Evidence for an essential serine residue in the active site of the Theta class glutathione transferases

A consistent feature of the Alpha-, Mu- and Pi-class glutathione transferases (GSTs) is the presence near the N-terminus of a tyrosine residue that contributes to the activation of glutathione. While this residue appears to be conserved in many Theta-class GSTs, its absence in some suggested that the Theta-class GSTs may have a significantly different structure or catalytic mechanism. The elucidation of the crystal structure of the Theta-class GST from the Australian sheep blowfly, Lucilia cuprina, has indicated that a serine residue rather than a tyrosine residue can form a hydrogen bond with the glutathionyl sulphur atom. The present studies show that mutation of Ser-9 to alanine substantially inactivates the L. cuprina GST, confirming its importance in the reaction mechanism. As this serine is conserved in all Theta-class enzymes reported so far, it seems that an active-site serine is a significant factor that distinguishes the Theta-class GSTs from members of the Alpha-, Mu- and Pi-class isoenzymes.

Mechanism of dimer formation of the 90-kDa heat-shock protein

This study describes the mechanism of homodimer formation of the 90-kDa heat-shock protein (HSP90). In eukaryotic cells, there are two HSP90 isoforms, alpha and beta, encoded by two separate genes. HSP90 alpha exists predominantly as a homodimer, HSP90 beta mainly as a monomer. Analysis by native PAGE revealed that bacterially expressed HSP90 alpha fused to glutathione S-transferase (GST) existed as a high-molecular-mass oligomer, and was converted to a homodimer following removal of the fusion enzyme by thrombin cleavage. A deletion mutant, HSP90 alpha D44-603, formed a monomer and an N-terminal truncated mutant, HSP90 alpha 533-732, existed as a dimer, indicating that the dimer-forming ability resides somewhere in the C-terminal 200 amino acids. Limited proteolysis of the C-terminal 200 amino acids of HSP90 alpha with chymotrypsin produced the C-terminal 16-kDa fragment (Met628/Ala629-Asp732) and its adjacent more N-terminal 13-kDa fragment (Val542-Tyr627/Met628). Size-exclusion HPLC and two-dimensional PAGE analyses demonstrated that these two chymotryptic fragments bound each other. The C-terminal 198 amino acids as well as the full-length form of HSP90 beta revealed a lower dimer-forming activity than HSP90 alpha. Expression of the chimeric proteins at the C-terminal 198 amino acids of the alpha and beta isoforms further indicated that the 16 amino acid substitutions locating between amino acids 561 and 685 account for the impeded dimerization of HSP90 beta. A leucine zipper motif (Met402-Leu423) was unlikely to be involved in the dimer formation. Taken together, these results indicate that the dimeric structure of HSP90 alpha is mediated by the C-terminal 191 amino acids and consists of duplicate interactions of the C-terminal region (Met628/Ala629-Asp732) of one subunit and the adjacent more N-terminal region (Val542-Try627/Met628) of the other subunit.

Analysis by limited proteolysis of domain organization and GSH-site arrangement of bacterial glutathione transferase B1-1

Limited proteolysis method has been used to study the structure-function relationship of bacterial glutathione transferase (GSTB1-1). In absence of three-dimensional structural data of prokaryote GST, the results represent the first information concerning the G-site and domains organization of GSTB1-1. The tryptic cleavages occur mainly at the peptide bonds Lys35-Lys36 and Phe43-Leu44, generating two major molecular species of 20-kDa, 3-kDa and traces of 10-kDa. 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene favoured the proteolysis of the 20-kDa fragment markedly enhancing the production of the 10-kDa peptide by cleaving the chemical bonds Lys87-Ala88 and Arg91-Tyr92. The tryptic cleavage sites of GSTB1-1 was found to be located close to those previously found for the mammalian GSTP1-1 isozyme. It was concluded that despite their low sequence homology (18%), GSTB1-1 and GSTP1-1 displayed similar structural features in their G-site regions and probably a common organization in structural domains.

Monobromobimane as an affinity label of the xenobiotic binding site of rat glutathione S-transferase 3-3

Monobromobimane (mBBr), besides being a substrate in the presence of glutathione, inactivates rat liver glutathione S-transferase 3-3 at pH 7.5 and 25 degrees C as assayed using 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB). The rate of inactivation is enhanced about 5-fold by S-methylglutathione. Substrate analogs bromosulfophthalein and 2,4-dinitrophenol decrease the rate of inactivation at least 20-fold. Upon incubation for 60 min with 0.25 mM mBBr and S-methylglutathione, the enzyme loses 91% of its activity toward CDNB and incorporates 2.14 mol of reagent/mol of subunit, whereas incubation under the same conditions but with added protectant 2,4-dinitrophenol yields an enzyme that is catalytically active and contains only 0.89 mol of reagent/mol of subunit. mBBR-modified enzyme is fluorescent, and fluorescence energy transfer occurs between intrinsic tryptophan and covalently bound bimane in modified enzyme. Both Tyr115 and Cys114 are modified, but Tyr115 is the initial reaction target and its modification correlates with loss of activity toward CDNB. The fact that the activity toward mBBr is retained by the enzyme after modification suggests that rat isozyme 3-3 has two binding sites for mBBr.

Tools for the production and purification of full-length, N- or C-terminal 32P-labeled protein, applied to HIV-1 Gag and Rev

We have constructed two new vectors for the production of foreign proteins in Escherichia coli. The vectors, pGEX-GTH and pET-HTG, produce protein fused to glutathione S-transferase (GST) at the N- and C-termini, respectively, allowing one-step purification on glutathione-Sepharose. Furthermore, they carry the recognition sequence (RRASV) for the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent heart muscle kinase (HMK) at the terminus distal to the GST tag, enabling specific 32P labeling in vitro. By positioning the GST and HMK sequences at opposite ends of the introduced gene, only full-length fusion protein becomes radiolabeled after purification. Avoiding the labeling of shorter fusion protein species, often observed in bacterial expression of foreign genes, is particularly important for a number of different purposes, including protein mobility shift analysis and protein footprinting technology.

