Cellular thiols and oxidants

Cellular thiols and oxidants refer to the collective system of molecules responsible for maintaining the redox homeostasis within a cell (NCBI: Redox Homeostasis, 2021). This system includes low-molecular-weight thiols like glutathione (GSH) and cysteine, as well as reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) that serve as signaling molecules or metabolic byproducts (Journal of Biological Chemistry: Thiol-based redox switches). These components are critical for protecting cellular structures from oxidative damage, regulating protein function through reversible thiol-disulfide exchange, and modulating signal transduction pathways (StatPearls: Glutathione, 2023). In many diseases, such as cancer and neurodegeneration, the balance between thiols and oxidants is disrupted, leading to oxidative stress or altered survival signaling. Therapeutic interventions often aim to either bolster the antioxidant defense (e.g., using N-acetylcysteine to replenish GSH) or deliberately induce oxidative stress to kill pathological cells (e.g., using pro-oxidant drugs in oncology) (PubChem: N-acetylcysteine). Because this "target" encompasses a broad range of molecules and physiological states rather than a specific receptor or enzyme, it is generally classified as a physiological system or a class of metabolites in pharmacological contexts.

Other names

Redox systemThiol-disulfide bufferIntracellular redox environmentReactive oxygen species and antioxidants

Modulation of the cellular redox environment by providing thiol groups, scavenging reactive oxygen species, or inhibiting enzymes responsible for maintaining the reduced state of cellular thiols.