The glutathione conjugation of 2-bromoisovalerylurea (BIU) was studied in isolated proximal tubular kidney cells of the rat. Racemic (R,S)-BIU was incubated with the cell suspension, and the incubation medium was analysed for the diastereomeric glutathione (GSH) conjugates, cysteine conjugates and mercapturates that can be formed from (R)- and (S)-BIU. Only the mercapturate formed from (R)-BIU was found, as well as its cysteine precursor. No GSH conjugates were detected. These results indicate that these cells conjugate only the (R)-BIU enantiomer, and that the GSH conjugate is immediately further metabolized to its cysteine conjugate and mercapturate.