On the Interactions Between Bovine Serum Albumin and Reduced Glutathione in Solution

The intrinsic viscosity and interactions between bovine serum albumin (BSA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) in buffer solutions at 37°C and pH = 7.4 were determined and discussed. The presence of GSH in the BSA solutions changes the interactions between the unlike molecules in solution, but zeta potential remains unchanged. Due to the specific interactions induced by GSH, the dependences of the specific viscosity as a function of a dimensionless parameter, concentration $\times$ intrinsic viscosity, cannot be included in a master curve. The slope increase is an indicative of hierarchical self-assembly. Thus, this study reveals new facets of glutathione in living cells.