Conformational stability of Cys45-alkylated and hydrogen peroxide-oxidised glutathione S-transferase

A highly reactive cysteine residue in class pi glutathione S-transferases enhances their susceptibility to chemical alkylation and oxidative stress. Alkylation of the reactive Cys45 in the porcine class pi enzyme (pGSTP1-1) with either N-iodoacetyl-N'-(5-sulpho-1-naphthyl)ethylenediamine or iodoacetamide results in a loss of enzyme activity and glutathione-binding function. Similarly, oxidation of pGSTP1-1 with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) also results in a loss of catalytic and glutathione-binding function, but these effects are reversed by the addition of 5 mM glutathione or dithiothreitol. Analysis by SDS-PAGE of the H2O2-oxidised enzyme indicates oxidation-induced formation of disulphide bonds involving Cys45. Equilibrium-unfolding studies with guanidinium chloride indicate that the unfolding of Cys45-alkylated and H2O2-oxidised pGSTP1-1 can be described by a two-state model in which the predominant thermodynamically stable species are the folded dimer and unfolded monomer. Unfolding transition curves suggest that the introduction of a large and bulky AEDANS at Cys45 does not affect the unfolding pathway for pGSTP1-1. H2O2-oxidised pGSTP1-1, on the other hand, appears to follow a different unfolding pathway. This appears not to be a result of the introduction of disulphide bonds since the reduction of these bonds in the oxidised protein with dithiothreitol does not affect the unfolding transition. Furthermore, the conformational stability of the oxidised protein is significantly diminished (delta G(H2O) = 11.6 kcal/mol) when compared with unmodified and AEDANS-alkylated enzyme (delta G(H2O) = 22.5 kcal/mol).

Competitive binding assay of src homology domain 3 interactions between 5-lipoxygenase and growth factor receptor binding protein 2

c-src homology 3 domains (SH3) modulate the formation of a number of protein complexes that are important in cell signaling and cytoskeletal organization. The SH3 domain is recognized by short conserved proline-rich motifs which adopt left-handed polyproline helices on binding. In order to examine molecular determinants of the proline motif:SH3 interaction, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was developed to observe binding of 5-lipoxygenase to SH3 domains of growth factor receptor binding protein 2 (Grb2). The assay makes use of glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins of Grb2 and fragments of Grb2 immobilized onto wells of standard 96-well microtiter plates. Equilibrium binding is monitored colorimetrically and the measured absorbance is proportional to 5-LO concentration. The interactions is specific for the Grb2 portion of the fusion proteins, and 5-LO binds preferentially to Grb2 fragments containing an SH3 domain. Competitive binding assays with a synthetic peptide which mimicked the proline-rich region of 5-LO yielded results that are consistent with previous estimates. Binding was examined in the presence of a number of peptides containing the consensus sequence -PXXP-, in the presence of enzyme activity mediators and in the presence of plant lipoxygenases that lack the proline-rich binding motif. Results suggest that the specificity of the Grb2:5-LO interaction is high.

Cloning and characterization of a glutathione S-transferase that can be photolabeled with 5-azido-indole-3-acetic acid

Previously, we identified a soluble protein from Hyoscyamus muticus that was photolabeled by 5-azido-indole-3-acetic acid. This protein was determined to be a glutathione S-transferase (GST; J. Bilang, H. Macdonald, P.J. King, and A. Sturm [1993] Plant Physiol 102: 29-34). We have examined the effect of auxin on the activity of this H. muticus GST. Auxins reduced enzyme activity only at high concentrations, with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid being more effective than indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and naphthylacetic acid. IAA was a noncompetitive inhibitor, whereas inhibition by 2,4-D was competitive with respect to 1-chloro-2,4-dinitro-benzene. We also present the sequence of a full-length cDNA clone that codes for a GST and contains all partial amino acid sequences of the purified protein. The auxin-binding GST was found in high amounts in roots and stems and low amounts in leaves and flower buds. The steady-state mRNA level was not regulated by IAA or naphthylacetic acid, whereas 2,4-D and 2,3-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid increased mRNA levels. We propose a model in which 2,4-D is a substrate for GST, whereas IAA binds at a second site, known as a ligandin-binding site for the purpose of intracellular transport.

Identification of the electrophilic substrate-binding site of glutathione S-transferase P by photoaffinity labeling

We determined the electrophilic substrate-binding site of rat glutathione S-transferase P (GST-P) by photoaffinity labeling using the photosensitive compound S-[2-(2-fluoro-4-nitrophenoxy)ethyl]glutathione. This photosensitive glutathione analogue inhibited the catalytic activity in a competitive manner against both glutathione and 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene, a putative electrophilic substrate. The enzyme kinetics indicated that the photoactivatable glutathione analogue was specifically bound at the active site, which consisted of glutathione-binding (G-site) and the electrophilic substrate-binding (H-site) regions. The procedure involved the following steps: S-[2-(2-fluoro-4-nitrophenoxy)ethyl]glutathione was photochemically reacted with a purified recombinant GST-P expressed in Escherichia coli using ultraviolet irradiation for 30 min on ice. After the reaction, only the GST-P complexed with the glutathione analogue was prepared with glutathione-immobilized agarose. The GST-P covalently bound with the analogue was digested with lysyl endopeptidase (Achromobacter protease I), and the peptides were separated by high-performance liquid chromatography. Only a single major peak with appreciable absorbance at 340 nm was observed by peptide mapping. The peptide was collected and analyzed using an automated peptide sequencer (ABI 477A). Amino acid sequence analysis showed that this peptide consisted of seven amino acid residues corresponding to the sequence at positions 122-128 of GST-P (Ala-Leu-Pro-Gly-Xaa-Leu-Lys). No appreciable phenylthiohydantoin-amino acid was detected at the fifth cycle, which indicated that His126 was chemically labeled with the photosensitive glutathione analogue. It was concluded that His126 was one of the amino acid residues forming the electrophilic substrate-binding site of GST-P.

The projection structure of microsomal glutathione transferase

Through the use of electron crystallography, it has been possible to obtain high resolution structural information regarding a mammalian protein that spans the lipid bilayer. Two-dimensional crystals of the detoxification enzyme microsomal glutathione transferase were induced by slow detergent removal from a mixture containing low amounts of phospholipid. Images of specimens stabilized in tannin were collected using electron cryomicroscopy. The projection structure at 4 A shows tightly packed trimers of the protein. Each of them contains an inner core of six parallel alpha-helices delineating a central low density region. The helical bundle is partly surrounded by elongated domains.

Electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry as a tool for characterization of glutathione S-transferase isozymes

Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) was used for the first time to determine the molecular masses of nine rat liver cytosolic glutathione S-transferase (GST) subunits. The precision of the measurements was +/- 3-4 mass units which, in practice, allowed discrimination between monomers differing by more than 8 Da. Mass accuracy was improved by replicates in the measurements. Comparison of experimental values to cDNA or protein-deduced data available reveals slight differences. N-terminal sequence analyses and interstrain mass comparisons tend to show that primary structures of liver cytosolic GSTs are well conserved from Sprague-Dawley to Wistar rats. Moreover, ESI-MS analysis enabled identification of two minor additional subunits present in both strains, one of which belongs to the mu-class. In addition to rapid and accurate mass determination of GST monomers, and direct determinations achieved on heterodimeric forms, this technique provides precise information on minor structural differences or modifications of these proteins. As such, it constitutes a useful tool for rapid characterization of purified GSTs in comparative studies.

