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Determination of picomole quantities of hydroperoxides by a coupled glutathione peroxidase and glutathione disulfide specific glutathione reductase assay.

A procedure to quantitate picomole amounts of hydroperoxides based on GSSG formation is described. Hydroperoxides are incubated with GSH and glutathione peroxidase, and the GSSG formed is measured by a GSSG-specific glutathione reductase recycling assay. Prior to analysis the remaining GSH is removed with N-ethylmaleimide. N-Ethylmaleimide inhibition of the recycling assay is prevented by alkaline hydrolysis of the N-ethylmaleimide, without GSSG hydrolysis, at pH 11. The method is rapid, 30 min, with a limit of detection of 142 pmol calculated by linear regression analysis. Stoichiometric amounts of GSSG are produced in response to hydroperoxides. An application of the method is shown with air oxidation of arachidonic acid solutions over 4 h at room temperature. The method is sufficiently sensitive to quantitate the low amounts of hydroperoxides present in fresh arachidonic acid samples.

Arachidonic Acid↗

Methionine and cysteine affect glutathione level, glutathione-related enzyme activities and the expression of glutathione S-transferase isozymes in rat hepatocytes.

Methionine and cysteine are constituents of glutathione. To understand the effects of these two sulfur amino acids on the glutathione (GSH)-dependent detoxification defense system, intracellular GSH and GSH-related enzyme activities, including GSH peroxidase, GSH reductase, GSH S-transferase (GST) and gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase, were determined. In addition, the expression of three GST isozymes and carbonic anhydrase III (CA III) was examined. Hepatocytes isolated from male Sprague-Dawley rats were cultured with 0.1, 0.3, 0.5 or 1.0 mmol/L each of L-methionine and L-cysteine, for up to 7 d. Cells incubated with 0.5 or 1.0 mmol/L methionine and cysteine had increased intracellular GSH. A twofold increase was observed on d 6 compared with freshly isolated hepatocytes (P < 0.05). However, intracellular GSH was lower in cells treated with 0.3 or 0.1 mmol/L each of methionine and cysteine than in cells tested with 0.5 or 1.0 mmol/L. Although the GSH level differed significantly between cells cultured with 0.3 or 1.0 mmol/L of methionine and cysteine, GSH-related enzymes did not differ at these two concentrations. The activity generally remained constant for the first 24 h, then increased up to d 4. Immunodetection analysis revealed no difference in the level of CA III and GST isoforms, Ya, Yb and Yp, with amino acids each at a concentration of at least 0.3 mmol/L. Yp expression steadily increased up to d 7. Most proteins decreased rapidly after 48 h when cultured with 0.1 mmol/L of methionine and cysteine; however, the Yp level increased up to d 6. In conclusion, results indicate that a twofold increase of intracellular GSH is reached by adding methionine and cysteine at a concentration >0.5 mmol/L to the culture medium. The concentrations of methionine and cysteine for maintaining hepatic GSH are higher than for GSH-related enzyme activity and for GST isoform expression.

Amino Acids, Sulfur↗

Glutathione metabolism in activated human neutrophils: stimulation of glutathione synthesis and consumption of glutathione by reactive oxygen species.

Since glutathione (GSH) is involved in the modulation of the function of polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN) such as phagocytosis and production of reactive oxygen species, the metabolism of GSH was studied in human PMN. The concentration of GSH in resting PMN amounted to 13.3 nmol 10(-7) PMN and remained stable over 100 min of incubation. Upon activation of PMN with phorbol myristate acetate intracellular GSH decreased to 50% of the resting concentration within 80 min. In the presence of buthionine sulfoximine, which inhibits the synthesis of GSH, the depletion of intracellular GSH was dramatically accelerated, indicating that activation of PMN is associated with a marked stimulation of GSH synthesis. Since a similar depletion of GSH was seen in the presence of propargylglycine, an inhibitor of the cystathionine pathway, most of the cysteine required for the resynthesis of GSH must originate from methionine and not from cysteine generated by the catabolism of GSH. Further studies showed that GSH is sequentially oxidized by O2-. and HOCl, first to GSSG and then to an unidentified compound, most likely a chloramine. In the presence of an adequate supply of GSH and NADPH which is required for the reduction of GSSG by glutathione reductase this further oxidation of GSSG was prevented. Thus, the highly toxic HOCl generated by PMN can be detoxified by the glutathione reducatase system. The capacity of PMN to re-synthesize GSH may be an important determinant of PMN function.

