Abstract: The carcinogen ethylene dibromide (EDB) is bioactivated via a pathway involving initial conjugation with the tripeptide glutathione (GSH) in a reaction catalyzed by GSH S- transferase. The conjugate then reacts preferentially with DNA guanyl residues to generate S-[2-(Af'-guanyl) ethyl] glutathione. Rates of hydrolysis and alkylation of 4-(p-nitrobenzyl) pyridine with several cysteinyl and homocysteinyl analogues of S-(2-haloethyl) ...