Structure determination and refinement of human alpha class glutathione transferase A1-1, and a comparison with the Mu and Pi class enzymes

Zeta, a novel class of glutathione transferases in a range of species from plants to humans

Sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis has identified a new subgroup of glutathione S-transferase (GST)-like proteins from a range of species extending from plants to humans. This group has been termed the Zeta class. An atomic model of the N-terminal domain suggests that the members of the Zeta class have a similar structure to that of other GSTs, binding glutathione in a similar orientation in the G site. Recombinant human GSTZ1-1 has been expressed in Escherichia coli and characterized. The protein is a dimer composed of 24.2 kDa subunits and has minimal glutathione-conjugating activity with ethacrynic acid and 7-chloro-4-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1, 3-diazole. Although low in comparison with other GSTs, GSTZ1-1 has glutathione peroxidase activity with t-butyl and cumene hydroperoxides. The members of the Zeta class have been conserved over a long evolutionary period, suggesting that they might have a role in the metabolism of a compound that is common in many living cells.

Crystal structure of herbicide-detoxifying maize glutathione S-transferase-I in complex with lactoylglutathione: evidence for an induced-fit mechanism

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) -I and -III are involved in herbicide metabolism in maize and have been intensively studied. Starting with plant tissue from Zea mays var. mutin recombinant GST-I was prepared by heterologous expression in Escherichia coli. The enzyme was crystallized in the presence of lactoylglutathione, a ligand formerly never observed in a GST structure and known as an intermediate of the pharmacologically relevant glyoxalase system. The crystal structure of GST-I has been determined at 2.5 A resolution and exhibits the GST-typical dimer of two identical subunits, each consisting of 214 residues. Compared with other plant GSTs the three-dimensional structure of GST-I primarily shows structural differences in the hydrophobic substrate binding site, the linker segment and the C-terminal region. Furthermore, a comparison of the ligand-bound GST-I structure with the apo structure of GST-III indicates the movement of a ten-residue loop upon binding of the ligand to the active site. This is the first structure-based evidence for an induced fit mechanism of glutathione S-transferases, which has previously been postulated for class pi enzymes. Together with GST-III, GST-I may explain herbicide resistance and selectivity in maize as well as in other agronomic relevant crops.

Cloning, sequencing, crystallization and X-ray structure of glutathione S-transferase-III from Zea mays var. mutin: a leading enzyme in detoxification of maize herbicides

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are enzymes that inactivate toxic compounds by conjugation with glutathione and are involved in resistance towards drugs, antibiotics, insecticides and herbicides. Their ability to confer herbicide tolerance in plants provides a tool to control weeds in a wide variety of agronomic crops. GST-III was prepared from Zea mays var. mutin and its amino acid sequence was determined from two sets of peptides obtained by cleavage with endoprotease Asp-N and with trypsin, respectively. Recombinant GST-III was prepared by extraction of mRNA from plant tissue, transcription into cDNA, amplification by PCR and expression. It was crystallized and the crystal structure of the unligated form was determined at 2.2 A resolution. The enzyme forms a GST-typical dimer with one subunit consisting of 220 residues. Each subunit is formed of two distinct domains, an N-terminal domain consisting of a beta-sheet flanked by two helices, and a C-terminal domain, entirely helical. The dimeric molecule is globular with a large cleft between the two subunits. The amino acid sequence of GST-III and its cDNA sequence determined here show differences from sequences published earlier.

The structures of human glutathione transferase P1-1 in complex with glutathione and various inhibitors at high resolution

The human pi-class glutathione S-transferase (hGST P1-1) is a target for structure-based inhibitor design with the aim of developing drugs that could be used as adjuvants in chemotherapeutic treatment. Here we present seven crystal structures of the enzyme in complex with substrate (glutathione) and two inhibitors (S-hexyl glutathione and gamma-glutamyl- (S-benzyl)cysteinyl-D-phenylglycine). The binding of the modified glutathione inhibitor, gamma-glutamyl-(S-benzyl)cysteinyl-D-phenylglycine, has been characterized with the phenyl group stacking against the benzyl moiety of the inhibitor and making interactions with the active-site residues Phe8 and Trp38. The structure provides an explanation as to why this compound inhibits the pi-class GST much better than the other GST classes. The structure of the enzyme in complex with glutathione has been determined to high resolution (1.9 to 2.2 A) in three different crystal forms and at two different temperatures (100 and 288 K). In one crystal form, the direct hydrogen-bonding interaction between the hydroxyl group of Tyr7, a residue involved in catalysis, and the thiol group of the substrate, glutathione, is broken and replaced by a water molecule that mediates the interaction. The hydrogen-bonding partner of the hydroxyl group of Tyr108, another residue implicated in the catalysis, is space-group dependent. A high-resolution (2.0 A) structure of the enzyme in complex with S-hexyl glutathione in a new crystal form is presented. The enzyme-inhibitor complexes show that the binding of ligand into the electrophilic binding site does not lead to any conformational changes of the protein.