Free Radicals↗

[Interference by glutathione reductase in the "CK-MB-inhibition-test": elimination of the catalytic activity of glutathione reductase by anti-glutathione reductase (author's transl)].

Glutathione reductase interferes in the determiniation of creatine kinase-MB by the "CK-MB-inhibition-test". In 36 out of 55 serum samples with normal and elevated catalytic activities of creatine kinase, "negative" values greater than 14 U/l were obtained for the creatine kinase-MB. This interference by glutathione reductase is avoided by preincubation of the serum samples for 5 min with anti-glutathione reductase.

Catalysis↗

Microsomal glutathione-dependent protection against lipid peroxidation acts through a factor other than glutathione peroxidase and glutathione S-transferase in rat liver.

Ascorbate-Fe3+-induced and NADPH-induced lipid peroxidation of rat liver microsomes were inhibited by glutathione (GSH). This inhibition was due to microsomal GSH-dependent factor. This factor was heat labile, and storage of microsomes at 4 degrees C for 1 week diminished the activity. GSH could not be substituted by other sulfhydryl compounds tested. Deoxycholate (1 mM) and bromosulfophthalein (0.1 mM) inhibited GSH-dependent protection but did not inhibit microsomal GSH peroxidase activity. Iodoacetate (10 mM) inhibited GSH-dependent protection but did not inhibit microsomal GSH S-transferase. N-Ethylmaleimide (0.1 mM) and oxidized glutathione (10 mM) inhibited GSH-dependent protection but activated microsomal GSH S-transferase activity. These results indicate the existence of a heat-labile, microsomal GSH-dependent protective factor against lipid peroxidation that acts through a factor other than GSH-peroxidase and GSH S-transferase.

Animals↗

Activity of glutathione-dependent enzymes in long term diabetes. II. Glutathione contents and activity of glutathione-dependent enzymes: S-transferase and peroxidase in the kidney cytosol of alloxan induced diabetic rats.

In the kidney of diabetic rats the elevated GSH concentration was accompanied with the 25% increase of cytosolic Se-dependent glutathione peroxidase (Se-GSHPx) activity. The activity of cytosol glutathione S-transferase (GST) was decreased to 55% of the control with p-nitrobenzyl chloride, and was unchanged with 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene, and ethacrynic acid. The activity of GST with cumene hydroperoxide (a good substrate for determination the activity of non Se-GSHPx) in diabetic animals stay unchanged too. Insulin treatment of diabetic rats restores the normal glycemia and the body weight, strongly reduces glucosuria and reverses the morphological changes observed in the kidney. The activity of GST and cytosol Se-GSHPx, as well as GSH content, returned to a normal values after insulin treatment, while the activity of non Se-GSHPx was reduced of about 50% in relation to the control values.

Alloxan↗

Crystal structure of a murine glutathione S-transferase in complex with a glutathione conjugate of 4-hydroxynon-2-enal in one subunit and glutathione in the other: evidence of signaling across the dimer interface.

mGSTA4-4, a murine glutathione S-transferase (GST) exhibiting high activity in conjugating the lipid peroxidation product 4-hydroxynon-2-enal (4-HNE) with glutathione (GSH), was crystallized in complex with the GSH conjugate of 4-HNE (GS-Hna). The structure has been solved at 2.6 A resolution, which reveals that the active site of one subunit of the dimeric enzyme binds GS-Hna, whereas the other binds GSH. A marked asymmetry between the two subunits is evident. Most noticeable are the differences in the conformation of arginine residues 69 and 15. In all GST structures published previously, the guanidino groups of R69 residues from both subunits stack at the dimer interface and are related by a (pseudo-) 2-fold axis. In the present structure of mGSTA4-4, however, the two R69 side chains point in opposite directions, although their guanidino groups remain in contact. In the subunit with bound GSH, R69 also interacts with R15, and the guanidino group of R15 points away from the active site, whereas in the subunit that binds GS-Hna, R15 pivots into the active site, which breaks its interaction with R69. According to our previous results [Nanduri et al. (1997) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 335, 305-310], the availability of R15 in the active site assists the conjugation of 4-HNE with GSH. We propose a model for the catalytic mechanism of mGSTA4-4 in conjugating 4-HNE with GSH-i.e., the guanidino group of R15 is available in the active site of only one subunit at any given time and the stacked pair of R69 residues act as a switch that couples the concerted movement of the two R15 side chains. The alternate occupancy of 4-HNE in the two subunits has been confirmed by our kinetic analysis that shows the negative cooperativity of mGSTA4-4 for 4-HNE. Disruption of the signaling between the subunits by mutating the R69 residues released the negative cooperativity with 4-HNE.

