Glutathione and Sulfur Amino Acids in Human Health and Disease

by Roberta Masella; Giuseppe Mazza

• ISBN13: 9780470475966
• ISBN10: 047047596X
• Format: eBook
• Copyright: 2009-08-01
• Publisher: Wiley

Summary

The complex roles of glutathione and sulfur amino acids in human healthGlutathione (γ-L-glutamyl-L-cysteinylglycine, GSH) is a major antioxidant acting as a free radical scavenger that protects the cell from reactive oxygen species (ROS). Sulfur amino acids (SAAs), such as methionine and cysteine, play a critical role in the maintenance of health. GSH depletion as well as alterations of SAA metabolism are linked to a host of disease states including liver cirrhosis, various pulmonary diseases, myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury, aging, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, sepsis, and others. This book provides researchers with a comprehensive review of the biochemistry, absorption, metabolism, biological activities, disease prevention, and health promotion of glutathione and sulfur amino acids.The twenty-two chapters explore such topics as: Chemistry, absorption, transport, and metabolism of GSH and sulfur amino acidsAntioxidant and detoxification properties of GSH and sulfur amino acids, highlighting the enzymatic systems involved in antioxidant defensesBiological activities of GSH and sulfur amino acids and their role in modulating cell processesRole of GSH and sulfur amino acid deficiency and alteration in the onset of diseases and in agingProtective effects exerted by GSH and sulfur amino acids when used as drugs, functional foods, and nutraceuticals in humans and animalsSpecial attention is paid to the molecular mechanisms for the modulation of transcription factors and enzyme activities, as well as the nutritional and therapeutic significance of dietary sulfur amino acids as shown in human and animal models.With more than 2,000 scientific references, this book provides food scientists, nutritionists, biochemists, food technologists, chemists, molecular biologists, and public health professionals with a comprehensive and up-to-date examination of glutathione and sulfur amino acids in human health and disease.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Glutathione and sulfur-containing amino acids- An Overview

Introduction

Why sulfur-containing amino acids?

S-adenosylmethionine, nature's wonder cofactor

Glutathione

Taurine- the second essential sulfur-containing amino acid?

Conclusions

References

Chemistry and Metabolism of Gsh and Sulfur Amino Acids

Sulfur amino acid content of dietary proteins, daily intake and requirements

Introduction

Sulfur amino acid (SAA) content of dietary proteins

Sulfur amino acid intake

Nutritional requirement for total SAA

Conclusions

References

Cellular compartmentalization of Glutathione

Introduction

Glutathione content in cells

References

Intestinal Metabolism of sulfur amino acids, Nancy Benight

Introduction

Isotopic approach to study metabolism

Evidence of gut sulfur amino acid metabolism

Other key players in intestinal sulfur amino acid metabolism

Cysteine function and oxidant stress in the gut

Pathophysiology of sulfur amino acid metabolism in the GIT

Conclusions

References

Hepatic metabolism of sulfur amino acids

Introduction

Dietary relation between methionine and cysteine

Metabolic relation between hepatic sulfur amino acids, B-vitamins, and methyl group metabolism

Regulation of sulfur amino acid metabolism and related metabolic pathways in the liver

Impact of physiologic and nutritional factors on sulfur amino acid metabolism

Conclusions

References

Antioxidant and Detoxification Activities

Glutathione and sulfur containing amino acids- antioxidant and conjugation activities

Introduction

Reactive Oxigen Species and Antioxidants

Glutathione redox cycle

Regulation of GSH and cysteine levels

Biotransformation

ROS mediated cellular signaling

Transcription regulation of antioxidant and conjugation enzymes

Oxidative stress and diseases

References

Glutaredoxin and thioredoxin enzyme systems: catalityc mechanisms and physiological functions

Introduction

General characteristics of glutaredoxins

General characteristic of thioredoxins

Glutaredoxin mechanism of action

Thioredoxin mechanism of action

Control of GRx expression

Control of TRx expression in mammalian systems

Cellular functions of GRx

Cellular functions of TRx

TRx-mediated inhibition of apoptosis

Reversible sulfhydryl oxidation and disease

Conclusions

References

Methionine sulfoxide reductases: a protective system against oxidative damage

Introduction

History of the Msr system

MsrA and MsrB Protein structure and mechanism of action

Msr reducing requirement

Other members of the Msr family

The Msr system: both a repair enzyme and a scavenger of ROS

Genetic studies on the role of the Msr system in protecting cells against oxidative damage

Evidence that oxidative damage is a major factor in aging: role of mitochondria and the Msr system

