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Oxidation of glutathione during hydroperoxide metabolism. A study using isolated hepatocytes and the glutathione reductase inhibitor 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea.

In the present study freshly isolated rat hepatocytes treated with the glutathione reductase inhibitor BCNU (1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea) were used to investigate the metabolism of tert-butyl hydroperoxide and of hydrogen peroxide formed in different intracellular compartments. Glycolate, benzylamine and hexobarbital were used to stimulate H2O2 production in the peroxisomal, mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticular/cytosolic compartments, respectively. Our results support previous findings that catabolism of H2O2 formed in the mitochondrial and cytosolic compartments occurs predominantly by the glutathione peroxidase system, whereas H2O2 generated within the peroxisomes is metabolized by catalase. They further reveal that the capacity of uninhibited glutathione reductase to reduce glutathione disulfide, formed during hydroperoxide metabolism by glutathione peroxidase, is high and that a decreased NADPH/NADP+ redox level, rather than insufficient reductase activity, is responsible for the accumulation and subsequent excretion of cellular glutathione disulfide observed during hydroperoxide metabolism. Finally, our results demonstrate that H2O2 generated during cytochrome P-450-mediated drug oxidation is metabolized primarily by the glutathione peroxidase system.

Animals↗

Involvement of glutathione peroxidase activity in the stimulation of 5-lipoxygenase activity by glutathione-depleting agents in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

We recently demonstrated activation of 5-lipoxygenase activity in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) on preincubation of the cells with glutathione-depleting agents, namely 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (Dnp-C1) and azodicarboxylic acid bis[dimethylamide] (diamide). In this paper we show that Dnp-C1, but not diamide, impairs the reduction of added organic peroxides in whole PMN. Also, since co-incubation of fatty acid hydroperoxides with arachidonate caused activation of 5-lipoxygenase, we propose that Dnp-C1 increases the peroxide level in PMN which is required for the onset of lipoxygenase activity. This could be substantiated in PMN homogenates by a glutathione-dependent depression of arachidonate 5-lipoxygenation. At higher arachidonate concentrations and in the presence of Ca2+ the glutathione effect was not observed but additional glutathione peroxidase also blocked this maximally stimulated 5-lipoxygenase. Together with other experiments, it became obvious that the formation of leukotrienes, but also of 15-lipoxygenase products, requires a sharply defined threshold level of fatty acid hydroperoxides which are generated by the lipoxygenases and counteracted by glutathione-dependent peroxidase(s). Dnp-C1 influences this equilibrium by removing glutathione and thereby inhibiting glutathione-dependent peroxidase activity. From our data we conclude that it is the physiological function of the peroxidase activity in PMN to determine an efficiently regulated threshold level of hydroperoxide products, below which no activation of 5-lipoxygenase or 15-lipoxygenase can occur.

Arachidonate 15-Lipoxygenase↗

Expression of glutathione S-transferase activity and glutathione content in squamous cell carcinoma of bladder associated with schistosomiasis in a population in Egypt.

The present study was designed to describe the expression of the glutathione S-transferase/glutathione system in squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder in a population in Egypt. The glutathione-S transferase activity was significantly higher in bladder cancer specimens (n = 40) in comparison with schistosomiasis cystitis tissue (n = 42) (4-fold, p = 1 x 10(-12)) and with healthy control samples (n = 9) (10-fold, p = 1 x 10(-6)). The glutathione content was also significantly higher in bladder cancer than in cystitis tissue (2-fold, p = 8 x 10(-6)) and in control samples (6-fold, 8 x 10(-6)). When control mucosa and cystitis samples were compared, 2-fold increased values were obtained for glutathione-S transferase (p = 4 x 10(-3)) and glutathione (p = 1 x 10(-3)) in schistosomiasis bladder tissue. Results describe an over-expression of glutathione-S transferase and glutathione levels in squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder, and indicate a possible role in chemoresistance to pharmacological therapy.

Adult↗

Serum glutathione-S-transferase and glutathione reductase activity in head and neck cancer patients.

