Synthesis of [1,2-13C2] gly and [2,2-2H2] gly glutathione

[1,2-13C2] Gly and [2,2-2H2] Gly isotopomers of the intracellular tripeptide glutathione were prepared by standard methods of solution phase peptide synthesis. The synthetic products were characterized by gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC/MS) and 1H NMR spectroscopy. Optical purity was determined by hydrolysis, derivatization of the free amino acids with isopropanol-acetyl chloride and pentafluoropropionic anhydride and NCI/MS with a Chirasil-Val Heliflex column. These compounds should serve as useful tracers for the non-invasive study of glutathione synthesis and turnover rates in humans by GC/MS. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.