How can the Msr system be utilized for drug development

Methionine sulfoxide and disease

References

Bioactivity of Gsh and Sulfur Amino Acids as Regulators of Cellular Processes

Regulation of protein function by glutathionylation

Introduction

Glutathione and redox regulation in immunity

Protein cysteine oxidation

Mechanisms for PSSG formation and the complex scenario of protein

De-glutathionylation

Identification of proteins undergoing glutathionylation

Functional consequences of protein glutathionylation

Structural changes induced by protein glutathionylation

Conclusions

References

GSH, sulfur amino acids and apoptosis

Summary

Introduction

Synthesis and functions of GSH

Apoptosis: a programmed mode to die

Role of GSH and cysteine in apoptosis

Sulfur amino acids in apoptosis

Concluding remarks and recent progresses

References

Methionine oxidation: implication in protein regulation, aging and aging-associated diseases

Introduction

The methionine sulfoxide reductase system

Methionine sulfoxide reductase and selenium

Methionine sulfoxide reductase A knockout mouse as a model for neurodegenerative diseases

Regulation of protein expression/function by the methionine sulfoxide reductase system

Conclusions

References

Sulfur amino acids, glutathione and immune function

The biochemistry of sulfur amino acids

Sulfur amino acid and glutathione metabolism following infection and injury

Glutathione and the immune system

Mechanism of the effect of oxidants and antioxidants on inflammation and immune function

Strategies for modulating tissue glutathione content and influencing immune function

Taurine and immune function

Conclusions

References

Gsh and Sulfur Amino Acids in Pathological Processes

Sulfur amino acid deficiency and toxicity: research with animal models

Introduction

Sulfur amino acid deficiency

Sulfur amino acid toxicity

References

Human pathologies and aberrant sulfur metabolism

Introduction

Biosynthesis and metabolism of methionine and cysteine

Defects in the transulfuration pathway

Inherited defects in membrane transport

Pathologies associated with folic acid metabolizing enzymes

Heterogeneity of GSH metabolizing enzymes and associated human pathologies

References

Inborn errors of GSH metabolism

Introduction

Definitions

The ?-Glutamyl Cycle

Inborn Errors in the Metabolism of GSH

Animal Models

References

Homocysteine metabolism and pathological implications: the homocysteine thiolactone hypothesis of vascular disease

Introduction

An overview of Hcy metabolism

Toxicity of Hcy and its metabolites

Physical-chemical properties of Hcy-thiolactone

The mechanism of Hcy-thiolactone biosynthesis

Structural and functional consequences of protein modification by Hcy-thiolactone

The Hcy-thiolactone hypothesis of vascular disease

Pathophysiological consequences of protein N-homocysteinylation

Urinary elimination of Hcy-thiolactone

Enzymatic elimination of Hcy-thiolactone

Conclusions

References

Homocysteine and Cardiovascular disease

Introduction

Homocysteine metabolism

Homocysteine forms in vivo

Homocysteine measurement

Causes of hyperhomocysteinemia

Therapeutic options for lowering elevated homocysteine

Epidemiologic evidence linking homocysteine and atherothrombotic vascular disease

Homocysteine and Atherothrombosis: pathophysiologic mechanisms

Impact of Homocysteine-lowering therapy on atherothrombotic vascular disease

Recommendations

References

Homocysteine and neurological disorders

Introduction

What is an 'abnormal' plasma homocysteine level in clinic al studies of neurological disease?

Elevated plasma homocysteine and risk of carotid atherosclerosis

Hyperhomocysteinemia and the risk of stroke

Elevated plasma homocysteine levels are associated with the risk of dementia and Alzheimer disease

Parkinson's disease

Epilepsy

Conclusions

References

Glutathione, sulfur amino acids and cancer

Introduction

Carcinogenesis, tumor growth, and cell death

Intercellular and interorgan transport of GSH in tumor-bearing mammals

GSH and the interaction of metastatic cells with the vascular endothelium

Adaptive response in invasive cells

GSH depletion and the sensitization of cancer cells to therapy

References

Gsh and Sulfur Amino Acids as Drugs And Nutraceuticals

GSH, GSH derivatives and antiviral activity, Anna Teresa Palamara1, Lucia Nencioni1

Introduction

Intracellular GSH status during viral infection

Mechanism of virus-induced GSH depletion

Role of constitutive GSH levels in controlling cell susceptibility to viral infection

Effect of intracellular GSH depletion on viral replication

Effect of exogenous GSH and GSH derivatives on viral replication

In vivo effects of systemic and topic GSH administration

References

N-acetyl cysteine and cytoprotective effects against bronchopulmonary damage: from in vitro studies to clinical application

Introduction

Oxidative stress in COPD

Pharmacology of N-acetylcysteine

Pulmonary antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects

Non -pulmonary effects

Clinical efficacy of N-acetylcysteine in COPD

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Other disorders

Conclusions

References

Taurine as drugs and functional food components

Introduction

The unique character of taurine: basis for distinguished behavior

Functional properties of taurine

Taurine deficiency

Taurine concentration in fetal development and neonate growth

Beneficial actions of taurine

Taurine and diabetes

Taurine and cardiovascular system

Taurine and endothelial dysfunction

Taurine and lung dysfunction

Taurine and kidney

Taurine as functional food and supplement

Conclusion

References

Subject index

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.