Glutathione, an antioxidant plays an important role in phase-II detoxification of carcinogens. The levels of reduced glutathione are maintained by glutathione-depleting as well as replenishing enzymes such as glutathione-s-transferase (GST) and glutathione reductase (GR), respectively. Pre and post treatment changes in GST and GR activities in head and neck cancer patients were analysed. Serum GST and GR were analysed from untreated head and neck cancer patients (PT) (n=146), controls with habit of tobacco (VHT) (n=25) as well as without (no) habit of tobacco (NHT) (n=25) and patients with oral precancerous conditions (OPC) (n=50). The cancer patients were followed-up after initiation of anticancer therapy. Follow-up blood samples were collected. Serum GST and GR activities were estimated by highly sensitive and specific spectrophotometric methods. Untreated cancer patients showed elevated mean serum GST and GR activities as compared to NHT. Patients with OPC had declined mean GST activity as compared to WHT and untreated cancer patients. Paired t-test revealed that complete responders (CR) showed significantly elevated GST levels and declined GR activities (p < 0.001) as compared to those in PT. No correlation was found between stage of the disease and GST, GR activity. Paired t-test showed significant decreased in GR activity in nonresponders (NR) treated with radiotherapy (p=0.01). The study suggested that analysis of glutathione and glutathione-depleting enzymes can be helpful for treatment monitoring of head and neck cancer patients.

Adult↗

Structural studies on human glutathione S-transferase pi. Substitution mutations to determine amino acids necessary for binding glutathione.

In order to identify amino acids involved in binding the co-substrate glutathione to the human glutathione S-transferase (GST) pi enzyme, we assembled three criteria to implicate amino acids whose role in binding and catalysis could be tested. Presence of a residue in the highly conserved exon 4 of the GST gene, positional conservation of a residue in 12 glutathione S-transferase amino acid sequences, and results from published chemical modification studies were used to implicate 14 residues. A bacterial expression vector (pUC120 pi), which enabled abundant production (2-26% of soluble Escherichia coli protein) of wild-type or mutant GST pi, was constructed, and, following nonconservative substitution mutation of the 14 implicated residues, five mutants (R13S, D57K, Q64R, I68Y, L72F) showed a greater than 95% decrease in specific activity. A quantitative assay was developed which rapidly measured the ability of wild-type or mutant glutathione S-transferase to bind to glutathione-agarose. Using this assay, each of the five loss of function mutants showed a greater than 20-fold decrease in binding glutathione, an observation consistent with a recent crystal structure analysis showing that several of these residues help to form the glutathione-binding cleft.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Studies on the activity and activation of rat liver microsomal glutathione transferase with a series of glutathione analogues.

The substrate specificity of rat liver microsomal glutathione transferase toward glutathione has been examined in a systematic manner. Out of a glycyl-modified and eight gamma-glutamyl-modified glutathione analogues, it was found that four (glutaryl-L-Cys-Gly, alpha-L-Glu-L-Cys-Gly, alpha-D-Glu-L-Cys-Gly, and gamma-L-Glu-L-Cys-beta-Ala) function as substrates. The kinetic parameters for three of these substrates (the alpha-D-Glu-L-Cys-Gly analogue gave very low activity) were compared with those of GSH with both unactivated and the N-ethylmaleimide-activated microsomal glutathione transferase. The alpha-L-Glu-L-Cys-Gly analogue is similar to GSH in that it has a higher kcat (6.9 versus 0.6 s-1) value with the activated enzyme compared with the unactivated enzyme but displays a high Km (6 versus 11 mM) with both forms. Glutaryl-L-Cys-Gly, in contrast, exhibited a similar kcat (8.9 versus 6.7 s-1) with the N-ethylmaleimide-treated enzyme but retains a higher Km value (50 versus 15 mM). Thus, the alpha-amino group of the glutamyl residue in GSH is important for the activity of the activated microsomal glutathione transferase. These observations were quantitated by analyzing the changes in the Gibbs free energy of binding calculated from the changes in kcat/Km values, comparing the analogues to GSH and each other. It is estimated that the binding energy of the alpha-amino group of the glutamyl residue in GSH contributes 9.7 kJ/mol to catalysis by the activated enzyme, whereas the corresponding value for the unactivated enzyme is 3.2 kJ/mol. The importance of the acidic functions in glutathione is also evident as shown by the lack of activity with 4-aminobutyric acid-L-Cys-Gly and the low kcat/Km values with gamma-L-Glu-L-Cys-beta-Ala (0.03 and 0.01 mM-1s-1 for unactivated and activated enzyme, respectively). Utilization of binding energy from a correctly positioned carboxyl group in the glycine residue (10 and 17 kJ/mol for unactivated and activated enzyme, respectively) therefore also appears to be required for optimal activity and activation. A conformational change in the microsomal glutathione transferase upon treatment with N-ethylmaleimide or trypsin, which allows utilization of binding energy from the alpha-amino group of GSH as well as the glycine carboxyl in catalysis, is suggested to account for at least part of the activation of the enzyme.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Melphalan transport, glutathione levels, and glutathione-S-transferase activity in human medulloblastoma.

