Both S-adenosyl-L-methionine (AdoMet) and glutathione (GSH) are important small molecules with pharmaceutical importance. The co-production of AdoMet and GSH using abundant spent brewer's yeast cells from the beer industry and with L-methionine supplement was successfully realized. Experimental data showed that improvement of GSH productivity was accompanied by AdoMet accumulation. AdoMet productivity of 40-45 mg g(-1) (DCW) was successfully achieved and an additional 13-18 mg g(-1) (DCW) GSH was synthesized in spent brewer's yeast cells. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.