NAPBQI IS NORMALLY DETOXIFIED BY CONJUGATION WITH GLUTATHIONE.
HOWEVER, WHEN ACETAMINOPHEN IS OVERDOSED, NAPBQI IS PRODUCED IN SO LARGE
QUANTITIES THAT GLUTATHIONE BECOMES CONSUMED AND DEPLETED. THEN NAPBQI
BINDS COVALENTLY TO THIOL GROUPS IN HEPATOCELLULAR PROTEINS, INACTIVATING
THESE PROTEINS (enzymes, transporters, mitochondrial e-transport proteins, etc.)
AND ULTIMATELY CAUSING LIVER NECROSIS.