Melphalan transport, glutathione levels, and glutathione-S-transferase activity were measured in two continuous human medulloblastoma cell lines and transplantable xenografts in athymic nude mice, TE-671 and Daoy. In vitro mean glutathione levels were 10.06 nmol/10(6) cells in TE-671 and 2.96 nmol/10(6) cells in Daoy. In vitro mean glutathione-S-transferase values were 91.52 nmol/min/mg protein in TE-671 and 50.31 nmol/min/mg protein in Daoy. Transport studies revealed kinetic parameters of Km = 108.3 microM, Vmax = 363.1 pmol/10(6) cells/min in TE-671 and Km = 111.7 microM, Vmax = 180.6 pmol/10(6) cells/min in Daoy. Melphalan transport was inhibited by both DL-alpha-2-aminobicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-2- carboxylic acid and sodium ion depletion in TE-671 and Daoy cells in vitro, indicating that both systems of amino acid transport are functional in these medulloblastoma lines. In vivo s.c. xenograft glutathione values were lower (7.79 nmol/mg protein) in TE-671 than in Daoy (13.68 nmol/mg protein). The mean plasma concentration in mice given a 10% lethal dose (71.3 mg/m2) of melphalan i.p. was 50.3 microM at 10 min, with the half-life of 29.9 min. At this dose, s.c. xenograft levels were 2- to 3-fold higher in TE-671 than in Daoy tumors for the 3-h period measured. These studies demonstrate transport parameters confirming facilitated transport of melphalan in human medulloblastoma, a mean murine plasma melphalan concentration (following treatment with melphalan) above the in vitro drug dose at which there is a 90% reduction in the number of colonies in comparison to controls for TE-671 and Daoy for 2 h, and glutathione and glutathione-S-transferase levels in the same range previously reported in other melphalan-sensitive and melphalan-resistant human tumors. Future work with spontaneous and acquired melphalan-resistant human medulloblastoma cell lines and xenografts will define the role of these mechanisms in mediating drug resistance.

Animals↗

Glutathione and glutathione transferase levels in mouse granulocytes following cyclophosphamide administration.

Following an initial depletion, glutathione and glutathione transferase levels are transiently increased in mouse bone marrow following the administration of a low dose of cyclophosphamide. Similar effects are observed on subsequent administration of the drug. The separation of various bone marrow populations on a fluorescence-activated cell sorter has shown that increase in glutathione and glutathione transferase levels are restricted to the granulocytic fraction. This may well provide an explanation for the protective effect of a low 'priming' dose of cyclophosphamide against a subsequent lethal dose. The changes in granulocytic glutathione and glutathione transferase levels can also be monitored in the peripheral circulation. The enhanced levels of glutathione in cells resulting from cytotoxic insult appear to be a general response of cells to cytotoxins and may be important in both antitumor therapy as well as the initiation of chemical toxicity and carcinogenicity.

Animals↗

Glutathione- and glutathione-S-transferase-dependent oxidative desulfuration of the thione xenobiotic diethyldithiocarbamate methyl ester.

Oxidative desulfuration of diethyldithiocarbamate methyl ester (DDTC-Me), a thione xenobiotic and a metabolite of disulfiram, was studied. Using a rat liver microsomal incubation system, DDTC-Me was oxidized at the thionosulfur group, forming DDTC-Me sulfine. Only minimal desulfuration of DDTC-Me to S-methyl-N,N-diethylthiolcarbamate (DETC-Me) occurred. Desulfuration of DDTC-Me increased 4-fold when the microsomal incubation was supplemented with reduced glutathione (GSH) and increased 8-fold when both GSH and glutathione-S-transferase (EC 2.5.1.18) were added. Similar results were obtained using a simplified system containing DDTC-Me sulfine, GSH, and glutathione-S-transferase. This suggested that DDTC-Me sulfine is a stable intermediate formed before DDTC-Me is desulfurated to DETC-Me. This unprecedented desulfuration process can be explained as follows. GSH attacks the oxithiirane isomer of DDTC-Me sulfine, resulting in ring opening followed by loss of glutathione hydrodisulfide, which is reduced by GSH to oxidized glutathione and H2S. GSH can also reduce DDTC-Me sulfine to DDTC-Me. This mechanism is supported by in vitro studies. An approximately 1:1 stoichiometry was observed for the formation of H2S and DETC-Me. A 1:1 stoichiometry was also observed for the consumption of DDTC-Me sulfine, formation of DETC-Me plus DDTC-Me, and formation of oxidized glutathione. Glutathione hydrodisulfide was trapped by derivatization in situ using 4-vinylpyridine. Oxidative desulfuration of a series of dithiocarbamate esters also followed a similar mechanism.

