L- Buthionine Sulfoximine

Primary Target
gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase

Toxicity: Standard Handling (A)

A cell-permeable, sulfoximine based compound that acts a potent, fast acting, irreversible inhibitor of g-glutamylcysteine synthetase and depletes cellular glutathione levels. Closely resembles the structure of g-glutamylphosphate cysteine adduct. The inhibition follows the first order kinetics with t_1/2 = ~ 11 sec at saturating inhibitor concentration. Does not affect the activity of glutamine synthetase. Shown to improve the outcome of chemotherapy by lowering the levels of glutathione in cancer cells (IC₅₀ = 1.9, 8.6, and 29 µM in melanoma, breast, and ovarian tumor cells, respectively).

Fruehauf, J.P., et al. 1997. Pigment Cell Res.10, 236.
OʹDwyer, P.J., et al. 1996. J. Clin. Oncol.14, 249.
Griffith, O. W., 1982. J. Biol. Chem.257, 13704.

Griffith, O. W., et al. 1979. J. Biol. Chem.254, 7558.

Packaged under inert gas

Following reconstitution, aliquot and freeze (-20°C). Stock solutions are stable for up to 3 months at -20°C.

CALBIOCHEM is a registered trademark of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany