Mapping of the glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit gene (GLCLC) to human chromosome 6p12 and mouse chromosome 9D-E and of the regulatory subunit gene (GLCLR) to human chromosome 1p21-p22 and mouse chromosome 3H1-3

Glutamate-cysteine ligase (EC 6.3.2.2, GLCL), formerly called {gamma}-glutamylcysteine synthetase (GCS), is the rate-limiting enzyme in the de novo synthesis of the antioxidant tripeptide glutathione. GLCL consists of a heavy subunit, which possesses catalytic activity and is the site of glutathione feedback inhibition, and a light subunit, which has a regulatory function. Glutathione is ubiquitous in mammalian tissues and performs a variety of functions, including protection from reactive oxygen species through antioxidant properties; detoxification of xenobiotics, organic peroxides, and heavy metals; and maintenance of sulfhydryl groups of other molecules. Increased intracellular levels of glutathione have also been found in tumor cells resistant to chemotherapeutic agents. Increased expression of GLCL in melphalan-resistant myeloma and prostate carcinoma cells and cisplatinum-resistant ovarian carcinoma cells suggests that this enzyme may be involved in glutathione-associated drug resistance. Moreover, GLCL has been shown to be induced by phenolic antioxidants and heavy metals. Recently, Mulcahy and Gipp have shown that the GLCL catalytic subunit gene (GLCLC) contains a putative antioxidant regulatory element, which may explain the responsiveness of this gene to agents that induce oxidative stress. To further our understanding of GLCL, which is linked to such a wide variety of metabolic and physiological functions through its role in glutathione synthesis, we have mapped both the catalytic and regulatory subunit genes (GLCLC and GLCLR) to human and mouse chromosomes by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). 16 refs., 1 fig.