Aldehyde Dehydrogenase↗

Reversible conjugation of ethacrynic acid with glutathione and human glutathione S-transferase P1-1.

The reversibility of the conjugation reaction of the diuretic drug ethacrynic acid (EA), an alpha,beta-unsaturated ketone, with glutathione and glutathione S-transferase P1-1 (GST P1-1) has been studied. When the glutathione conjugate of EA was incubated with a 5-fold molar excess of N-acetyl-L-cysteine or GST P1-1, a time-dependent transfer of EA to N-acetyl-L-cysteine or GST P1-1 was observed. With increasing pH, the pseudo first order rate constants of transfer of EA to N-acetyl-L-cysteine increased from 0.010 h-1 (pH 6.4) to 0.040 h-1 (pH 7.4) and 0.076 h-1 (pH 8.4). From the fact that preincubation of GST P1-1 with 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene reduced the incorporation of [14C]EA from 0.94 +/- 0.21 (SD) to 0.16 +/- 0.02 mol EA/mol subunit and from automated Edman degradation of the major radioactive peptide isolated after pepsin digestion of the [14C]EA-labeled enzyme, it was concluded that the reaction of EA takes place with cysteine 47 of GST P1-1. When GST P1-1 was inactivated with a 5-fold molar excess of EA, adding an excess of glutathione resulted in full restoration of the catalytic activity in about 120 h. These findings may have several implications. Under normal physiological conditions the inhibition of GST P1-1 by covalent binding of EA would be reversed by glutathione, leaving reversible inhibition by the glutathione conjugate of EA and by EA itself as the main mechanism of inhibition; however, when glutathione levels are low the covalent inhibition might be predominant, resulting in a completely different time course for the inhibition.

Ethacrynic Acid↗

Lead concentration and the level of glutathione, glutathione S-transferase, reductase and peroxidase in the blood of some occupational workers from Irbid City, Jordan.

Blood samples were collected from 263 lead-exposed suspected males living in Irbid area in the northern part of Jordan. The blood lead concentrations in the samples were determined by atomic absorption and were related to the type of work performed by the workers. The blood lead concentration was higher in metal casters, 41.6, and radiator welders, 32,8 micrograms/dl, compared to non-suspected lead-exposed university students, 5.7 micrograms/dl. Workers such as mechanics, bus drivers, car painters and gas station workers showed slightly higher but not significant blood lead. The blood glutathione content and the activities of glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione S-transferase were also determined in non-suspected subjects and in those with occupational exposure to lead. With increasing blood lead concentration, glutathione content decreases as well as the activities of the glutathione utilizing enzymes.

Adult↗

Glutathione, glutathione-dependent enzymes and antioxidant status in erythrocytes from children treated with high-dose paracetamol.

