Biosynthesis of glutathione

Glutathione is the most abundant small molecule thiol compound in the cells. Glutathione is a major component of the intracellular non-protein sulfhydryl groups. It has a variety of important physiological functions in living tissue. Meanwhile, glutathione participates in redox reactions within the cell. It is the coenzyme of some certain enzymes and plays an active role in some sulfhydryl enzyme. It provides with the restored thiol to make sulfhydryl enzyme and protein thiol stabile. It is an antioxidant to protect enzymes and other proteins sulfhydryl group. In addition, it also involves in transportation of transmembrane amino acid by intracellular metabolic cycle.

Glutathione plays an important role in the removal of cells outside foreign body detoxification and hydroxy peroxides, free radicals and electrophilic reagents; protect cells against oxidative damage of the formation of reactive oxygen species in normal and UV light and derivatives. Therefore, GSH is one of the key materials of the cells against damage and metabolic regulation. Although a large number of reports on GSH metabolism and function in mammals, but less for GSH in the body's metabolism and function of microbial research, therefore, research in this area need to be strengthened. GSH clinically for: detoxification of acrylonitrile, fluoride, carbon monoxide, heavy metals, organic solvent poisoning; prevent hemolysis, reduce methemoglobin loss; for radiation, radiopharmaceuticals or oncology drug-induced leukopenia play a protective role, in combination with anticancer drugs that inhibit the liver tumor; to correct the acetylcholine, the imbalance of fat alkaline esterase. It played anti-allergic effects. People may buy glutathione to ease the discomfort caused by anoxemia, nausea and liver disease. It can prevent the development of cataracts, cornea treatment; skin pigmentation and improves skin luster.

Japan and other countries have GSH as a biologically active additives to actively develop GSH health food products and widely used in food processing areas. At present, its growing interest in the food additives industry, clinical and sports nutrition. In recent years, with the extensive application of GSH in various fields, and its manufacturing method has been studied extensively. GSH in manufacturing is divided into chemical synthesis, fermentation and enzymatic. At present, the chemical synthesis and extract rich intracellular GSH in yeast cells, GSH has been industrialized. Enzymatic Synthesis of ongoing extensive research has not yet used for commercial production of GSH. Glutathione synthesis is the need for an effective ATP regeneration system. Activity of the microbial cell synthesis of glutathione is relatively low; enzyme required for synthesis of glutathione intracellular content is generally lower, and the biosynthetic pathway by microorganisms as well as glutathione restore or feedback inhibition of oxidized glutathione; degradation of glycylglycine side effects. Once solved the above problems, the microorganisms can be used in production of pharmaceutical raw materials glutathione.

Strains currently glutathione biosynthesis, a yeast-based, and has made a lot of work for people breeding strains, fermentation conditions. But the mechanism of bacterial synthesis of GSH influence of various factors is still not clear, and intracellular GSH content is not high. As the use of E. coli production of GSH production rate to be higher than the production of yeast extract, acetyl phosphate can be obtained by chemical synthesis, so E. coli is becoming a research hotspot of GSH overproducing strain. GSH in the selection of the strains of E. coli recombinant DNA technology compared to the yeast is much more mature, so the use of E. coli production has its unique advantages.

Of course, works in use of recombinant DNA technology to improve the yield of yeast GSH is also underway. But they have not yet reached the mass production level. Meanwhile, in order to improve the catalytic activity of micro-organisms or enzymes, continuous production and study of immobilized cells or immobilized enzyme are also important directions. In addition, establishing a set of GSH production process, using automatic control technology, detecting and controlling the fermentation process to optimize the production process and obtain the maximum accumulation of GSH will be the focus of future research.
Source:http://www.cospcn.com