Crystallization, structural determination and analysis of a novel parasite vaccine candidate: Fasciola hepatica glutathione S-transferase

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) represent the major class of detoxifying enzymes from parasitic helminths. As a result, they are candidates for chemotherapeutic and vaccine design. Indeed, GSTs from Fasciola hepatica have been found to be effective for vaccinating sheep and cattle against fasciolosis. This helminth contains at least seven GST isoforms, of which four have been cloned. The cloned isoforms (Fh51, Fh47, Fh7 and Fh1) all belong to the mu class of GSTs, share greater than 71% sequence identity, yet display distinct substrate specificities. Crystals of Fh47 were obtained using the hanging drop vapour diffusion technique. The crystals belong to space group I4122, with one monomer in the asymmetric unit, which corresponds to a very high solvent content of approximately 75%. The physiological dimer is generated via a crystallographic 2-fold rotation. The three-dimensional structure of Fh47 was solved by molecular replacement using the Schistosoma japonicum glutathione S-transferase (Sj26) crystal structure as a search model. The structure adopts the canonical GST fold comprising two domains: an N-terminal glutathione-binding domain, consisting of a four-stranded beta-sheet and three helices whilst the C-terminal domain is entirely alpha-helical. The presence of Phe19 in Fh47 results in a 6 degrees interdomain rotation in comparison to Sj26, where the equivalent residue is a leucine. Homology models of Fh51, Fh7 and Fh1, based on the Fh47 crystal structure, reveal critical differences in the residues lining the xenobiotic binding site, particularly at residue positions 9, 106 and 204. In addition, differences amongst the isoforms in the non-substrate binding site were noted, which may explain the observed differential binding of large ligands. The major immunogenic epitopes of Fh47 were surprisingly found not to reside on the most solvent-exposed regions of the molecule.

Glutathione conjugation of bay- and fjord-region diol epoxides of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by glutathione transferases M1-1 and P1-1

Metabolism of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in mammalian cells results in the formation of vicinal diol epoxides considered as ultimate carcinogens if the oxirane ring is located in a bay- or fjord-region of the parent compound. In the present study, individual stereoisomers of the bay-region diol epoxides of chrysene, dibenz[a,h]anthracene, and benzo[a]pyrene as well as of the fjord-region diol epoxides of benzo[c]phenanthrene, benzo[c]chrysene, and benzo[g]-chrysene have been incubated with GSH in the presence of human glutathione transferases GSTM1-1 (a mu-class enzyme) and GSTP1-1 (a pi-class enzyme). As previously shown with GSTA1-1 (an alpha-class enzyme) both M1-1 and P1-1 demonstrate considerable activity toward a number of the diol epoxides studied, although a great variation in catalytic efficiency and enantioselectivity was observed. With GSTM1-1, the bay-region diol epoxides, in particular the syn-diastereomers were in most cases more efficiently conjugated with GSH than the fjord-region analogues. GSTM1-1 demonstrated an enantioselectivity ranging from no preference (50%) to high preference (> or = 90%) for conjugation of the enantiomers with R-configuration at the benzylic position of the oxirane ring. With GSTP1-1, the enzyme demonstrated appreciable activity toward both bay- and fjord-region diol epoxides and, in most cases, a preference for the anti-diastereomers. In contrast to GSTM1-1 and as previously shown for GSTA1-1, GSTP1-1 showed an exclusive preference for conjugation of the enantiomers with R-configuration at the benzylic oxirane carbon. With both GSTM1-1 and GSTP1-1, the chemically most reactive diol epoxide, the (+)-syn-enantiomer of trans-7,8-dihydroxy-9,10-epoxy-7,8,9,-10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene (BPDE), was the best substrate. As for GSTA1-1, no obvious correlation between chemical reactivity or lipophilicity of the compounds and catalytic efficiencies was observed. Molecular modeling of diol epoxides in the active sites of GSTP1-1 and -A1-1 is in agreement with the assumption, based on functional studies, that the H-site of GSTA1-1 [Jernström et al. (1996) Carcinogenesis 17, 1491-1498] can accommodate stereoisomers of different sizes. Further, modeling of the enantiomers of anti- and syn-BPDE in the active site of GSTP1-1 provides an explanation for the exclusive preference for the enantiomers with R-configuration at the benzylic oxirane carbon. These isomers could be snuggly fitted in the H-site close to the GSH sulfur, whereas those with opposite stereochemistry could not.

Molecular phylogeny of glutathione-S-transferases

The glutathione-S-transferase (GST) protein superfamily is currently composed of nearly 100 sequences. This study documents a greater phylogenetic diversity of GSTs than previously realized. Parsimony and distance phylogenetic methods of GST amino acid sequences yielded virtually the same results. There appear to be at least 25 groups (families) of GST-like proteins, as different from one another as are the currently recognized classes. This diversity will require the design of a new nomenclature for this large protein superfamily. There is one well-supported large clade containing the mammalian mu, pi, and alpha classes as well as GSTs from molluscs, helminths, nematodes, and arthropods.

