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Glutathione

Glutathione is glutamylcysteinylglycine, a tripeptide. It contains an unusual peptide linkage between the amine group of cysteine and the carboxyl group of the glutamate side chain.

Sulfhydryl is kept in a reduced state within ~5 mm in animal cells. In effect, gluathione reduces any disulfide bonds formed within cytoplasmic proteins to cysteines by acting as a buffer.

Glutathione participates in leucotriene synthesis and is a cofactor for the enzyme glutathione peroxidase.