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10 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 14 days ago
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GGCT
gamma-glutamylcyclotransferase
Chromosome 7 · 7p14.3
NCBI Gene: 79017Ensembl: ENSG00000006625.19HGNC: HGNC:21705UniProt: A0A090N7V5
87PubMed Papers
20Diseases
0Drugs
0Pathogenic Variants
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
gamma-glutamylcyclotransferase activityprotein homodimerization activityrelease of cytochrome c from mitochondriacytosolovarian neoplasmmale reproductive organ cancerpapillary thyroid carcinomacancer
✦AI Summary

GGCT (gamma-glutamylcyclotransferase) is a key enzyme in glutathione metabolism that catalyzes formation of 5-oxoproline from gamma-glutamyl dipeptides, playing a critical role in glutathione homeostasis 1. Beyond its metabolic function, GGCT induces cytochrome c release from mitochondria, triggering apoptotic pathways 2. In cancer biology, GGCT is significantly upregulated across multiple tumor types including gastric, thyroid, lung, pancreatic, and prostate cancers, where it promotes cell proliferation and migration 34. GGCT functions through multiple oncogenic mechanisms: it activates the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway through interaction with mitochondrial protein MRPL9 4, regulates the STAT3-c-Met-MEK-ERK axis 5, and controls HIF-1α expression to promote aerobic glycolysis 6. In papillary thyroid cancer, GGCT stabilizes CD44 to enhance epithelial-mesenchymal transition and metastasis 7, while inhibiting ferroptosis through p53 suppression via RPS15A stabilization 8. Clinically, GGCT inhibition shows promise as anticancer therapy, with GGCT knockdown suppressing tumor growth and inducing apoptosis 3. Notably, 5-oxoproline supplementation—which inhibits GGCT—simultaneously protects against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity while suppressing tumor proliferation 9, suggesting GGCT as a therapeutic target with potential dual benefits.

Sources cited
1
GGCT (gamma-glutamylcyclotransferase) is a key enzyme in glutathione metabolism that catalyzes formation of 5-oxoproline from gamma-glutamyl dipeptides, playing a critical role in glutathione homeostasis .
PMID: 18515354
2
Beyond its metabolic function, GGCT induces cytochrome c release from mitochondria, triggering apoptotic pathways .
PMID: 16765912
3
In cancer biology, GGCT is significantly upregulated across multiple tumor types including gastric, thyroid, lung, pancreatic, and prostate cancers, where it promotes cell proliferation and migration , .
PMID: 36233293
4
GGCT functions through multiple oncogenic mechanisms: it activates the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway through interaction with mitochondrial protein MRPL9 , regulates the STAT3-c-Met-MEK-ERK axis , and controls HIF-1α expression to promote aerobic glycolysis .
PMID: 37488242
5
GGCT functions through multiple oncogenic mechanisms: it activates the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway through interaction with mitochondrial protein MRPL9 , regulates the STAT3-c-Met-MEK-ERK axis , and controls HIF-1α expression to promote aerobic glycolysis .
PMID: 33402402
6
In papillary thyroid cancer, GGCT stabilizes CD44 to enhance epithelial-mesenchymal transition and metastasis , while inhibiting ferroptosis through p53 suppression via RPS15A stabilization .
PMID: 35213720
7
In papillary thyroid cancer, GGCT stabilizes CD44 to enhance epithelial-mesenchymal transition and metastasis , while inhibiting ferroptosis through p53 suppression via RPS15A stabilization .
PMID: 40044122
8
In cancer biology, GGCT is significantly upregulated across multiple tumor types including gastric, thyroid, lung, pancreatic, and prostate cancers, where it promotes cell proliferation and migration , .
PMID: 27905872
9
Notably, 5-oxoproline supplementation—which inhibits GGCT—simultaneously protects against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity while suppressing tumor proliferation , suggesting GGCT as a therapeutic target with potential dual benefits.
PMID: 40639202
Disease Associationsⓘ20
ovarian neoplasmOpen Targets
0.21Weak
male reproductive organ cancerOpen Targets
0.20Weak
papillary thyroid carcinomaOpen Targets
0.10Weak
cancerOpen Targets
0.10Suggestive
conduction system disorderOpen Targets
0.09Suggestive
breast cancerOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
gliomaOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
colorectal carcinomaOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
Blackfan-Diamond anemiaOpen Targets
0.07Suggestive
gastric cancerOpen Targets
0.07Suggestive
neoplasmOpen Targets
0.07Suggestive
ulcerative colitisOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin-sickle cell disease syndromeOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
Beta-thalassemia - X-linked thrombocytopeniaOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
beta-thalassemia-X-linked thrombocytopenia syndromeOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
acute erythroleukemiaOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
Hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin - beta-thalassemiaOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
hemoglobin D diseaseOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
dehydrated hereditary stomatocytosisOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
Congenital dyserythropoietic anemia type IOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
Pathogenic Variants
No pathogenic variants reported on ClinVar for this gene.
View on ClinVar ↗
Related Genes
AGAProtein interaction97%GLSProtein interaction97%OPLAHProtein interaction97%GGT6Protein interaction93%CHAC2Protein interaction91%CHAC1Protein interaction91%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Brain
100%
Bone Marrow
69%
Liver
51%
Heart
45%
Lung
42%
Ovary
38%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
GGCTAGAGLSOPLAHGGT6CHAC2CHAC1
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
Preparing viewer…
PDB3CRY · 1.70 Å · X-ray
View on RCSB ↗
Constraintⓘ
LOEUFⓘ
1.33LoF Tolerant
pLIⓘ
0.00Tolerant
Observed/Expected LoF0.85 [0.56–1.33]
RankingsWhere GGCT stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #5,479of 20,598
    Most Researched87
  • #13,988of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)1.33
Genes detectedGGCT
Sources retrieved10 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
10▼
1
5-Oxoproline prevents doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity and tumor growth.
PMID: 40639202
Redox Biol · 2025
1.00
2
GGCT Inhibits Ferroptosis in PTC Cells by Upregulating p53 Through RPS15A.
PMID: 40044122
Cancer Sci · 2025
0.90
3
Knockdown of GGCT inhibits cell proliferation and induces late apoptosis in human gastric cancer.
PMID: 27905872
BMC Biochem · 2016
0.80
4
Interaction of MRPL9 and GGCT Promotes Cell Proliferation and Migration by Activating the MAPK/ERK Pathway in Papillary Thyroid Cancer.
PMID: 36233293
Int J Mol Sci · 2022
0.70
5
Identification of c-Met as a novel target of γ-glutamylcyclotransferase.
PMID: 37488242
Sci Rep · 2023
0.60