Glutathione (γ-l-glutamyl-l-cysteinylglycine, GSH) is a powerful cellular redox agent. In nature only the l,l-form is common among the tree of life. It serves as antioxidant or redox buffer system, protein regeneration and activation by interaction with thiol groups, unspecific reagent for conjugation during detoxification, marker for amino acid or peptide transport even through membranes, activation or solubilization of compounds during degradative pathways or just as redox shuttle. However, the role of GSH production and utilization in bacteria is more complex and especially little is known for the Actinobacteria. Some recent reports on GSH use in degradative pathways came across and this is described herein. GSH is used by transferases to activate and solubilize epoxides. It allows funneling epoxides as isoprene oxide or styrene oxide into central metabolism. Thus, the distribution of GSH synthesis, recycling and application among bacteria and especially Actinobacteria are highlighted including the pathways and contributing enzymes.

谷胱甘肽（γ- 1-谷氨酰基-1-半胱氨酸甘氨酸，GSH）是一种功能强大的细胞氧化还原剂。在自然界中只有升，升形式在生命之树中很常见。它可以用作抗氧化剂或氧化还原缓冲系统，与硫醇基相互作用的蛋白质再生和活化，在解毒过程中结合的非特异性试剂，氨基酸或肽甚至通过膜转运的标记物，在降解途径中化合物的活化或增溶或就像氧化还原穿梭一样。但是，GSH的产生和利用在细菌中的作用更为复杂，对于放线菌而言尤其鲜为人知。有关降解途径中GSH的使用的一些最新报道出现了，本文对此进行了描述。GSH被转移酶用来激活和溶解环氧化物。它允许将环氧化物（如异戊二烯氧化物或苯乙烯氧化物）集中到新陈代谢中。因此，GSH合成的分布，