Glutathione: Anti-Aging and Anti-Glycation of Skin

Glutathione is a also known as the tripeptide glutamylcysteinylglycine.

Glutathione contains an unusual peptide linkage between the carboxyl group of the glutamate side chain and the amine group of cysteine.

The concentration of glutathione in animal cells is 5mM and its sulphydryl group is kept largely in the reduced state.

This allows it to act as a sulphydryl buffer, reducing any disulphide bonds formed within cytoplasmic proteins to cysteines.

Hence, few, if any, cytoplasmic proteins contain disulphide bonds.

Glutathione is also important as a cofactor for the enzyme glutathione peroxidase, in the uptake of amino acids and participates in leucotriene synthesis.