The formation of glutathione-chromium complexes and their possible role in chromium disposition

The reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) by glutathione (GSH) in vitro resulted in the formation of two different GSH-chromium complexes with an approximate molecular-weight of 10,000 and 5000, respectively. Both complexes exhibited strong fluorescence. The molar ratio between oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and chromium was calculated by determining the chromium content of the two isolated complex species by flameless Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS).