Deaminated glutathione amidase (NIT1)

Catalyzes the hydrolysis of the amide bond in N-(4- oxoglutarate)-L-cysteinylglycine (deaminated glutathione), a metabolite fix reaction to eliminate the harmful deaminated glutathione. Plays a role in cell growth and apoptosis: reduction of expression promotes cell growth, resistance to DNA damage stress and increased incidence to NMBA-induced tumors.

Has tumor suppressor properties that enhances the apoptotic responsiveness in cancer cells; this effect is additive to the tumor suppressor activity of FHIT. Additionally it is a negative regulator of primary T- cells.