The Reduction and Oxidation of Glutathione by Plant Mitochondria.

is catalyzed by glutathione reductase (3, 4, 5). In earlier studies this reaction has been coupled with soluble dehydrogenases which utilize TPN as a coenzyme (6). Since tissue fractionation studies have shown that numerous dehydrogenases, including those associated with the oxidation of the Krebs cycle intermediates, are localized within the mitochondrion, it was of interest to determine whether these enzymes might also be coupled with reaction 1. This paper reports that it is possible to demonstrate the reduction of GSSG by plant mitochondria in the presence of suitable substrates. In addition, the plant particles also catalyzed the oxidation of GSH by molecular 02 in the presence of catalytic amounts of ascorbic acid.