Spectral and interferometrical study of the interaction of haemin with glutathione

The interaction of haemin with reduced glutathione (GSH) was investigated in vitro and the association constant was determined by both spectrophotometric and interferometric methods. In order to elucidate the nature of this interaction, the reaction of haemin with a typical reductive agent (sodium dithionite) and a typical chelating agent for hem-iron (histidine) was also studied. Haemin-induced haemolysis in the presence and absence of GSH was monitored spectrophotometrically. The results outline the role of GSH at physiological concentration in preventing erythrocyte damage by haemin.