Studies of paracetamol/phenacetin toxicity: isolation and characterization of p-aminophenol-glutathione conjugate.

1. p-Aminophenol, a minor metabolite of phenacetin, is a potent nephrotoxic agent. 2. We have examined the binding of p-aminophenol to glutathione (GSH), a model amino acid, in the presence of horseradish peroxidase, which catalyses one electron oxidation. 3. The reaction product was purified by preparative h.p.l.c., and its structure was determined by FAB mass spectrometry and 1H-n.m.r. to be a p-aminophenol-GSH conjugate. The conjugate was formed between the ortho carbon of the amino group of p-aminophenol and the SH group of GSH. 4. It was confirmed by h.p.l.c. and 1H-n.m.r. that formation of the conjugate was catalysed in vitro by rat liver microsomes and cumene hydroperoxide.