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Article: Characteristics of Alcohol Dependent Subjects with Very Elevated Levels of Gamma-Glutamyltransferase (GGT)(*).(Statistical Data Included)
- Article from:
- Journal of Studies on Alcohol
- Article date:
- September 1, 1999
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1999 Alcohol Research Documentation, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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GAMMA-GLUTAMYLTRANSFERASE (GGT) is a glycoprotein that catalyzes the transfer of the [Gamma]-glutamyl group of glutathione to amino acids, dipeptides, and glutathione itself, and catalyzes the hydrolysis of glutathione to glutamate and cysteine-glycine, thus playing an important role in amino acid transport and glutathione metabolism (Rosalki, 1975; Tate and Meister, 1981). The activity of this enzyme in the serum has been found to be elevated in most hepatobiliary diseases, with a variety of medications, and in association with relatively heavy consumption of alcohol (Penn and Worthington, 1983). Regarding alcohol, possible mechanisms responsible for the increase of GGT ...