The formation of constants of mercury(II)--glutathione complexes.

The formation constants of the 1:1 and 1:2 complexes of Hg(II) with glutathione and their protonated species have been determined by using a competitive potentiometric titration with the competing ligand diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA). The formation constants of the 1:1 complex and its protonated species have not been reported previously. The formation constant of the 1:2 complex of Hg(II) and glutathione is substantially smaller than the accepted values that has been reported in the literature. These results have important implications in the models that have been employed to explain the mobilization and distribution of Hg(II) in biological systems.