M. Penninckx, A short review on the role of glutathione in the response of yeasts to nutritional, environmental, and oxidative stresses, ENZYME MICR, 26(9-10), 2000, pp. 737-742
Glutathione (L-gamma-Glutamyl-L-Cysteinylglycine) appears as the major nonp
rotein thiol compound in yeasts. Recent advances have shown that glutathion
e (GSH) seems to be involved in the response of yeasts to different nutriti
onal and oxidative stresses. When the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is sta
rved for sulfur or nitrogen nutrients, GSH may be mobilized to ensure cellu
lar maintenance. Glutathione S-transferases may be involved in the detoxifi
cation of electrophilic xenobiotics. Vacuolar transport of metal derivative
s of GSH ensure resistance to metal stress. Growth of methylotrophic yeasts
on methanol results in the formation of an excess formaldehyde that is det
oxified by a GSH-dependent formaldehyde dehydrogenase. Growth of yeasts on
glycerol results in the accumulation of methylglyoxal detoxified by the gly
oxalase pathway. Glutathione per se can react with oxidative agents or is i
nvolved in the oxidative stress response through glutathione peroxidase. Pu
blished by Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.