Role of the N-terminus of glutathione in the action of yeast glyoxalase I

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Abstract
A number of S-substituted glutathiones and the corresponding N-substituted S-substituted analogs are linear competitive inhibitors of yeast glyoxalase I at 26.degree. C over the pH range 4.6-8.5. N-Acetylation of S-(p-bromobenzyl)glutathione weakens binding by 13.7-fold, N-benzoylation by 25.6-fold, N-trimethylacetylation by 53.3-fold and N-carbobenzoxylation by 7.8-fold, indicating a minor steric component in the binding at the N-site. The Ki-weakening effect of N-substitution of glutathione depends on the chemical nature of the S-substituent, indicating flexibility in the glutathione and/or glyoxalase I contributions to the binding site for glutathione derivatives. The effect of N-acylation on Ki is in accord with a charge interaction of the free enzyme with S-blocked glutathione in a region of reasonably high dielectric constant. There is a slight pH effect on Ki for S-(m-trifluoromethylbenzyl)glutathione but not for S-(p-bromobenzyl)glutathione.