| mercapturic acid | A condensation product of l-cysteine with aromatic compounds, such as bromobenzene; formed biologically via glutathione in the liver and excreted in the urine; an S-substituted N-acetylated l-cysteine. Compare: mercapturic acid pathway. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| mercapturic acid pathway | A glutathione-dependent pathway for the detoxification of a number of compounds, including arene oxides; an S-substituted glutathione is formed and ultimately converted to a mercapturic acid (an S-substituted N-acetylated l-cysteine), which is excreted; the leukotrienes are believed to be degraded through this pathway. (05 Mar 2000) |