Sulfhydryl-shuttle model

Figure 8 The sulfhydryl shuttle model for Et3PAu+ accumulation and efflux through cellular membranes. CSH and RSH = cellular and extracellular thiols, protein, or small molecule MSH = membrane sulfhydryl-dependent transport systems...

Figure 3 The Sulfhydryl Shuttle Model (adapted from Ref. 32). MSH = membrane...

Red cells provide a useful model for studying the likely movement of gold into and out of cells. Itwas shown that Et3PAuCl moving into red cells binds to glutathione and hemoglobin [84, 85] providing ancillary evidence for the sulfhydryl shuttle. Similarly, [Au(CN)2] has been shown to enter red cells by the sulfhydryl shuttle and its uptake can be blocked by alkylation of membrane thiols [32]. 

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