the substance by glutathione S-transferases. In literature, a "major" and "minor" form of human erythrocyte glutathione S-transferase has been described. The results indicate that the "minor" form is probably responsible for the unique metabolism of methyl chloride in human erythrocytes.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Arbeitsphysiologie, Universität Dortmund, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Peter
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Deutschmann
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Reichel
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hallier
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008297:Male; D008737:Methyl Chloride / Q000097:blood*; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012756:Sheep; D013045:Species Specificity; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D008737:Methyl Chloride; D005978:Glutathione