Glutathione (GSH) plays an important role in the defense against oxidative stress and removal of foreign substances in the body. However, when intracellular GSH levels decline due to aging or chronic diseases, these roles cannot be fully fulfilled. maintaining normal GSH levels is thought to be effective in preventing the decline of GSH levels and slowing the progression of aging and chronic diseases. However, since GSH is not directly taken up by cells, a new method to effectively maintain GSH levels is needed. Recently, it has been reported that administration of γ-glutamylcysteine (γEC), a precursor of GSH biosynthesis, increases GSH levels, improves dementia and protects neurons, and is expected to alleviate aging and chronic diseases. γEC is much more expensive than GSH and difficult to use as a functional food. Therefore, we are working on the construction of a low-cost production system of γEC using a novel enzyme that converts GSH to γEC, which we have discovered.

It has been reported that administration of γEC increases GSH levels, improves dementia and protects neurons, and is expected to alleviate aging and chronic diseases, but its detailed physiological functions have not been fully elucidated due to a lack of reports. However, the detailed physiological functions of GSH have not been fully elucidated because there are only a few reports. Therefore, we are working on the analysis of its reactivity with GSH metabolizing enzymes and its function.