Gamma-glutamyl cycle

The gamma-glutamyl cycle is not a single molecule or receptor but rather a biochemical pathway composed of several enzymes that collectively maintain glutathione homeostasis and facilitate amino acid transport. The key enzymes involved include gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), gamma-glutamyl cyclotransferase (GGCT), gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase, glutathione synthetase, 5-oxoprolinase, and others[1][2][3][5]. This pathway is essential for synthesizing and degrading glutathione—a critical antioxidant—and plays roles in detoxification processes as well as cellular protection against oxidative stress[1][3][9]. Inherited defects in any of these component enzymes can result in various metabolic diseases characterized by impaired glutathione metabolism[1]. Note: The "gamma-glutamyl cycle" itself is not considered a therapeutic target; rather, its individual enzyme components may be targets. Therefore, - is_target: false — it is not itself an actionable molecular target like an enzyme or receptor. - is_incorrect: true — this entry refers to an entire pathway/cycle rather than a specific molecular target. For structured data purposes you should instead refer to one of its constituent enzymes such as "Gamma-glutamyl transferase" or "Gamma-glutamyl cyclotransferase"[3][2].

Other names

γ-glutamyl cyclegamma-GT cycleglutathione cycle