Aldehydes↗

Identification of the binding site of methylglyoxal on glutathione peroxidase: methylglyoxal inhibits glutathione peroxidase activity via binding to glutathione binding sites Arg 184 and 185.

Methylglyoxal (MG), a physiological alpha-dicarbonyl compound is derived from glycolytic intermediates and produced during the Maillard reaction. The Maillard reaction, a non-enzymatic reaction of ketones and aldehydes with amino group of proteins, contributes to the aging of proteins and to complications associated with diabetes. In our previous studies (Che, et al. (1997) "Selective induction of heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor by MG and 3-deoxyglucosone in rat aortic smooth muscle cells. The involvement of reactive oxygen species formation and a possible implication for atherogenesis in diabetes". J. Biol. Chem., 272, 18453-18459), we reported that MG elevates intracellular peroxide levels, but the mechanisms for this remain unclear. Here, we report that MG inactivates bovine glutathione peroxidase (GPx), a major antioxidant enzyme, in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The use of BIAM labeling, it was showed that the selenocysteine residue in the active site was intact when GPx was incubated with MG. MALDI-TOF-MS (matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry) and protein sequencing examined the possibility that MG modifies arginine residues in GPx. The results show that Arg 184 and Arg 185, located in the glutathione binding site of GPx was irreversively modified by treatment with MG. Reactive dicarbonyl compounds such as 3-deoxyglucosone, glyoxal and phenylglyoxal also inactivated GPx, although the rates for this inactivation varied widely. These data suggest that dicarbonyl compounds are able to directly inactivate GPx, resulting in an increase in intracellular peroxides which are responsible for oxidative cellular damage.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Formation of the DNA adduct S-[2-(N7-guanyl)ethyl]glutathione from ethylene dibromide: effects of modulation of glutathione and glutathione S-transferase levels and lack of a role for sulfation.

Hepatic S-[2-(N7-guanyl)ethyl]glutathione DNA adducts were determined in several strains of rats and mice after i.p. injection of a dose of 37 mg ethylene dibromide/kg body wt. More adducts were formed in rats than in mice, while no difference was noted among strains within each species. Removal of adducts in liver DNA was relatively slow in all animals tested. On the contrary, in vitro incubation of calf thymus DNA with ethylene dibromide and either rat cytosol or mouse cytosol gave rise to similar amounts of adduct, yet mouse cytosol showed much higher glutathione (GSH) S-transferase activity toward 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene. Human cytosol also activated ethylene dibromide, with the extent of conjugation being approximately half that of rat cytosol. Pretreatment of rats with phenobarbital or beta-naphthoflavone induced GSH S-transferases but did not increase the in vivo formation of DNA adducts, suggesting that concomitant induction of cytochrome P450 might abolish the effect of induction of GSH S-transferase by increasing the oxidation of ethylene dibromide. Butylated hydroxytoluene induced GSH S-transferase and also markedly increased DNA adduct levels. Disulfiram, a known cytochrome P450 inhibitor, significantly increased the formation of DNA adducts whereas it did not affect GSH S-transferase activity. Depletion of GSH by pretreatment of rats with diethylmaleate or buthionine sulfoximine resulted in decreased in vivo DNA adduct levels and the degree of reduction was well correlated with the extent of GSH depletion. In vitro incubation of tritiated S-(2-hydroxyethyl)GSH with calf thymus DNA in the presence of 3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulfate and rat liver cytosol did not result in significant binding to DNA, suggesting that sulfation of the alcohol does not readily occur to add a leaving group and regenerate an episulfonium ion. These results suggest that induction of the Phase II enzyme GSH S-transferase can be detrimental in the case of ethylene dibromide and that decreases in GSH levels reduce DNA alkylation in rats.

Animals↗

Detection of head and neck cancer with 99Tc(m) glutathione: a correlative study with tissue glutathione and glutathione S-transferase levels.

