A Selenium Analog of Glutathione. Synthesis and Applications

Abstract

Selenoglutathione (GSeH) is a water-soluble tripeptide, in which the sulfur atom of biologically important reductant glutathione (GSH) is replaced by a selenium atom, and exhibits a higher reducing activity than GSH. In this review, we overview the research on this selenium analogue of glutathione and look ahead to future research directions. Both solid-phase and liquid-phase methods can be used to chemically synthesize selenoglutathione diselenide (GSeSeG), the oxidized form of GSeH. Lesser amounts of GSeH are also found in the metabolic products of yeast and certain plants (garlic, sunflower sprouts, etc.) grown in a high-selenium medium. In the meantime, a biological method for the synthesis of GSeH using mutated yeast has recently been reported. Various applications of selenoglutathione in the field of biochemistry have already been explored. It has been reported that GSeSeG is an efficient catalyst for the oxidative folding of proteins. GSeSeG is also an excellent radical scavenger and potential detoxifier of intracellular xenobiotics. Recently, it has also been reported that GSeSeG has stress-reducing and antibacterial properties. Because GSeSeG has low toxicity, its unique reactivity is expected to be widely applied in the fields of applied biology and medicine.