The biochemistry of endogenous organosulphur compounds

The role and metabolism of methionine and cysteine in mammals are described. An outline of the history of glutathione, of its function in maintaining the thiol status of the cell and of its protective action against oxidative stress, is given. The importance of glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidases, glutathione-S-transferases in endogenous metabolism and of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase is described. The relationship between cysteine and glutathione is considered together with the inter-organ translocation of glutathione and its metabolism.