Treatment of human peripheral lymphocytes with concanavalin A activates expression of glutathione reductase

A cDNA clone corresponding to mRNA present only in proliferating cells was isolated and its nucleotide sequence determined. This cDNA is 723 nucleotides long and encodes a portion of the human glutathione reductase mRNA corresponding to the amino acids 77-318 of the mature protein. Expression of glutathione reductase mRNA was undetectable in resting human T-lymphocytes and was induced shortly after cells had been triggered to proliferate by the treatment with concanavalin A. This result suggests that synthesis of glutathione reductase is generally activated in replicating cells which may indicate that this enzyme plays a functional role during cell proliferation.