buthionine sulfoximine

buthionine sulfoximine

A compound that inhibits gamma-glutamyl cysteine synthetase, which is required in the first step of glutathione synthesis; it is used in oncology to reduce glutathione levels and in tropical medicine to increase the susceptibility of parasite to oxidative agents.

bu·thi·o·nine sul·fox·i·mine

(byū-thī'ō-nēn sŭl-fok'si-mēn) A compound that decreases intracellular glutathione by inhibition of its synthesis.