2-Deoxyglucose as a substrate for glutathione regeneration in human and ruminant red blood cells

2-Deoxyglucose was found to be a substrate for the regeneration of GSH from GSSG in the red blood cells of humans, sheep, goats and cattle. The regeneration rate with 2-deoxyglucose varied from 15 to 56% of the rate with glucose. It is likely that 2-deoxyglucose is phosphorylated to 2-deoxyglucose-6-phosphate by HK and is then oxidized to 2-deoxygluconate-6-phosphate by G6PD. The latter reaction would produce the NADPH required for GSH regeneration.