Abstract
Cell-free extracts of Escherichia coli synthesize glutathione from glutamic acid, cysteine and glycine in the presence of K phosphate, hexose diphosphate, adenosine triphosphate, diphosphopyridine nucleotide and Mg ions. Results of kinetic studies on the reaction are given. Penicillin, bacitracin, Terramycin, aureomycin, chloramphenicol, neomycin, polymyxin, streptomycin, and dihydrostreptomycin, have no effect on the synthesis at concns. of 100 [mu]g./ml.