Glutathione and Sulfur Amino Acids in Human Health and Disease

The complex roles of glutathione and sulfur amino acids in human health
Glutathione (γ–L–glutamyl–L–cysteinylglycine, GSH) is a major antioxidant acting as a free radical scavenger that protects the cell from reactive oxygen species (ROS). Sulfur amino acids (SAAs), such as methionine and cysteine, play a critical role in the maintenance of health. GSH depletion as well as alterations of SAA metabolism are linked to a host of disease states including liver cirrhosis, various pulmonary diseases, myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury, aging, Parkinson′s disease, Alzheimer′s disease, sepsis, and others. This book provides researchers with a comprehensive review of the biochemistry, absorption, metabolism, biological activities, disease prevention, and health promotion of glutathione and sulfur amino acids.
The twenty–two chapters explore such topics as:Chemistry, absorption, transport, and metabolism of GSH and sulfur amino acids
Antioxidant and detoxification properties of GSH and sulfur amino acids, highlighting the enzymatic systems involved in antioxidant defenses
Biological activities of GSH and sulfur amino acids and their role in modulating cell processes
Role of GSH and sulfur amino acid deficiency and alteration in the onset of diseases and in aging
Protective effects exerted by GSH and sulfur amino acids when used as drugs, functional foods, and nutraceuticals in humans and animals
Special attention is paid to the molecular mechanisms for the modulation of transcription factors and enzyme activities, as well as the nutritional and therapeutic significance of dietary sulfur amino acids as shown in human and animal models.
With more than 2,000 scientific references, this book provides food scientists, nutritionists, biochemists, food technologists, chemists, molecular biologists, and public health professionals with a comprehensive and up–to 211;date examination of glutathione and sulfur amino acids in human health and disease.

Spis treści:
PREFACE.
CONTRIBUTORS.
I INTRODUCTION.
1 GLUTATHIONE AND THE SULFUR–CONTAINING AMINO ACIDS: AN OVERVIEW (John T. Brosnan and Margaret E. Brosnan).
1.1 Introduction.
1.2 Why Sulfur–Containing Amino Acids?
1.3 S–Adenosylmethionine, Nature’s Wonder Cofactor.
1.4 Glutathione.
1.5 Taurine—the Second Essential Sulfur–Containing Amino Acid?
1.6 Conclusions.
Acknowledgments.
References.
II CHEMISTRY AND METABOLISM OF GSH AND SULFUR AMINO ACIDS.
2 SULFUR AMINO ACIDS CONTENTS OF DIETARY PROTEINS: DAILY INTAKE AND REQUIREMENTS (Cécile Bos, Jean–François Huneau, and Claire Gaudichon).
2.1 Introduction.
2.2 Sulfur Amino Acids (SAA) Content of Dietary Protein.
2.3 Sulfur Amino Acid Intake.
2.4 Nutritional Requirement for Total Sulfur Amino Acids.
2.5 Conclusions.
References.
3 CELLULAR COMPARTMENTALIZATION OF GLUTATHIONE (Federico V. Pallardó, Jelena Markovic, and José Vinã).
3.1 Introduction.
3.2 Glutathione Content in Cells.
References.
4 INTESTINAL METABOLISM OF SULFUR AMINO ACIDS (Nancy Benight, Douglas G. Burrin, and Barbara Stoll).
4.1 Introduction.
4.2 Isotopic Approaches to Study Metabolism.
4.3 Evidence of Gut Sulfur Amino Acid Metabolism.
4.4 Other Key Players in Intestinal Sulfur Amino Acid Metabolism.
4.5 Cysteine in Redox Function and Oxidant Stress in the Gut.
4.6 Pathophysiology of Sulfur Amino Acid Metabolism in the GIT.
4.7 Conclusions.
References.
5 HEPATIC SULFUR AMINO ACID METABOLISM (Kevin L. Schalinske).
5.1 Introduction.
5.2 Dietary Relation between Methionine and Cysteine.
5.3 Metabolic Relation between Hepatic Sulfur Amino Acids, B Vitamins, and Methyl Group Metabolism.
5.4 Re gulation of Sulfur Amino Acid Metabolism and Related Metabolic Pathways in the Liver.
5.5 Impact of Physiologic and Nutritional Factors on Sulfur Amino Acid Metabolism.
5.6 Conclusions.
References.
III ANTIOXIDANT AND DETOXIFICATION ACTIVITIES.