AIM: To investigate glutathione and antioxidant status changes in erythrocytes from febrile children receiving repeated supratherapeutic paracetamol doses. METHODS: Fifty-one children aged 2 months to 10 years participated in the study. Three groups were studied: group 1 (n = 24) included afebrile children who did not receive paracetamol; and groups 2 (n = 13) and 3 (n = 14) included children who had fever above 38.5 degrees C for more than 72 h. Patients in group 2 received paracetamol at a dose of 50 +/- 15 (30-75) mg kg(-1) day(-1) and those in group 3 received paracetamol above the recommended therapeutic dose, ie 107 28 (80-180) mg kg(-1) day(-1). A blood sample was taken for the measurement of liver transaminases, gammaglutamil transferase (GGT), reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathione S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and antioxidant status. RESULTS: Aspartate aminotransferase activity in group 3 was higher than in the other groups (P = 0.027). GSH, SOD and antioxidant status were significantly lower in group 3 compared with groups 1 and 2 (mean differences: for GSH 3.41 micromol gHb(-1), 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.10-4.72, and 2.15 micromol gHb(-1), 95% CI 0.65-3.65, respectively; for SOD 856 U min(-1) gHb(-1), 95% CI 397-1316, and 556 U min(-1) gHb(-1), 95% CI 30-1082, respectively; and for antioxidant status 0.83 mmol l(-1) plasma, 95% CI 0.30-1.36, and 0.63 mmol l(-1) plasma, 95% CI 0.02-1.24, respectively). GR activity was significantly lower in groups 3 and 2 in comparison with group 1 (mean differences 3.44 U min(-1) gHb(-1), 95% CI 0.63-6.25, and 5.64 U min(-1) gHb(-1), 95% CI 2.90-8.38, respectively). Using multiple regression analysis, paracetamol dose was found to be the only independent variable affecting GR, GST and SOD activities (P = 0.007, 0.003 and 0.008, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In febrile children, treatment with repeated supratherapeutic doses of paracetamol is associated with reduced antioxidant status and erythrocyte glutathione concentrations. These significant changes may indicate an increased risk for hepatotoxicity and liver damage.

Acetaminophen↗

6-Hydroxydopamine-induced glutathione alteration occurs via glutathione enzyme system in primary cultured astrocytes.

AIM: To define the role of enzymes involved in glutathione metabolism in 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced glutathione alteration in primary cultured astrocytes. METHODS: Total glutathione (GSx) levels were determined using the modified enzymatic microtiter plate assay. The mRNA levels of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (gammaGCS), gamma-glutamyltransferase (gammaGT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), GR(glutathione reductase), and glutathione transferases (GST) were determined using RT-PCR. gammaGT activity was determined using gammaGT assay kits. RESULTS: In primary cultured astrocytes, 6-OHDA induced a significant elevation of cellular GSx levels after treatment for 24 h. However, the GSx levels decreased after 24 h and the values were even lower than the value in the control group without 6-OHDA at 48 h. RT-PCR data showed that the mRNA levels of gammaGCS, the rate-limiting enzyme of gamma-L-glutamyl-L-cysteinylglycine (GSH) synthesis, were increased by 6-OHDA after treatment for 24 h and 48 h; the mRNA levels of GPx, GR, and GST did not alter in 6-OHDA-treated astrocytes after treatment for 24 h and 48 h; and 6-OHDA increased the mRNA levels and the activity of gammaGT after treatment for 48 h, which induced a decrease in GSx levels, despite the up-regulation of gammaGCS after exposure to 6-OHDA for 48 h. CONCLUSION: The change in gammaGCS correlated with the increase in GSH levels induced by 6-OHDA after treatment for 24 h. GSx levels decreased because of increased gammaGT mRNA levels and gammaGT activity induced by 6-OHDA after treatment for 48 h.

Animals↗

Effects of glycerol-induced acute renal failure on tissue glutathione and glutathione-dependent enzymes in the rat.

The activities of tissue glutathione (reduced and oxidized) and glutathione-dependent enzymes such as glutathione S-transferase (GSH S-transferase), glutathione reductase (GSSG reductase) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were determined for control and uremic rats. Acute renal failure (ARF) was produced by glycerol-water injection. Cytosolic and microsomal GSH S-transferase activity in the kidney was decreased by 38% and 15%, respectively. Hepatic microsomal GSH S-transferase was also decreased by 40% in uremic rats. GSH-Px activity was decreased by 51% in the cytosolic fraction and 33% in the microsomal fraction in the kidney, but was not affected in the liver and whole blood. GSSG reductase activity was also decreased by 48% in the cytosolic fraction in the kidney of uremic rats. In whole blood, however, GSSG reductase activity was increased by 12-fold (0.66 +/- 0.12 mumol NADPH oxidized/min/ml blood in the control; 8.03 +/- 3.29 mumol NADPH oxidized/min/ml blood in uremia). Although the total glutathione concentrations were not significantly affected, the GSSG/GSH ratio, which is an indication of oxidative stress, was significantly increased in the liver and whole blood of uremic rats. In addition to the decreases in hepatic and renal GSH S-transferase activities, which is important in drug disposition, ARF caused decreases in GSSG reductase and GSH-Px activity, which are essential for the protection against lipid peroxidation.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

[Effect of insulin and adrenaline on the activity of enzymes of glutathione metabolism and glutathione concentration in rat organs].