One sequence, two folds: a metastable structure of CD2

When expressed as part of a glutathione S-transferase fusion protein the NH2-terminal domain of the lymphocyte cell adhesion molecule CD2 is shown to adopt two different folds. The immunoglobulin superfamily structure of the major (85%) monomeric component has previously been determined by both x-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy. We now describe the structure of a second, dimeric, form present in about 15% of recombinant CD2 molecules. After denaturation and refolding in the absence of the fusion partner, dimeric CD2 is converted to monomer, illustrating that the dimeric form represents a metastable folded state. The crystal structure of this dimeric form, refined to 2.0-A resolution, reveals two domains with overall similarity to the IgSF fold found in the monomer. However, in the dimer each domain is formed by the intercalation of two polypeptide chains. Hence each domain represents a distinct folding unit that can assemble in two different ways. In the dimer the two domains fold around a hydrophilic interface believed to mimic the cell adhesion interaction at the cell surface, and the formation of dimer can be regulated by mutating single residues at this interface. This unusual misfolded form of the protein, which appears to result from inter- rather than intramolecular interactions being favored by an intermediate structure formed during the folding process, illustrates that evolution of protein oligomers is possible from the sequence for a single protein domain.

Structural analysis of human alpha-class glutathione transferase A1-1 in the apo-form and in complexes with ethacrynic acid and its glutathione conjugate

BACKGROUND

Glutathione transferases (GSTs) constitute a family of isoenzymes that catalyze the conjugation of the tripeptide glutathione with a wide variety of hydrophobic compounds bearing an electrophilic functional group. Recently, a number of X-ray structures have been reported which have defined both the glutathione- and the substrate-binding sites in these enzymes. The structure of the glutathione-free enzyme from a mammalian source has not, however, been reported previously.

RESULTS

We have solved structures of a human alpha-class GST, isoenzyme A1-1, both in the unliganded form and in complexes with the inhibitor ethacrynic acid and its glutathione conjugate. These structures have been refined to resolutions of 2.5 A, 2.7 A and 2.0 A respectively. Both forms of the inhibitor are clearly present in the associated electron density.

CONCLUSIONS

The major differences among the three structures reported here involve the C-terminal alpha-helix, which is a characteristic of the alpha-class enzyme. This helix forms a lid over the active site when the hydrophobic substrate binding site (H-site) is occupied but it is otherwise disordered. Ethacrynic acid appears to bind in a non-productive mode in the absence of the coenzyme glutathione.

Glutathione transferases with novel active sites isolated by phage display from a library of random mutants

Human glutathione transferase A1-1 can be expressed as a fusion protein with coat protein III of filamentous phage f1 in a form that allows selection among variant mutant forms based on specific adsorption to immobilized active-site ligands. A library of mutant enzymes differing in the active-site region was generated by random mutagenesis of ten amino acid residues involved in the binding of electrophilic substrates. Novel glutathione transferases with altered specificity for active-site ligands were isolated by adsorption of the fusion protein on the surface of phage to analogs of an electrophilic substrate. Thus, phage display of glutathione transferase affords a system for engineering novel binding specificities onto the pre-existing protein framework of the enzyme.

Purification of human lung leukotriene C4 synthase and preparation of a polyclonal antibody

Leukotriene (LT) C4 synthase is an integral membrane protein that catalyzes the conjugation of LTA4 to reduced glutathione to form LTC4. LTC4 synthase has been cloned and characterized from transformed cell lines, but the protein has not been defined from a tissue source. LTC4 synthase was purified to homogeneity from human lung tissue, utilizing S-hexyl glutathione chromatography followed by LTC4 affinity chromatography. A greater than 100,000-fold purification with a yield of 8 to 25% (n = 4) was achieved. The purified LTC4 synthase migrated in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) as an 18-kD protein, and its 19 N-terminal amino acid sequence is identical to that of purified LTC4 synthase from KG-1 myeloid cells or from expression cloning of a KG-1 library in COS cells. Using a rabbit polyclonal IgG raised against purified LTC4 synthase, SDS-PAGE immunoblotting of LTC4 synthase from human lung tissue, eosinophils, KG-1 cells, and platelets showed an 18-kD protein. Immunofluorescence staining of alveolar macrophages in human lung sections with the anti-LTC4 synthase IgG revealed LTC4 synthase to be largely perinuclear in distribution. Thus, LTC4 synthase, the biosynthetic enzyme responsible for the formation of cysteinyl LTs, is present in lung tissue in a form apparently identical to that of hematopoietic cells.

Steady-state kinetics and chemical mechanism of octopus hepatopancreatic glutathione transferase

The kinetic mechanism of glutathione S-transferase (GST) from Octopus vulgaris hepatopancreas was investigated by steady-state analysis. Initial-velocity studies showed an intersecting pattern, which suggests a sequential kinetic mechanism for the enzyme. Product-inhibition patterns by chloride and the conjugate product were all non-competitive with respect to glutathione or 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB), which indicates that the octopus digestive gland GST conforms to a steady-state sequential random Bi Bi kinetic mechanism. Dead-end inhibition patterns indicate that ethacrynic acid ([2,3-dichloro-4-(2-methyl-enebutyryl) phenoxy]acetic acid) binds at the hydrophobic H-site, norophthalmic acid (gamma-glutamylalanylglycine) binds at the glutathione G-site, and glutathione-ethacrynate conjugate occupied both H- and G-sites of the enzyme. The chemical mechanism of the enzyme was examined by pH and kinetic solvent-isotope effects. At pH (and p2H) = 8.011, in which kcat. was independent of pH or p2H, the solvent isotope effects on V and V/KmGSH were near unity, in the range 1.069-1.175. An inverse isotope effect was observed for V/KmCDNB (0.597), presumably resulting from the hydrogen-bonding of enzyme-bound glutathione, which has pKa of 6.83 +/- 0.04, a value lower by 2.34 pH units than the pKa of glutathione in aqueous solution. This lowering of the pKa value for the sulphydryl group of the bound glutathione was presumably due to interaction with the active site Tyr7, which had a pKa value of 8.46 +/- 0.09 that was raised to 9.63 +/- 0.08 in the presence of glutathione thiolate. Subsequent chemical reaction involves attacking of thiolate anion at the electrophilic substrate with the formation of a negatively charged Meisenheimer complex, which is the rate-limiting step of the reaction.

