The formation of mercapturic acids. 2. The possible role of glutathionase

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Abstract
The effect of liver preparations and of glutathionase on S-(p-chlorobenzyl) glutathione was studied. S-(p-Chlorobenzyl)glutathione was hydrolyzed to S-(p-chlorobenzyl)cysteine by slices of guinea-pig liver, by homo-genates of guinea-pig, rat and rabbit liver and by a preparation of glutathionase from hog kidney. Glycine was liberated simultaneously and its determination provided a convenient method for the quantitative study of the reaction. The results obtained are compatible with the hypothesis that the hydrolysis of S-(p-chlorobenzyl)glutathione to S-(p-chlorobenzyl)cysteine is a stage in the formation of mercapturic acid from p-chlorobenzyl chloride in vivo. S-(p-Chlorobenzyl)Glutathione was readily hydrolyzed by extracts of rat small intestine. Although guinea-pig liver is richer than is rabbit or rat liver in glutathionase, the guinea pig does not in general form as large amounts of mercapturic acid from various mercapturic acid precursors as do the other two species.