Adrenaline activates glutathione peroxidase in the heart, liver, and kidneys and glutathione transferase in the heart and liver, inhibits gamma-glutamyl transferase in the kidneys, and has no effect on glutathione reductase; no changes in the brain detected. Insulin does not influence glutathione reductase either, nor does it induce any changes in the heart, liver, and bone marrow, but it alters (as a rule reduces) in a number of cases the activities of many glutathione metabolism enzymes and reduces glutathione concentration in the brain, kidneys, and spleen both an hour and 24 h after injection. The detected changes do not conform to universally acknowledged classification of the organs by insulin sensitivity and do not correlate with hypoglycemia.

Animals↗

In vivo regulation of hepatic glutathione synthesis: effects of food deprivation or glutathione depletion by electrophilic compounds.

The increased glutathione turnover that occurs during fasting results from two mechanisms. Because of a decrease in the intrahepatic free glutathione: mixed disulfide ratio, which is apparently mediated by c-AMP, the free glutathione pool contracts and turns over more rapidly in order to maintain glutathione synthesis. In addition, glutathione consumption via the gamma-glutamyl cycle apparently is increased during fasting. Additional data indicate that an inability to stimulate further the rate of glutathione synthesis during fasting, rather than a reduction in glutathione synthesis are previously postulated, probably explains the increased susceptibility of fasted animals to tissue attack by electrophilic drug metabolites.

Acetaminophen↗

Glutathione S-transferase (transferase pi) from human placenta is identical or closely related to glutathione S-transferase (transferase rho) from erythrocytes.

Glutathione S-transferase (RX: glutathione R-transferase, EC 2.5.1.18) from human placenta has been purified to homogeneity. This enzyme, transferase pi, is an acidic protein (isoelectric point at pH 4.8) composed of two subunits. The molecular weights for the dimer and monomer were determined by independent methods as 47,000 and 23,400, respectively. These properties are not significantly different from those of glutathione S-transferase rho from human erythrocytes. Antibodies to transferase pi reacted with the enzyme from erythrocytes but not with the basic transferases alpha - epsilon and the neutral transferase mu isolated from human liver. Antibodies to the latter enzymes did not react with the transferase from placenta. Further similarities between transferases pi and rho appear in amino acid compositions, kinetic constants and substrate specificities. Both the placental and the erythrocyte enzyme have considerably higher activity with ethacrynic acid than any other of the human glutathione S-transferases. The glutathione S-transferase could be distinguished from two additional acidic glutathione-dependent enzymes, glyoxalase I and selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase. It is concluded that transferase pi from placenta is identical with or very closely related to transferase rho from erythrocytes.

Amino Acids↗

Inhibition of mammalian glyoxalase I (lactoylglutathione lyase) by N-acylated S-blocked glutathione derivatives as a probe for the role of the N-site of glutathione in glyoxalase I mechanism.

A series of twelve S-blocked and N,S-blocked glutathione derivatives has been studied as inhibitors of glyoxalase I [R)-S-lactoylglutathione methylglyoxal-lyase (isomerising), EC 4.4.1.5) from human erythrocytes. A number of new N,S-blocked glutathiones have been synthesised. Inhibition at pH 7.0, 25 degrees C was linear-competitive in all cases and the Ki values were interpreted in terms of the absence of a specific binding interaction for the N-site of the inhibitor and the absence of coupling between binding processes at N- and S-sites (the regions around the NH2 and HS groups, respectively, of GSH analogues bound to enzyme). These observations are in strong contrast to previous results with the yeast enzyme. Some Ki values were measured for yeast glyoxalase I. A special binding interaction of the phenyl groups with enzyme from both species was found for glutathione derivatives with N-acyl groups of structure -NH X CO X X X Y X Ph but not for -NH X COPh, where X and Y were variously -CH2-, -NH- and -O-. Studies were made of the range of stability of human erythrocyte glyoxalase I to pH. The pH profiles for the Ki values of S-p-bromobenzyl)glutathione and N-acetyl-S-(p-bromobenzyl)glutathione indicated no pH dependence for the latter and little, if any, for the former inhibitor. The mean Ki over the pH range 5-8.5 for S-(p-bromobenzyl)glutathione was 1.21 +/- 0.37 microM and for N-acetyl-S-(p-bromobenzyl)glutathione in the same pH range, Ki decreased from 1.45 +/- 0.26 microM to 0.88 +/- 0.11 M.

Erythrocytes↗