A predictive substrate model for rat glutathione S-transferase 4-4

Molecular modeling techniques have been used to derive a substrate model for class mu rat glutathione S-transferase 4-4 (GST 4-4). Information on regio- and stereoselective product formation of 20 substrates covering three chemically and structurally different classes was used to construct a substrate model containing three interaction sites responsible for Lewis acid--Lewis base interactions (IS1, IS2, and IS3), as well as a region responsible for aromatic interactions (IS4). Experimental data suggest that the first protein interaction site (pIS1, interacting with IS1) corresponds with Tyr115, while the other protein interaction sites (pIS2 and pIS3) probably correspond with other Lewis acidic amino acids. All substrates exhibited positive molecular electrostatic potentials (MEPs) near the site of conjugation with glutathione (GSH), as well as negative MEP values near the position of groups with Lewis base properties (IS1, IS2, or IS3), which interact with pIS1, pIS2, or pIS3, respectively. Obviously, complementarity between the MEPs of substrates and protein in specific regions is important. The substrate specificity and stereoselectivity of GST 4-4 are most likely determined by pIS1 and the distance between the site of GSH attack and Lewis base atoms in the substrates which interact with either pIS2, pIS3, or a combination of these sites. Interaction between aromatic regions in the substrate with aromatic amino acids in the protein further stabilizes the substrate in the active site. The predictive value of the model has been evaluated by rationalizing the conjugation to GSH of 11 substrates of GST 4-4 (representing 3 classes of compounds) which were not used to construct the model. All known metabolites of these substrates are explained with the model. As the computer-aided predictions appear to correlate well with experimental results, the presented substrate model may be useful to identify new potential GST 4-4 substrates.

Chemical modification of a cloned glutathione S-transferase from Schistosoma japonicum: evidence for an essential histidine residue

Diethylpyrocarbonate (DEP) inhibits the catalytic activity of a cloned glutathione S-transferase from Schistosoma japonicum (Sj26GST) with a second-order rate constant of 474 M-1 min-1 at pH 7.0 and 25 degrees C. There is an accompanying increase in absorbance at 242 nm due to the formation of N-carbethoxyhistidyl derivatives. There was no evidence that tyrosine or cysteine residues were modified by DEP treatment nor did the enzyme undergo any major conformational change. Activity can be restored by treating the DEP-modified enzyme with hydroxylamine and the pH curve for inactivation indicates involvement of a residue with a pKa of 7.3. Complete inactivation of Sj26GST requires the modification of six histidine residues per subunit. Statistical analysis of residual enzyme activity versus number of groups modified showed that of the six modifiable groups, only one is critical for activity. Substrate protection suggests that this essential histidine residue is at or near the active site.

Native dimer stabilizes the subunit tertiary structure of porcine class pi glutathione S-transferase

Solvent-induced unfolding of porcine class pi glutathione S-transferase (pGST P1-1), a homodimeric protein, was monitored under equilibrium conditions using different physicochemical parameters (tryptophan fluorescence, anisotropy, degree of tyrosine exposure, binding of 8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulphonic acid, size-exclusion HPLC). The coincidence of unfolding curves obtained with functional (enzyme activity) and structural probes (anisotropy), the absence of thermodynamically stable intermediates such as a folded monomer (determined by binding of 8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulphonic acid and size-exclusion HPLC), and the dependence of pGST P1-1 stability upon protein concentration (measured with structural and functional probes), indicate a cooperative and concerted two-state unfolding transition between native dimeric pGST P1-1 and unfolded monomeric enzyme.

Identification of glutathione S-transferase as a determinant of 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide resistance in human breast cancer cells

Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) is well known for its involvement in the resistance of tumor cells to cyclophosphamide (CPA) and its activated derivatives, such as 4-hydroperoxy-CPA (4HC). The role of other drug-metabolizing enzymes such as glutathione S-transferase (GST) in CPA resistance is, however, less certain. In the present study of a human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) exhibiting about 6-fold resistance to 4HC (MCF/HC), cellular levels of glutathione (GSH) were increased 1.4-fold, while cytosolic GST and ALDH activities were increased 2.7- and 7.2-fold, respectively, relative to the MCF-7 parental line. No significant changes in glutathione peroxidase and NADPH cytochrome P450 reductase activity, and no increase in microsomal GST and GST pi mRNAs were found in the resistant cells. Treatment with the ALDH substrate octanal sensitized the cells to the cytotoxic effects of 4HC to a modest extent in both MCF-7 and MCF/HC cells [dose modification factor (DMF) of 1.4 and 1.6, respectively]. Depletion of GSH by treatment with the GSH synthesis inhibitor buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) enhanced the cytotoxic effect of 4HC to a similar extent in both cell lines. By contrast, ethacrynic acid, which inhibited GST activity by > 85% in MCF-7 and MCF/HC cell extracts without depletion of GSH, sensitized the resistant but not the parental cells to 4HC cytotoxicity, indicating the importance of GST as a determinant of 4HC resistance in these cells. This conclusion is supported by the observation that in MCF/HC cells, ethacrynic acid in combination with BSO increased the DMF 3-fold higher than did BSO or EA alone, while in the parental MCF-7 cells ethacrynic acid with BSO had no significant chemosensitization effect over BSO alone. These studies establish that in addition to ALDH, GST overexpression can contribute to acquired resistance of tumor cells to 4HC and, furthermore, suggest that modulators that target the GSH/GST system could be useful in overcoming CPA resistance in the clinic.

Crystal structure of a theta-class glutathione transferase

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are a family of enzymes involved in the cellular detoxification of xenotoxins. Cytosolic GSTs have been grouped into four evolutionary classes for which there are representative crystal structures of three of them. Here we report the first crystal structure of a theta-class GST. So far, all available GST crystal structures suggest that a strictly conserved tyrosine near the N-terminus plays a critical role in the reaction mechanism and such a role has been convincingly demonstrated by site-directed mutagenesis. Surprisingly, the equivalent residue in the theta-class structure is not in the active site, but its role appears to have been replaced by either a nearby serine or by another tyrosine residue located in the C-terminal domain of the enzyme.

Mass spectrometric analysis of rat liver cytosolic glutathione S-transferases: modifications are limited to N-terminal processing

Cytosolic glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) from rat livers were purified using an S-hexylglutathione affinity column. The GST subunits were resolved by reverse-phase HPLC and their molecular masses were determined by electrospray mass spectrometry. The major hepatic GSTs detected were subunits 1, 1', 2, 3 and 4, with molecular mass of 25,520, 25,473, 25,188, 25,782 and 25,571 Da respectively. Subunits 6, 7 and 10 are minor components, with molecular mass of 25,551, 23,308 and 25,211 Da respectively. Alternatively, the hepatic GSTs were purified using a glutathione affinity column. Subunits 1, 1', 2, 8 and 10 were eluted from this column with GSSG, the oxidized form of glutathione. Subunit 8 has a molecular mass of 25,553 Da. The remaining proteins on the glutathione affinity column were removed with glutathione and S-hexylglutathione. Subunits 2, 3, 4 and 6 could be detected in the eluate. We could not detect any significant difference in molecular mass between GSTs isolated from male and female rat livers. Cytosolic GSTs were isolated from livers of buthionine sulphoximine-treated female rats for MS analysis. The molecular masses obtained were identical to those determined for the controls.

