D,L-Buthionine-(S,R)-sulfoximine is an inhibitor of γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase that induces 100% inhibition at a concentration of 10 μM in an enzyme assay.1 It is selective for γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase, lacking activity at glutamine synthetase at concentrations up to 500 μM. D,L-Buthionine-(S,R)-sulfoximine (32 mmol/kg, i.p.) reduces renal glutathione in mice without inducing abnormal behavior or convulsions. It has antiparasitic activity, eliminating T. brucei from the bloodstream of infected mice via depletion of intratrypanosomal glutathione and induction of oxidative stress at a dose of 4 mmol/kg.2 D,L-Buthionine-(S,R)-sulfoximine is an isomeric mixture of L-buthionine-S-sulfoxime, L-buthionine-R-sulfoxime, D-buthionine-S-sulfoxime, and D-buthionine-R-sulfoxime.
1.Griffith, O.W., and Meister, A.Potent and specific inhibition of glutathione synthesis by buthionine sulfoximine (S-n-butyl homocysteine sulfoximine)J. Biol. Chem.254(16)7558-7560(1979) 2.Arrick, B.A., Griffith, O.W., and Cerami, A.Inhibition of glutathione synthesis as a chemotherapeutic strategy for trypanosomiasisJ. Exp. Med.153(3)720-725(1981)