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Quantitation of Glutathione, Glutathione Disulphide, and Protein-Glutathione Mixed Disulphides by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry

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Functional Disulphide Bonds

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1967))

Abstract

Protein-glutathione mixed disulphides (PSSG) are an important redox-sensitive posttranslational modification. Quantitation of protein-glutathione mixed disulphides (PSSG) is achieved by the reduction of the disulphide bond to liberate glutathione (GSH); however, this method leaves the assay susceptible to contamination by cytosolic GSH and glutathione disulphide (GSSG) captured during protein precipitation. The method herein describes a workflow in which protein from mouse liver is precipitated and adventitious GSH contamination is removed by reaction with N-ethylmaleimide. The sample is divided into two equal aliquots, a control aliquot that allows for direct quantitation of adventitious GSSG and a chemically reduced aliquot that contains GSH from both the GSSG and PSSG disulphides. Determining the concentration of adventitious GSSG allows for correction of the latter value to provide an accurate assay of PSSG. This assay also provides quantitation of cytosolic GSH and GSSG.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Joseph Idso and Christopher Bucklin for their technical assistance. Funding was provided through USDA–ARS project 3062-51000-053-00D. The US Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Research Service, Plains Area, is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, and all agency services are available without discrimination. Mention of trade names or commercial products in this chapter is solely for providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the US Department of Agriculture.

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Correspondence to Michael R. Bukowski .

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Bukowski, M.R., Picklo, M.J. (2019). Quantitation of Glutathione, Glutathione Disulphide, and Protein-Glutathione Mixed Disulphides by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry. In: Hogg, P. (eds) Functional Disulphide Bonds. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1967. Humana, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-9187-7_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-9187-7_12

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  • Publisher Name: Humana, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-9186-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-9187-7

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