Protein sulfhydryls and their role in the antioxidant function of protein S-thiolation

Protein S-thiolation/dethiolation, i.e., the oxidation of protein sulfhydryls to mixed disulfides and their reduction back to sulfhydryls, is an early cellular response to oxidative stress (1-5). This response may be elicited by oxidative phenomena of diverse origins, and the few cases that have been studied extensively give a limited insight into the metabolic roles and the molecular mechanism of the process. Much of our current understanding arose from experiences with isolated proteins containing "reactive" sulfhydryls (6, 7), but recent experiments at the cellular level have begun to reveal interesting insights that suggest a complexity and importance not appreciated previously (8). This article will discuss the current status of experiments that relate to both the role of the cellular process and to the reactivity of selected proteins that participate in the cellular processes. The discussion will center on the role of glutathione, a molecule of central interest in every aspect of protein S-thiolation and dethiolation.

Purification and crystallization of a schistosomal glutathione S-transferase

The 26-kDa glutathione S-transferase from Schistosoma japonica (Sj26), a potential antischistosomal vaccine antigen, has been crystallized in an unligated form. Sj26 was recombinantly produced in E. coli without using a glutathione affinity column to facilitate preparation of unligated enzyme. The recombinant protein contains all 218 residues of Sj26 and an additional 13 residues linked to the C-terminus. Crystals of recombinant Sj26 were obtained by the vapor diffusion method using ammonium sulfate as the precipitant at pH 5.6. The crystals belong to the hexagonal space group P6(3)22 with unit cell dimensions a = b = 125.2 A and c = 72.0 A and contain one Sj26 monomer per asymmetric unit. A complete native diffraction data set has been obtained to 2.4 A resolution.

Mammalian glutathione S-transferase: regulation of an enzyme system to achieve chemotherapeutic efficacy

The glutathione S-transferases are a family of Phase II detoxication enzymes that catalyze the conjugation of glutathione to a large variety of electrophilic compounds. In the 1990s, there have been many advances regarding the function of these enzymes in protecting a cell from the toxic effects of these electrophiles. The complexity of this enzyme family has been realized and much work has been performed to identify the specific roles played by individual isozymes in resistance to a variety of agents. Likewise, the determination of the crystal structure of these enzymes has allowed the identification of specific amino acid residues that are involved in the catalysis of important reactions. The important role that these enzymes play in carcinogenesis and in drug resistance has warranted an attempt to bring together these different subfields of glutathione S-transferase biology to investigate possible ways that this system could be regulated in therapeutically useful ways. In this report, we have reviewed the recent advances and ways in which this knowledge could be utilized in the advancement of the treatment of cancer.

Drug metabolizing enzymes of mussels as bioindicators of chemical pollution

The GSTs of M. edulis provide an easily assayed activity which would be expected to respond to changes in pollution status. The main GST and a related GSH-binding protein have been purified and biochemically characterized. The former protein is most similar to the Pi class while the latter is a catalytically inactive monomer which appears to be related to the Mu class. This enzyme activity has been assessed as a potential indicator of exposure to chemical pollutants in both Cork Harbour and Venice Lagoon (using the closely related species, M. galloprovincialis). Controlled exposure studies with mussels in holding tanks have indicated that the herbicide aldicarb gives a slight but significant increase in GST activity consistent with the inducibility of these enzymes by xenobiotics in this bivalve. At present, we are studying samples which have been deliberately exposed to PAH and PCB compounds. Studies of this type are important in helping to understand the effects and fate of chemical pollutants released into estuarine environments.

Three-dimensional structure, catalytic properties, and evolution of a sigma class glutathione transferase from squid, a progenitor of the lens S-crystallins of cephalopods

The glutathione transferase from squid digestive gland is unique in its very high catalytic activity toward 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene and in its ancestral relationship to the genes encoding the S-crystallins of the lens of cephalopod eye. The three-dimensional structure of this glutathione transferase in complex with the product 1-(S-glutathionyl)-2,4-dinitrobenzene (GSDNB) has been solved by multiple isomorphous replacement techniques at a resolution of 2.4 A. Like the cytosolic enzymes from vertebrates, the squid protein is a dimer. The structure is similar in overall topology to the vertebrate enzymes but has a dimer interface that is unique when compared to all of the vertebrate and invertebrate structures thus far reported. The active site of the enzyme is very open, a fact that appears to correlate with the high turnover number (800 s-1 at pH 6.5) toward 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene. Both kcat and kcat/KmCDNB exhibit pH dependencies consistent with a pKa for the thiol of enzyme-bound GSH of 6.3. The enzyme is not very efficient at catalyzing the addition of GSH to enones and epoxides. This particular characteristic appears to be due to the lack of an electrophilic residue at position 106, which is often found in other GSH transferases. The F106Y mutant enzyme is much improved in catalyzing these reactions. Comparisons of the primary structure, gene structure, and three-dimensional structure with class alpha, mu, and pi enzymes support placing the squid protein in a separate enzyme class, sigma. The unique dimer interface suggests that the class sigma enzyme diverged from the ancestral precursor prior to the divergence of the precursor gene for the alpha, mu, and pi classes.

Expression and functional properties of the second predicted nucleotide binding fold of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator fused to glutathione-S-transferase

CFTR-NBF-2 was expressed in Escherichia coli in fusion with glutathione-S-transferase, the soluble portion was purified and identified as a structured protein by its CD spectrum. Association reactions of the recombinant NBF-2 with adenine nucleotides were monitored qualitatively by demonstrating its ability to bind specifically to ATP-, ADP- and AMP-affinity agarose and quantitatively by recording the fluorescence enhancement of excited trinitrophenol (TNP)-labelled adenine nucleotides occurring as a result of binding to NBF-2. Best-fit monophasic binding curves to the fluorescence data indicated Kd values of 22 microM for TNP-ATP, 39 microM for TNP- ADP and 2.1 microM for TNP-AMP. The corrected Kd values for unlabelled adenine nucleotides competing with the fluorophores were determined to be 37 microM for ATP, 92 microM for ADP and 12 microM for AMP. The recombinant NBF-2 did not show any hydrolytic activity on ATP (detection limit 0.001 s-1). Our findings support the concept of a central role of NBF-2 in CFTR activity regulation acting as an allosteric switch between channel opening and closing and give the first experimental evidence that the channel inhibitor AMP could act via NBF-2.

