INVESTIGATIONS OF THIOLS IN LICHENS

Glutathione (gamma-glutamyl-cysteinyl-glycine) was the most abundant l ow molecular weight thiol in lichens and only traces of cysteine and ( gamma-glutamyl-cysteine) were found. For lichens growing on trees, it was shown that within one species the amount of glutathione was indepe ndent of the bark substrate. Lichens showed seasonal variations in glu tathione content with a minimum in spring and autumn. Glutathione cont ent also varied with the altitude: lichens collected from 1400 m above sea level contained the highest content.