Effect of oxidized glutathione on intestinal mitochondria and brush border membrane

Oxidative stress is associated with the formation of oxidized glutathione (GSSG) in the cells, which can form mixed disulfide with proteins leading to alteration of their function. The present study looks at the effect of in vitro exposure of GSSG on intestinal mitochondria and brush border membrane (BBM). Incubation with 1 mM GSSG increased the protein bound GSH in mitochondria by 15-fold. This was associated with loss of activity of certain mitochondrial enzymes such as succinic dehydrogenase, isocitrate dehydrogenase, total ATPase and NADH dehydogenase whereas NADH oxidase was not affected. A similar treatment of BBMV with GSSG increased the protein bound GSH by 4.7-fold without altering its enzyme activity. Exposure to GSSG had no effect on the Na⁺-dependent glucose transport by BBMV. These studies suggest that GSSG formed during oxidative stress may modify thiol groups in proteins by forming mixed disulfides leading to functional alteration of certain cellular proteins.