Functional significance of arginine 15 in the active site of human class alpha glutathione transferase A1-1

Arg15 is a conserved active-site residue in class Alpha glutathione transferases. X-ray diffraction studies of human glutathione transferase A1-1 have shown that N epsilon of this amino acid residue is adjacent to the sulfur atom of a glutathione derivative bound to the active site, suggesting the presence of a hydrogen bond. The phenolic hydroxyl group of Tyr9 also forms a hydrogen bond to the sulfur atom of glutathione, and removal of this hydroxyl group causes partial inactivation of the enzyme. The present study demonstrates by use of site-directed mutagenesis the functional significance of Arg15 for catalysis. Mutation of Arg15 into Leu reduced the catalytic activity by 25-fold, whereas substitution by Lys caused only a threefold decrease, indicating the significance of a positively charged residue at position 15. Mutation of Arg15 into Ala or His caused a substantial reduction of the specific activity (200 or 400-fold, respectively), one order of magnitude more pronounced than the effect of the Tyr9-->Phe mutation. Double mutations involving residues 9 and 15 demonstrated that the effects of mutations at the two positions were additive except for the substitution of His for Arg15, which appeared to cause secondary structural effects. The pKa value of the phenolic hydroxyl of Tyr9 was determined by UV absorption difference spectroscopy and was found to be 8.1 in the wild-type enzyme. The corresponding pKa values of mutants R15K, R15H and R15L were 8.5, 8.7 and 8.8, respectively, demonstrating the contribution of the guanidinium group of Arg15 to the electrostatic field in the active site. Addition of glutathione caused an increased pKa value of Tyr9; this effect was not obtained with S-methylglutathione. These results show that Tyr9 is protonated when glutathione is bound to the enzyme at physiological pH values. The involvement of an Arg residue in the binding and activation of glutathione is a feature that distinguishes class Alpha glutathione transferases from members in other glutathione transferase classes.

Drosophila glutathione S-transferase D27: functional analysis of two consecutive tyrosines near the N-terminus

The Drosophila glutathione S-transferase D27 (GST D27) has been purified and characterized after direct expression of the intronless gstD27 gene in E. coli. The GST D27 has both conjugation activity against the common substrate 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene and peroxidase activity against cumene hydroperoxide. Its pH optimum is 8.5 in 0.125 M bis-tris propane buffer at 22 degrees C. It is more thermal labile than the human GST121. The GST D27 has two tyrosines at positions 3 and 4. Both of them appear to be important but neither of them is essential for the enzyme activity. Thus, other residues may also participate in catalysis. The two tyrosines of GST D27 could also be important in binding to GSH or S-hexyl GSH. Results from in vitro biochemical analyses were confirmed by the in vivo activity-based CDNB growth inhibition analyses. Our results clearly indicate that the Drosophila GST D isozymes are different from any of the known mammalian GSTs.

Porcine class pi glutathione S-transferase: anionic ligand binding and conformational analysis

The equilibrium binding of the non-substrate ligands 8-anilino-1-naphthalene sulfonate and bromosulfophthalein to porcine class pi glutathione S-transferase (pGSTP1-1) was studied using a variety of techniques (size-exclusion HPLC, steady-state fluorescence, second-derivative spectroscopy, and chemical modification of cysteines). Both ligands share the same binding site which has a highly hydrophobic surface. Occupation of the site inhibits catalytic function with glutathione and 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene in a non-competitive manner. Data obtained from different structural probes either located at strategic regions of pGSTP1-1 (Trp-28, Trp-38 and Cys-45) or distributed throughout the protein molecule (tyrosine residues) suggest that binding induces a microstructural change that impacts on the functional conformation of the active site.

Effective fragment potentials and spectroscopy at enzyme active sites

Spectroscopy at a biochemical active site is influenced by local fields and hydrogen-bonds. Quantum calculations of the electronic structure of the entire biomolecule is, of course, impossible, but the chemical system can be modeled by dividing it into an active region (A) described quantum mechanically, and a spectator region (S) that influences A with strong fields and hydrogen-bonds. The all-electron interaction between A and S is replaced by an effective fragment potential (EFP) which represents the interaction as electrostatic, polarization and exchange repulsion terms. The EFP are derived entirely by ab initio model calculations of the S electronic properties and interactions and have been implemented in the quantum chemistry code, GAMESS. Spectroscopic analysis of enzyme active sites using the EFP will examine rhodanese and glutathione bound to glutathione S-transferase. The effect of specific hydrogen-bonds and local helices on spectral shifts is determined.

Monoclonal antibodies to the human gamma 2 subunit of the GABAA/benzodiazepine receptors

The large intracellular loop (IL) of the gamma 2 subunit of the cloned human gamma-aminobutyric acidA (GABAA) receptor (gamma 2 IL) was expressed in bacteria as glutathione-S-transferase and staphylococcal protein A fusion proteins. Mice were immunized with the fusion proteins (one protein per animal), and monoclonal antibodies were obtained. Six monoclonal antibodies reacted with the gamma 2 IL moiety of the fusion proteins. Three of these monoclonal antibodies also immunoprecipitated a high proportion of the GABAA/benzodiazepine receptors from bovine and rat brain and reacted with a wide 44,000-49,000-M(r) peptide band in immunoblots of affinity-purified GABAA receptors. These monoclonal antibodies are valuable reagents for the molecular characterization of the GABAA receptors in various brain regions.

Crystal structures of a schistosomal drug and vaccine target: glutathione S-transferase from Schistosoma japonica and its complex with the leading antischistosomal drug praziquantel

Glutathione S-transferase (GST), an essential detoxification enzyme in parasitic helminths, is a major vaccine target and an attractive drug target against schistosomiasis and other helminthic diseases. Crystal structures of the 26 kDa GST from the helminth Schistosoma japonica (SjGST) have been determined for the unligated enzyme (resolution = 2.4 A, R-factor = 19.7%) and for the enzyme bound to the leading antischistosomal drug praziquantel (resolution = 2.6 A, R-factor = 21.2%). The protein, recombinantly expressed using the Pharamacia PGEX-3X vector for production of GST fusion proteins, contains all 218 residues of SjGST and an additional 13 residues at the C terminus. The structure of unligated SjGST shows that the glutathione binding site pre-exists unchanged in the ligand-free enzyme and is conserved between parasitic and the mammalian class mu enzymes. At therapeutic concentrations the leading antischistosomal drug praziquantel (PZQ) binds one drug per enzyme homodimer in the dimer interface groove adjoining the two catalytic sites. This establishes a protein target for PZQ, identifies the GST non-substrate ligand transport site, and implicates PZQ in steric inhibition of SjGST catalytic and transport for large ligands. Thus, increased expression or mutagenesis of SjGST by the parasite may confer resistance to PZQ. Differences in the xenobiotic binding region between parasitic and mammalian GSTs reveal a distinct substrate repertoire for SjGST and, together with the newly identified PZQ binding site, provide the basis for design of novel antischistosomal drugs. Due to the widespread use expression systems based on SjGST fusions, the atomic structure of SjGST should also provide an important tool for phasing fusion protein structures by molecular replacement.