6 GLUTATHIONE AND SULFUR CONTAINING AMINO ACIDS: ANTIOXIDANTAND CONJUGATION ACTIVITIES (Nils–Erik Huseby, Elisabeth Sundkvist, and Gunbjørg Svineng).
6.1 Introduction.
6.2 Reactive Oxygen Species and Antioxidants.
6.3 Glutathione Redox Cycle.
6.4 Regulation of GSH and Cysteine Levels.
6.5 Biotransformation.
6.6 ROS–Mediated Cellular Signaling.
6.7 Transcription Regulation of Antioxidant and Conjugation Enzymes.
6.8 Oxidative Stress and Diseases.
References.
7 GLUTAREDOXIN AND THIOREDOXIN ENZYME SYSTEMS: CATALYTIC MECHANISMS AND PHYSIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS (Elizabeth A. Sabens and John J. Mieyal).
7.1 Introduction.
7.2 General Characteristics of Glutaredoxins.
7.3 General Characteristics of Thioredoxins.
7.4 Glutaredoxin Mechanism of Action.
7.5 Thioredoxin Mechanism of Action.
7.6 Control of Grx Expression.
7.7 Control of Trx Expression in Mammalian Systems.
7.8 Cellular Functions of Grx.
7.9 Cellular Functions of Trx.
7.10 Reversible Sulfhydryl Oxidation and Disease.
7.11 Conclusions.
References.
8 METHIONINE SULFOXIDE REDUCTASES: A PROTECTIVE SYSTEM AGAINST OXIDATIVE DAMAGE (Herbert Weissbach and Nathan Brot).
8.1 Introduction.
8.2 History of the Msr System.
8.3 MsrA and MsrB Protein Structure and Mechanism of Action.
8.4 Msr Reducing Requirement.
8.5 Other Members of the Msr Family.
8.6 The Msr System: Both a Repair Enzyme and a Scavenger of ROS.
8.7 Genetic Studies on the Role of the Msr System in Protecting Cells Against Oxidative Damage.
8.8 Evidence that Oxidative Damage is a Major Factor in Aging: Role of Mitochondria and the Msr System.
8.9 How c an the Msr System be Utilized for Drug Development?
8.10 Methionine Sulfoxide and Disease.
Acknowledgment.
References.
IV BIOACTIVITY OF GSH AND SULFUR AMINO ACIDS AS REGULATORS OF CELLULAR PROCESSES.
9 REGULATION OF PROTEIN FUNCTION BY GLUTATHIONYLATION (Pietro Ghezzi and Paolo Di Simplicio).
9.1 Introduction.
9.2 Glutathione and Redox Regulation in Immunity.
9.3 Protein Cysteine Oxidation.
9.4 Mechanisms for PSSG Formation and the Complex Scenario of Protein Glutathionylation.
9.5 Deglutathionylation.
9.6 Identification of Proteins Undergoing Glutathionylation.
9.7 Functional Consequences of Protein Glutathionylation.
9.8 Structural Changes Induced by Protein Glutathionylation.
9.9 Conclusions.
References.
10 GSH, SULFUR AMINO ACIDS, AND APOPTOSIS (Giuseppe Filomeni, Katia Aquilano, and Maria Rosa Ciriolo).
10.1 Introduction.
10.2 Synthesis and Functions of GSH.
10.3 Apoptosis: A Programmed Mode to Die.
10.4 Role of GSH and Cysteine in Apoptosis.
10.5 Sulfur Amino Acids in Apoptosis.
10.6 Concluding Remarks and Recent Progress.
Acknowledgments.
References.
11 METHIONINE OXIDATION: IMPLICATION IN PROTEIN REGULATION, AGING, AND AGING–ASSOCIATED DISEASES (Jackob Moskovitz and Derek B. Oien).
11.1 Introduction.
11.2 The Methionine Sulfoxide Reductase System.
11.3 Methionine Sulfoxide Reductase and Selenium.
11.4 Methionine Sulfoxide Reductase: A Knockout Mouse as a Model for Neurodegenerative Diseases.
11.5 Regulation of Protein Expression/Function by the Methionine Sulfoxide Reductase System.
11.6 Conclusions.
References.
12 SULFUR AMINO ACIDS, GLUTATHIONE, AND IMMUNE FUNCTION (Robert Grimble).
12.1 The Biochemistry of Sulfur Amino Acids.
12.2 Sulfur Amino Acid and Glutathione Metabolism Following Infection and Injury.
12.3 Glutathione and the Immune System.
12.4 Mechanism of the Effect of