A new substrate for glutathione reductase: Glutathione coated Ag2S quantum dots

Glutathione (GSH), a key player in various cellular processes including detoxification, anti-oxidant defense system and cell proliferation is also a potentially good coating material for luminescent quantum dots. GSH is oxidized to oxidized glutathione (GSSG) under oxidative stress and then reduced back by glutathione reductase (GR) enzyme to maintain the balance of GSH/GSSG ratio. In this frame, GSH stabilized quantum dots (QDs) have never been evaluated as GR substrate. Here, GSH coated Ag2S QDs, luminescent in the medical window, were prepared and their GR activity were tested. We have shown by spectrophotometric methods that GSH-Ag2S acted as a substrate-analog for GR enzyme that had lower activity compared to the original substrate GSSG. These results provide a new perspective in the evaluation of QDs in medical applications, enzyme activity or level detection as well as possible means to study enzymes.