Biochemical analysis of recombinant glutathione S-transferase of Fasciola hepatica

Four cDNAs encoding GST (rGST1, rGST7, rGST47 and rGST51) of Fasciola hepatica were expressed in Escherichia coli and the rGST proteins purified for biochemical analyses. The rGST proteins are 95% pure as indicated by Coomassie staining of proteins separated by SDS-PAGE. Molecular sieving by HPLC infers that, like the native protein, the rGST proteins form homodimers under non-denaturing conditions. The rGST proteins are recognised by antisera raised to the native GST of F. hepatica. All four rGST proteins from F. hepatica actively conjugate glutathione to the universal substrate, 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene. The activity of the rGSTs was also measured for substrates which have been shown to have partial specificity for the Alpha, Mu or Pi classes of mammalian GSTs (trans-4-phenyl-3-buten-2-one, ethacrynic acid), for substrates known to be products of lipid peroxidation (trans-2-nonenal, trans,trans-2,4-decadienal) and for epoxy-3-(p-nitrophenoxy)-propane (EPNP), a known substrate for the theta class of GST. No rGST were active with EPNP. rGST47 and 51 showed activity with the other four substrates. rGST7 was active with three substrates whereas rGST1 showed relatively low activity with all substrates except trans,trans-2,4-decadienal. The sensitivity of the rGST activity to inhibition by the GST inhibitors triphenyltin chloride and bromosulphophthalein also varied among the rGSTs with rGST1 showing a 800-fold difference in sensitivity between the inhibitors. These results show that F. hepatica expresses a family of GST isoenzymes which exhibit unique substrate and inhibitor profiles.

Site-directed mutagenesis of human glutathione transferase P1-1. Spectral, kinetic, and structural properties of Cys-47 and Lys-54 mutants

In the human placental glutathione transferase, Cys-47 possesses, at physiological pH values, a pK alpha value of 4.2 and may exist as an ion pair with the protonated epsilon-amino group of Lys-54. Using site-directed mutagenesis we investigate spectral, kinetic, and structural properties of Cys-47 and Lys-54 mutants. The results shown indicate that the thiolate ion detected at 229 nm should be assigned exclusively to Cys-47. The contribution of Lys-54 to the activation of Cys-47 is assessed by the spectral properties of the K54A mutant enzyme. The induced cooperativity toward glutathione, as a consequence of mutation of Lys-54 to alanine, clearly parallels that observed for the Cys-47 mutant enzymes (see the preceding paper (Ricci, G., Lo Bello, M., Caccuri, A. M., Pastore, A., Nuccetelli, M., Parker, M. W., and Federici, G. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 1243-1248) and points out the importance of this electrostatic interaction in shaping the correct spatial arrangement for the binding of glutathione and in anchoring the flexible helix alpha 2. When this ion pair is disrupted, by mutation of either residue, the flexibility of this region could be greatly increased, causing helix alpha 2 to come in contact with the other subunit and generating a structural communication, which is the basis of the observed cooperativity.

Characterization of the safener-induced glutathione S-transferase isoform II from maize

The safener-induced maize (Zea mays L.) glutathione S-transferase, GST II (EC 2.5.1.18) and another predominant isoform, GST I, were purified from extracts of maize roots treated with the safeners R-25788 (N,N-diallyl-2-dichloroacetamide) or R-29148 (3-dichloroacetyl-2,2,5-trimethyl-1,3-oxazolidone). The isoforms GST I and GST II are respectively a homodimer of 29-kDa (GST-29) subunits and a heterodimer of 29- and 27-kDa (GST-27) subunits, while GST I is twice as active with 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene as GST II, GST II is about seven times more active against the herbicide, alachlor. Western blotting using antisera raised against GST-29 and GST-27 showed that GST-29 is present throughout the maize plant prior to safener treatment. In contrast, GST-27 is only present in roots of untreated plants but is induced in all the major aerial organs of maize after root-drenching with safener. The amino-acid sequences of proteolytic fragments of GST-27 show that it is related to GST-29 and identical to the 27-kDa subunit of GST IV.

Characterization of a glutathione S-transferase and a related glutathione-binding protein from gill of the blue mussel, Mytilus edulis

The major isoenzyme of glutathione S-transferase (GST 1) was purified to homogeneity from cytosolic extracts of Mytilus edulis gill tissue by GSH-agarose affinity chromatography followed by Mono Q ion-exchange f.p.l.c. This enzyme was particularly active with 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene, ethacrynic acid and cumene hydroperoxide as substrates. Immunoblotting and amino acid sequencing studies indicate that the enzyme belongs to the Pi class of GSTs. A related protein which binds to GSH-agarose was also purified. This GSH-binding protein did not immunoblot with GST antisera and showed no detectable catalytic activity with GST substrates although its N-terminal sequence was similar to Mu-class GSTs. Gel-filtration chromatography indicated that GST 1 is a dimer and the GSH-binding protein a monomer. Mass spectrometry and SDS/PAGE indicate subunit molecular masses of 24 kDa (GST 1) and 25 kDa (GSH-binding protein), respectively. Both proteins have amino acid compositions typical of GSTs.

Novel human ocular glutathione S-transferases with high activity toward 4-hydroxynonenal

PURPOSE

To study the distribution and expression of glutathione S-transferase isozymes involved in detoxification of endogenously generated toxic products of lipid peroxidation, namely, 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) in human lens, retina, cornea, iris, ciliary body and to study their kinetic and structural properties.

METHODS

The authors have previously cloned and sequenced cDNA of mouse mGSTA4-4, which shows high activity towards 4-HNE. They have expressed it in Escherichia coli and have raised antibodies against the recombinant mGSTA4-4. In the present study, these antibodies were used in Western blot analysis and immunoaffinity chromatography to study the expression and to purify the human ortholog(s) of mGSTA4-4 from ocular tissues.

