Glutathione is important in the defence against oxidative stress- - Essay Example

Importance of Glutathione in the Defense against Oxidative Stress Importance of Glutathione in the Defense against Oxidative Stress Glutathione is described as a peptide found in a cell at a very high concentration. Its features include high water solubility, cells with high concentration of peptide, Amino acid constituent that has already undergo oxidation and peptide bond which is unusual hence prevents nonspecific destruction by hydrolytic enzymes that attack the peptide bonds which are normal (Pressman et al.

, 1997, 19). Oxidative stress has been involved in human disease by an increase in body of facts. Initially, cells have protective mechanisms against the oxidative stress that successfully prevent cell damage to the extent that these protective mechanisms are effective (Vergauwen et al., 2003, 1578). Protective agents include dietary constituents that range from the anti-oxidant vitamins and minerals to the food addictives that might facilitate the action of natural anti-oxidants. It is being caused by imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen and ability of biological system that detoxify the reactive intermediate.

Fink (2009, 249) asserts that glutathione plays major roles in the defense against oxidative stress. It has a major impact in aging and worsening of many diseases such as cancer, heart attack, liver diseases, sickle cell anemia, HIV, AIDS and diabetes among many others. First, glutathione act as antioxidant that entails vitamin C and vitamin E (Foyer et al., 2001, 490). This help to trigger oxidative stress by neutralizing the free radicals and allowing the body to do its business of removing the radicals safely in a manner that does not harm.

Increased in glutathione levels helps to fight the oxidation of circulating fats in the blood stream ‘cholesterol’ breaking the process of plaque formation in the arteries hence triggers oxidative stress. It also protects against diabetes which is infectious and cause circulatory problems leading to heart disease, blindness and kidney failure (Bishai et al., 1994, 2917). Secondly, Food for the immune also has an impact in oxidation of stress. Immune system is prone to pathogens and foreign antigens hence to neutralize this pathogen; the body needs a ready supply of glutathione (Vergauwen et al.

, 2003, 1579). Glutathione helps to neutralize these pathogens that contribute to aging, long term damage and cancers. Thirdly, detoxification system affects the liver when we inhale and ingest natural synthetic toxins hence creating oxidative stress. However, when the level glutathione decreases, the kidney and the liver function poorly hence result to unnecessary large quantities of toxins which circulate through the body (Apontoweil & Berends, 1975, 13). Fourthly, through energizing yourself, mitochondrion which is used to create energy break down oxygen to form to products like oxyradicals that are therefore excreted from the body (Fawcett & Wolf, 1995, 1746).

Glutathione is produced by the cell hence keep mitochondria cool and efficient for energy production. Therefore, increase in glutathione helps to eliminate oxidizing stress. By concluding, the level of Glutathione in the cell is what determines how long we will live. It act as antioxidant hence without it, our liver would be accumulated by toxins resulting to organic failure and death (Tao, 1997, 5969). This antioxidant helps to prevent oxidative stress which comes as a result of cell damage.

Moreover, it can lead to disease such as heart disease, cancer, Arthritis, lung disease, diabetes and eye disease among many others. Oxidative stress is formed by the radical reactions with cellular components such as nucleobases and lipids Bibliography Apontoweil, P. and Berends, W. (1975) Isolation and initial characterization of glutathione-deficient mutants of Escherichia coli K 12, Biochim. Biophys. Acta 399:10-22.Bishai, R., Smith, H. and Barcak, G. (1994). A peroxide/ascorbate-inducible catalase from Haemophilus influenzae is homologous to the Escherichia coli katE gene product. J. Bacteriol.

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6:486-492.Greenberg, J. and Demple, B. (1986) Glutathione in Escherichia coli is dispensable for resistance to H2O2 and gamma radiation Journal of Bacteriol, 168:1026-1029Pressman, A., Buff, S. and Passwater, R. (1997) Nature’s Most Powerful Antioxidant and Healing Agent 1st, New York City. Ed. St. Martin’s Press, 12-59.Tao, K. (1997) OxyR-dependent induction of Escherichia coli grx gene expression by peroxide stress. J. Bacteriol. 179:5967-5970Vergauwen, B., Pauwels, F., Vaneechoutte, M.

and Beeumen, J. (2003) Exogenous Glutathione Completes the Defense against Oxidative Stress in Haemophilus influenza. J Bacteriol. 2003 March; 185(5): 1572–1581.