Studies on the reaction of glutathione and formaldehyde using NMR

Within cells it is proposed that a major mechanism for the metabolism of formaldehyde is via its reaction with glutathione (GSH) to form S-hydroxymethylglutathione (HMG), which undergoes subsequent oxidation. In addition to HMG and the previously reported (5R,10S)-5-(carboxymethylcarbamoyl)-7-oxo-3-thia-1,6-diazabicyclo[4.4.1]undecane-10-carboxylic acid (BiGF₂), NMR studies on the reaction of GSH with formaldehyde reveal two previously unassigned monocyclic structures. The results imply that the biologically relevant reactions between aldehydes and peptides/proteins may be more complex than presently perceived.