RESULTS

Western blot analyses of human ocular tissues indicated that a glutathione S-transferases (GST) isozyme immunologically similar to mGSTA4-4 was expressed in cornea, retina, and iris and ciliary body, but not in lens. This isozyme designated as hGST 5.8 was purified to homogeneity from human retina, cornea, and iris and ciliary body by immunoabsorption on immobilized antibodies against mGSTA4-4. The human ortholog of mGSTA4-4, designated as hGST 5.8 purified from all these tissues and pI value of 5.8, subunit Mr value of 25 k and blocked N-terminal. Amino acid sequences of CNBr fragments of hGST 5.8 isozymes of human ocular tissues showed a high degree of primary structure homologies with the corresponding regions of mGSTA4-4. There were noticeable differences in the amino acid sequences of hGST 5.8 of cornea, retina, and iris and ciliary body, suggesting the presence of several closely related hGST 5.8 subunits in the ocular tissues. This heterogeneity was due to tissue-specific expression rather than simple allelic polymorphism. The hGST 5.8 had about sixfold to eightfold higher activity toward 4-hydroxynonenal than 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene, or CDNB. The catalytic efficiency (Kcat/Km) of ocular hGST 5.8 for 4-HNE was about 100-fold higher than those for the alpha, mu, or pi classes of GST. In addition, hGST 5.8 expressed glutathione peroxidase activity toward phospholipid hydroperoxides and GSH-conjugating activity toward 9,10-epoxy stearic acid.

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicate that hGST 5.8 isozyme(s) distinct from the alpha, mu, and pi classes of GSTs, are differentially expressed in human ocular tissues and may play an important role in protective mechanisms against endogenous toxicants generated during lipid peroxidation.

Analysis of the primary structure and post-translational modifications of the Schistosoma mansoni antigen Smp28 by electrospray mass spectrometry

The Schistosoma mansoni glutathione-S-transferase with an apparent molecular mass of 28 kDa, Smp28, has a blocked N-terminus which has been elucidated with the aid of the cDNA sequence combined with mass spectrometry and amino acid composition analysis of the N-terminal tryptic peptide. The blocked N-terminal tryptic peptide (m/z 695.8) contained an equimolar ratio of E, G, H, A, I and K3 upon amino acid composition analysis in agreement with its expected sequence AGEHIK, and showed a delta m = +41.7 Da compared to the predicted mass, which is consistent with the N-terminal alanine being acetylated (delta m = +42.0 Da). The mass of the complete molecule (23,744.5 +/- 3.3 Da) determined by electrospray mass spectrometry showed a further mass increase of 14 Da with respect to Smp28 containing an N-acetylated alanine. This result is consistent with one of the seven methionines being present as a methionine sulfoxide in ca. 90% of the Smp28 molecules in this preparation. Tryptic mapping of Smp28 showed five of the seven methionines to be partially oxidized by mass spectrometry. This is indicative of the ease with which this modification occurs. Two minor components were detected along with the intact molecule, corresponding to modified forms of the molecule, originating from reaction of the only cysteine residue either with itself forming a covalent dimer or with glutathione. On-line liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry has been compared with the off-line complete tryptic map of Smp28 confirming 97% of the primary structure in less than 2 h.

Biochemical characterization of Drosophila glutathione S-transferases D1 and D21

The genomic DNA for the two Drosophila genes, gstD1 and gstD21, were engineered for expression in Escherichia coli by polymerase chain reaction using a pair of specially designed primers. This newly designed expression system produced consistently high yields of the recombinant glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), which were purified to electrophoretic homogeneity by S-hexyl-GSH affinity chromatography. Consistent with their differences in size, GST D1 and GST D21 displayed different mobilities on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Circular dichroism spectrometry revealed some differences in the protein secondary structural organization between the two GST D isozymes. Polyclonal antibodies against GST D1 and GST D21 revealed that they are immunologically distinct from each other. The GST D1 antiserum cross-reacted weakly with GST D21, but the GST D21 antiserum had no detectable cross-reactivity with GST D1. The amino acid sequences of GST D1 and GST D21 have 70% identity. GST D1 is active toward CDNB with 17% of the catalytic efficiency of the human alpha GST121, whereas CDNB is a poor substrate for GST D21. Both GST D1 and GST D21 have similar levels of GSH peroxidase activity against cumene hydroperoxide. Another major difference in substrate specificities between GST D1 and GST D21 is in the activity of 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis-(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT) dehydrochlorinase, which exists only in the GST D1 isozyme. This is the first definitive demonstration that DDT dehydrochlorinase activity is an intrinsic property of a Drosophila GST. Our results suggest that GST D1 may play a role in DDT metabolism in Drosophila.

Na+/H+ exchanger-2 is an O-linked but not an N-linked sialoglycoprotein

A polyclonal antibody (Ab597) was produced in rabbit against a fusion protein of glutathione-S-transferase and the last 87 amino acids of the Na+/H+ exchanger isoform, NHE2. By Western blotting, Ab597 recognized proteins of 75 and 85 kDa in PS120/NHE2 membranes (PS120 cells stably transfected with NHE2), and this antibody did not cross-react with NHE1 and NHE3. When Ab597 was used to immunocytochemically stain PS120/NHE2 cells, permeabilization of the cells was required for staining, confirming the putative membrane topology of NHE2 that the C-terminus is cytoplasmic. NHE1 is N-glycosylated. NHE2 was predicted to be N-glycosylated as it contains one potential N-linked glycosylation site (N350VS), which is conserved among NHE1, NHE3, and NHE4. However, NHE2 was resistant to peptide:N-glycosidase F (PNGase F) and endoglycosidase H (Endo H) digestion, suggesting that NHE2 is not N-glycosylated. In contrast, neuraminidase shifted the mobility of the 85 kDa NHE2 protein in PS120/NHE2 membranes into an 81 kDa band, and O-glycanase further shifted the mobility of the neuraminidase-treated 81 kDa protein to 75 kDa. Incubation of PS120/NHE2 cells with benzyl N-acetyl-alpha-D-galactosaminide (Bz alpha GalNAc), an O-glycosylation inhibitor, decreased the size of the 85 kDa protein to 81 kDa. This treatment had no effect on the initial rate of Na+/H+ exchange of PS120/NHE2 cells. The 75 kDa protein was not affected by the glycosidase treatment of PS120/NHE2 membranes or the Bz alpha GalNAc treatment of PS120/NHE2 cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Isolation and biochemical characterisation of a glutathione S-transferase from Echinococcus granulosus protoscoleces

A protein fraction migrating as a M(r) 24 kDa band on SDS-PAGE was isolated by affinity chromatography on glutathione-agarose from a soluble extract of E. granulosus proto-scoleces from sheep(UK). This fraction had glutathione S-transferase activity of 0.4 mumol min-1 mg-1 when measured using a standard synthetic substrate and its determined N-terminal amino acid sequence most closely resembled Mu class glutathione S-transferases. In addition, protoscoleces from the distinct sheep and horse E. granulosus strains showed a different pattern of glutathione-binding proteins: the M(r) 24 kDa species was obtained in both cases whereas an additional band of slightly faster electrophoretic mobility was isolated from horse(UK) protoscoleces.