title: Plasma methionine and cysteine kinetics in response to an intravenous glutathione infusion in adult humans.
abstract: Glutathione (GSH), a tripeptide (gamma-glutamyl-cysteinyl-glycine), is thought to be both a storage and a transport form of cysteine (Cys). In a previous study (T. Hiramatsu, N.K. Fukagawa, J.S. Marchini, J. Cortiella, Y.-M. Yu, T.E. Chapman, and V.R. Young. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 60: 525-533, 1994), the direct tracer-derived estimate of Cys flux was considerably higher than that predicted from estimates of protein turnover. To further examine the components of plasma Cys flux, seven normal-weight healthy adult men and women (26 +/- 2 yr) received stable isotope tracer infusions of L-[methyl-2H3;1-13C]methionine, L-[3,3-2H2]cysteine, and L-[methyl-2H3]leucine for 460 min. After a 3-h baseline period, GSH was administered at approximately 32 mumol.kg-1.h-1 until the end of the study. Expired breath and blood samples were obtained at timed intervals and analyzed for isotope enrichment using mass spectrometry. Leucine, alpha-ketoisocaproate, and methionine (carboxyl carbon, methyl moiety, remethylation, and transsulfuration) turnover were reduced during GSH administration (P < 0.01). In the final hour of GSH administration, Cys flux increased by 61% from 55.1 +/- 1.7 to 88.7 +/- 5.2 mumol.kg-1.h-1 (P < 0.01), which was essentially equivalent to the rate of exogenous GSH infusion. These data suggest that GSH breakdown accounts for approximately 50% of tracer-derived Cys flux basally and for all of the increase in measured Cys turnover during exogenous GSH infusion.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Center, Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10021, USA.
authors.forename: N K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Fukagawa
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ajami
authors.forename: V R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Young
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003545:Cysteine / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005978:Glutathione / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007700:Kinetics; D007930:Leucine / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008715:Methionine / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D008715:Methionine; D005978:Glutathione; D007930:Leucine; D003545:Cysteine