mercapturic acid pathway

mer·cap·tu·ric ac·id path·way

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; certain leukotrienes are believed to be degraded through this pathway.