In this study glutathione (GSH), a natural tripeptide which plays an important role in detoxification reactions, protecting cells against damage from xenobiotics, has been labelled with 99Tc(m) for the demonstration of head and neck cancer. Twenty-eight patients (10 females and 18 males) with various malignancies of the head and neck were given 740 MBq of 99Tc(m)-GSH intravenously and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) images were obtained at 3 h. Semiquantification was performed by drawing regions of interest on three consecutive transaxial slices and tumour to background ratios were calculated. In addition, GSH and glutathione S-transferase (GST) levels were measured in the tumour samples and in normal tissue which were obtained during surgery. Scintigraphic images showed that there was increased uptake in the tumour compared to the normal contralateral side (tumour/normal tissue (mean +/- SD) = 1.94 +/- 0.76). The tissue analyses revealed increased levels of GST in tumour tissues, but both GST and GSH levels in tumour were not statistically different from those in the normal tissue. We conclude that scintigraphic visualization of head and neck tumours can be attributed to increased demand for GSH in cancer. Protein binding might account for the prolonged retention of 99Tc(m)-GSH in the malignant tissue. Like other peptides, it is accumulated and excreted by the kidneys, which allows clear visualization of the abdomen without interference from gastrointestinal system activity.

Adult↗

Role of glutathione and hepatic glutathione S-transferase in the biliary excretion of methyl mercury, cadmium and zinc: a study with enzyme inducers and glutathione depletors.

The effect of hepatic glutathione (GSH) depletion and enzyme induction on hepatic glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity, biliary excretion of GSH, methyl mercury, cadmium and zinc was studied in rats. The GSH depletors, methyl iodide and diethyl maleate, did not influence hepatic GST activity but, depending on the substrate used, benzo(a)pyrene, phenobarbital, pregnenolone-16 alpha-carbonitrile (PCN) and trans-stilbene oxide (TSO) increased it by 16-33, 44-89, 53-97 and 208-279%, respectively. GSH depletors decreased (-88%), benzo(a)pyrene and TSO did not affect, phenobarbital and PCN increased (+113 and +149%) the transport of GSH into bile. The biliary excretion of methyl mercury, cadmium and zinc was reduced by GSH depletors (-97, -74 and -93%), and enhanced by phenobarbital (+139, +280 and +220%) and PCN (+150, +121 and +160%). Treatment with benzo(a)pyrene and TSO did not affect the excretion of methyl mercury and zinc into bile, but decreased that of cadmium. These results do not provide evidence for the role of hepatic GST but strongly support the importance of biliary GSH excretion in the hepatobiliary transport of methyl mercury, cadmium and zinc. It is assumed that phenobarbital and PCN enhance the biliary excretion of these metals by increasing the transport of GSH, the carrier molecule, from liver to bile.

Animals↗

Disposition of glutathione monoethyl ester in the rat: glutathione ester is a slow release form of extracellular glutathione.

Glutathione monethyl ester (GSHE) is though to deliver glutathione (GSH) directly and intact into cell cytosol and therefore might have therapeutic potential in states of GSH deficiency. To better understand the disposition of GSHE, the pharmacokinetics of GSHE and GSH were compared in rats. Fifteen min after an i.v. dose of 5 mmol/kg GSHE, the plasma concentration of GSHE was 7.2 +/- 1.2 mmol/l and the plasma concentration of GSH had increased from 0.009 +/- 0.002 to 2.5 +/- 0.3 mmol/l. The areas under the plasma concentration time curves of GSH were identical after either the administration of GSHE or GSH, but the mean residence time of GSH in plasma was significantly longer after GSHE. The concentration of GSHE in liver reached a peak of 0.66 +/- 0.09 mumol/g. Intrahepatic concentrations of cysteine and GSH increased from 53 +/- 15 to 319 +/- 41 nmol/g and from 5.5 +/- 0.4 to 7.8 +/- 1.5 mumol/g, respectively, and remained elevated for 2 hr. Similar increases occurred after administration of GSH. However, the concentrations of cysteine and GSH peaked earlier and had returned to baseline by 2 hr. Qualitatively similar results were obtained in rats pretreated with L-buthionine-[S, R]-sulfoximine that partially inhibits GSH synthesis. GSHE added to rat plasma at a concentration of 10 mM was hydrolyzed to GSH at a rate of 0.1 mumol/min. Our data indicate that GSHE is not readily taken up by the liver, but is hydrolyzed by esterases in plasma and thereby gradually releases GSH in the extracellular space.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Differential expression of glutathione S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase in normal and malignant human breast tissues.

