Glutathione (GSH) as a research material: identifiers and form
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Glutathione is a tripeptide made of glutamate, cysteine and glycine, and the store lists it in its reduced form, abbreviated GSH, with the CAS number 70-18-8. Its peptide bond is unusual, which affects how the sequence is written. This guide sets out the identifiers and the supplied form.
Glutathione at a glance
| Compound | Glutathione |
|---|---|
| Synonyms | L-Glutathione (Reduced), GSH, γ-Glu-Cys-Gly |
| CAS number | 70-18-8 |
| Sequence | γ-Glu-Cys-Gly |
| Length | 3 amino acids (tripeptide) |
| Molecular formula | C10H17N3O6S |
| Molecular weight | About 307.3 g/mol |
| Supplied form | White lyophilised powder |
| Vial size | 1500mg per vial |
What does the gamma in the sequence mean?
In most peptides the bond runs from the main-chain carboxyl group of one residue to the amino group of the next. In glutathione the first bond uses the side-chain carboxyl group of glutamate instead, which is what the Greek letter gamma records. The listing describes this as an unusual gamma peptide bond between glutamate and cysteine, and it is why the sequence is written differently from a conventional tripeptide.
What does reduced mean in the name?
Reduced glutathione, GSH, carries a free thiol group on the cysteine residue. A separate oxidised form exists in which two molecules are linked through that sulfur. The two have different formulae and masses, so a document should state which form was tested. The listing identifies the material as the reduced form, and the formula and weight above refer to it.
Which listing contains glutathione?
| Listing | Format |
|---|---|
| Glutathione 1500mg | One vial, single compound, 1500mg |
The vial strength is far higher than most short peptides in the catalogue, because the molecule is small. See the GHK-Cu guide for another tripeptide.
What should the documentation show?
- The name, form (reduced) and CAS number 70-18-8 match the vial label.
- An HPLC purity figure for the batch.
- A mass result consistent with about 307.3 g/mol.
- Appearance recorded as a white lyophilised powder.
Batch documents are on the COAs page.
Frequently asked questions
What is the CAS number for glutathione?
The CAS number listed is 70-18-8.
What is the molecular weight of glutathione?
About 307.3 g/mol, with the molecular formula C10H17N3O6S.
What does GSH stand for?
GSH is the abbreviation for reduced glutathione. The listing also gives the synonym L-Glutathione (Reduced).
Which three amino acids make up glutathione?
Glutamate, cysteine and glycine, written as γ-Glu-Cys-Gly.
What vial size is listed?
1500mg per vial, supplied as a white lyophilised powder.
All Ascend Research products are sold strictly for laboratory research use only. They are not for human or animal use, and nothing in this article is medical advice.
The Ascend Research team
