Enzymatic synthesis of novel glutathione analogs

A strain of Escherichia coli enriched in its content of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase and glutathione synthetase by recombinant DNA techniques has been immobilized in a carrageenan matrix and used for the synthesis of various types of isotopically labeled glutathione (L-gamma-glutamyl-L-cysteinyl-glycine) (K. Murata, W. A. Abbott, R. J. Bridges, and A. Meister (1985) Anal. Biochem. 150, 235-237). In the present work, this E. coli matrix was used as the basis of a method for the synthesis of glutathione analogs. Thus, amino acid analogs were used in place of the corresponding amino acid constituents of glutathione (e.g., 4-fluoroglutamate was substituted for glutamate) in the reaction mixtures. Using this method we have synthesized several analogs of glutathione including L-gamma-glutamyl-(beta-chloro)-L-alanyl-glycine, (R,S)-4-fluoro-DL-gamma-glutamyl-L-cysteinyl-glycine, D-gamma-glutamyl-L-cysteinyl-glycine, and L-gamma-glutamyl-L-homocysteinyl-glycine. This method may also be used for the synthesis of a number of L- and D-gamma-glutamyl amino acids. The analogs are purified by gel-filtration and ion-exchange chromatography. The analogs are used to examine the substrate specificity and mechanisms of action of glutathione-utilizing enzymes and for studies on glutathione metabolism and function. Fluorine-containing analogs may be used for NMR studies. The enzymatically prepared compounds may also be used as intermediates in the chemical synthesis of other analogs of glutathione and glutathione disulfide.