In the present study we have compared the levels of glutathione (GSH) S-transferase, GSH peroxidase and GSH reductase in human breast tumors and adjacent normal tissues obtained from the same individuals. We have also quantitated GST pi type antigen in these samples by western blotting. GST pi activity towards 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene was found to be elevated in tumors from three out of six patients (patient nos. 2, 4 and 5), whereas this activity was suppressed in tumor from patient no. 1. Results of Western blotting using antibodies raised against GST pi of human placenta were in agreement with the GST activity data. GSH peroxidase activity with cumene hydroperoxide as substrate was found to be elevated in four tumor samples (patient nos. 2, 4, 5, and 6) but suppressed in tumor from patient no. 1. On the other hand, GSH reductase activity was elevated in three samples (patients nos. 2, 4 and 5) and downregulated in the remaining three samples (patients nos. 1, 3 and 6). These results indicate that GSH-related enzymes are differentially altered in human breast tumors and GST pi type isoenzyme(s), unlike certain other human carcinomas such as colonic, are not uniformly elevated in human breast tumors.

Adult↗

Proton release upon glutathione binding to glutathione transferase P1-1: kinetic analysis of a multistep glutathione binding process.

The fate of the thiol proton coming from the ionization of the sulfhydryl group of GSH in the active site of glutathione transferase P1-1 has been studied. pH changes caused by the binding of GSH to the enzyme in the absence of any inorganic buffer indicate that the thiol proton leaves the active site when the binary complex is formed. The amount of protons released is stoichiometric to the amount of GSH thiolate formed in the G-site. The apparent pKa value for the bound GSH, calculated with this potentiometric approach, is 6.18 +/- 0.09; very similar values are found by spectrophotometric (6.20 +/- 0.12) and by kinetic (6.00 +/- 0.08) experiments. Binding of S-hexylglutathione does not cause any proton release. Stopped-flow data obtained by means of an acid-base indicator show that the proton extrusion process (apparent t1/2 = 1.1 +/- 0.1 ms at 15 degrees C) is not rate limiting in turnover (apparent t1/2 = 34 +/- 4 ms at 15 degrees C). By comparing the kinetic behavior of three distinct events occurring during the binding of GSH to the enzyme, i. e., proton release, ionization of bound GSH and quenching of intrinsic fluorescence, it appears that the binding process follows a multistep mechanism possibly involving the conformational transition of a weak precomplex into the final Michaelis complex. This step is modulated by helix 2 motions and may be rate limiting at physiological GSH concentrations. These findings, coming from kinetic studies, are consistent with NMR data [Nicotra, M., Paci, M., Sette, M., Oakley, A. J., Parker, M. W., Lo Bello, M., Caccuri, A. M., Federici, G., and Ricci, G. (1998) Biochemistry 37, 3020-3027] and time-resolved fluorescence experiments [Stella, L., Caccuri, A. M., Rosato, N., Nicotra, M., Lo Bello, M., De Matteis, F., Mazzetti, A. P., Federici, G., and Ricci, G., manuscript in preparation].

Glutathione↗

Studies on glutathione S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase in human normal and cataractous lenses.

The cause(s) for decreased reduced glutathione (GSH) content of human senile cataracts were investigated by determination of three enzymes of GSH metabolism: GSH S-transferase, GSH peroxidase and GSH reductase. There are significant decreases in activities of GSH S-transferase of early cataracts (-76%) and of dark advanced cataracts (-73%) as compared to clear age-matched lenses. However, the activities of GSH peroxidase were only slightly decreased in cataracts as compared to clear age-matched lenses. The decrease in enzymes of GSH metabolism does not account for increased GSH degradation. Thus decreased GSH synthesis and leak out from cataractous lenses may account for the GSH loss in cataracts.

Adult↗

Tyrosine-7 in human class Pi glutathione S-transferase is important for lowering the pKa of the thiol group of glutathione in the enzyme-glutathione complex.

Previously, we reported the importance of Tyr7 for the catalytic activity of human class Pi glutathione S-transferase [Kong et al. (1992) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm., 182, 1122]. As an extension of this study, we investigated the pH dependence of kinetic parameters of the wild-type enzyme and the Y7F mutant. The replacement of Tyr7 with phenylalanine was found to alter the pH dependence of Vmax and Vmax/KmCDNB of the enzyme for conjugation of GSH with 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB). The pKa of the thiol of GSH in the wild-type enzyme-GSH complex was estimated to be about 2.4 pK units lower than that in the Y7F-GSH complex. Tyr7 is thus considered to be important for catalytic activity in lowering the pKa of the thiol of GSH in the enzyme-GSH complex.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Lack of glutathione conjugation to adriamycin in human breast cancer MCF-7/DOX cells. Inhibition of glutathione S-transferase p1-1 by glutathione conjugates from anthracyclines.

One of the proposed mechanisms for multidrug resistance relies on the ability of resistant tumor cells to efficiently promote glutathione S-transferase (GST)-catalyzed GSH conjugation of the antitumor drug. This type of conjugation, observed in several families of drugs, has never been documented satisfactorily for anthracyclines. Adriamycin-resistant human breast cancer MCF-7/DOX cells, presenting a comparable GSH concentration, but a 14-fold increase of the GST P1-1 activity relative to the sensitive MCF-7 cells, have been treated with adriamycin in the presence of verapamil, an inhibitor of the 170 P-glycoprotein (P-gp) drug transport protein, and scrutinized for any production of GSH-adriamycin conjugates. HPLC analysis of cell content and culture broths have shown unequivocally that no GSH conjugates are present either inside the cell or in the culture broth. The only anthracycline present inside the cells after 24 hr of incubation was > 98% pure adriamycin. Confocal laser scanning microscopic observation showed that in MCF-7/DOX cells adriamycin was localized mostly in the Golgi apparatus rather than in the nucleus, the preferred site of accumulation for sensitive MCF-7 cells. These findings rule out GSH conjugation or any other significant biochemical transformation as the basis for resistance to adriamycin and as a ground for the anomalous localization of the drug in the cell. Adriamycin, daunomycin, and menogaril did not undergo meaningful conjugation to GSH in the presence of GST P1-1 at pH 7.2. Indeed, their synthetic C(7)-aglycon-GSH conjugates exerted a strong inhibitory effect on GST P1-1, with K(i) at 25 degrees in the 1-2 microM range, scarcely dependent on their stereochemistry at C(7).

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic↗

Hepatic glutathione S-transferases in mice fed on a diet containing the anticarcinogenic antioxidant butylated hydroxyanisole. Isolation of mouse glutathione S-transferase heterodimers by gradient elution of the glutathione-Sepharose affinity matrix.

Induction of glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) is believed to represent an important mechanism whereby butylated hydroxyanisole inhibits chemical carcinogenesis. The soluble hepatic GSTs expressed by mice fed on normal diets are all homodimers comprising Ya3 (Mr 25,800), Yb1 (Mr 26,400) and Yf (Mr 24,800) subunits. In addition to these constitutively expressed GSTs, we have identified enzymes containing Ya1 (Mr 25,600), Ya2 (Mr 25,600), Yb2 (Mr 26,200) and Yb5 (Mr 26,500) subunits from the livers of Balb/c mice fed on diets containing butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA). Gradient affinity elution of GSH-Sepharose has been used to resolve the mouse liver enzymes into several discrete pools of activity from which GSTs were purified by cation-exchange chromatography. The inducible Mu-class Yb2 and Yb5 subunits were separately isolated as the heterodimers GST Yb1Yb2 and GST Yb1Yb5 and their catalytic properties are described; this showed that 1,2-dichloro-4-nitrobenzene and trans-4-phenylbut-3-en-2-one are marker substrates for the mouse Yb1 and Yb2 subunits respectively, but no discriminating model substrate was found that allows the identification of the Yb5 subunit. Individual GST subunits were resolved by reverse-phase h.p.l.c. and their amino acid compositions were determined. Certain subunits (Yb1, Yb2, Yb5 and Yf) were also subjected to automated amino acid sequence analysis, and this demonstrated that the Yb5 subunit has a blocked N-terminus. The mouse Yb1, Yb2 and Yb5 subunits from the major inducible Mu-class heterodimers were cleaved with CNBr and purified peptides from the Yb2 and Yb5 subunits were sequenced. These data show that the Yb2 subunit is distinct from the GSTs that are encoded by the cDNAs that have been cloned from mouse liver cDNA libraries but possesses identity with the protein that is encoded by pmGT2, a cDNA isolated from a mouse fibroblast cell line by Townsend, Goldsmith, Pickett & Cowan [(1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264. 21582-21590]. The sequence data also show that the cDNA encoding the mouse Yb5 subunit has not, to date, been cloned, and the relationship between this subunit and Mu-class GSTs in other species that possess a blocked N-terminus (e.g. rat GST YoYo) is discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