Characterization of chicken-liver glutathione S-transferase (GST) A1-1 and A2-2 isoenzymes and their site-directed mutants heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli: identification of Lys-15 and Ser-208 on cGSTA1-1 as residues interacting with ethacrynic acid

Escherichia coli-expressed chicken-liver glutathione S-transferase, cGSTA1-1, displays high ethacrynic acid (EA)-conjugating activity. Molecular modelling of cGSTA1-1 with EA in the substrate binding site reveals that the side chain of Phe-111 protrudes into the substrate binding site and possibly interacts with EA. Replacement of Phe-111 with alanine resulted in an enzyme (F111A mutant) with a 4.5-fold increase in EA-conjugating activity (9.2 mmol/min per mg), and an incremental Gibbs free energy (DeltaDeltaG) of 4.0 kJ/mol lower than that of the wild-type cGSTA1-1. Two other amino acid residues that possibly interact with EA are Ser-208 and Lys-15. Substitution of Ser-208 with methionine generated a cGSTA1-1(F111AS208M) double mutant that has low EA-conjugating activity (2.0 mmol/min per mg) and an incremental Gibbs free energy of +3.9 kJ/mol greater than the cGSTA1-1(F111A) single mutant. The cGSTA1-1(F111A) mutant, with an additional Lys-15-to-leucine substitution, lost 90% of the EA-conjugating activity (0.55 mmol/min per mg). The Km values of the cGSTA1-1(F111A) and cGSTA1-1(F111AK15L) mutants for EA are nearly identical. The wild-type cGSTA2-2 isoenzyme has a low EA-conjugating activity (0.56 mmol/min per mg). The kcat of this reaction can be increased 2. 5-fold by substituting Arg-15 and Glu-104 with lysine and glycine respectively. The KmEA of the cGSTA2-2(R15KE104G) double mutant is nearly identical with that of the wild-type enzyme. Another double mutant, cGSTA2-2(E104GL208S), has a KmEA that is 3.3-fold lower and a kcat that is 1.8-fold higher than that of the wild-type enzyme. These results, taken together, illustrate the interactions of Lys-15 and Ser-208 on cGSTA1-1 with EA.

The conserved N-capping box in the hydrophobic core of glutathione S-transferase P1-1 is essential for refolding. Identification of a buried and conserved hydrogen bond important for protein stability

The second domain of cytosolic glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) contains a strictly conserved N-capping box motif (Ser/Thr-Xaa-Xaa-Asp) at the beginning of alpha6-helix in the hydrophobic core of the molecule. Considering the specific function attributed to capping box residues in the helix nucleation, we decided to investigate, by site-directed mutagenesis, the role that this motif could have in the folding and stability of human GSTP1-1. Both capping box mutants, S150A and D153A, were significantly more thermolabile than wild-type GSTP1-1, indicating that the local destabilization of the alpha6-helix determined by a single capping residue mutation affects the overall stability of the protein. The results also show that, in addition to capping interactions, an important role in the stability of the final structure of the protein is played by a buried and conserved hydrogen bond formed between the side chain of Asp-153 and the amide NH of Ile-144 located in the long loop preceding alpha6-helix. Reactivation experiments in vitro indicate that the N-capping box is essential for refolding of the denatured protein at a physiological temperature. The results suggest that during folding this buried and conserved motif, making a definite set of native-like contacts, determines the formation of a specific folding nucleus that probably represents a transition state of the folding process.

Cloning and crystal structure of hematopoietic prostaglandin D synthase

Hematopoietic prostaglandin (PG) D synthase is the key enzyme for production of the D and J series of prostanoids in the immune system and mast cells. We isolated a cDNA for the rat enzyme, crystallized the recombinant enzyme, and determined the three-dimensional structure of the enzyme complexed with glutathione at 2.3 A resolution. The enzyme is the first member of the sigma class glutathione S-transferase (GST) from vertebrates and possesses a prominent cleft as the active site, which is never seen among other members of the GST family. The unique 3-D architecture of the cleft leads to the putative substrate binding mode and its catalytic mechanism, responsible for the specific isomerization from PGH2 to PGD2.

Mechanism-based phage display selection of active-site mutants of human glutathione transferase A1-1 catalyzing SNAr reactions

A library of active-site mutants has been constructed by targeting selected amino acid residues in human glutathione transferase (GST) A1-1 for random mutagenesis. The mutated residues are suitably positioned for interaction with the second, electrophilic substrate, in particular chloronitrobenzene derivatives undergoing SNAr reactions. DNA representing the GST A1-1 mutant library was fused with DNA encoding gene III protein, a component of the coat of filamentous phage. Phage display was used for affinity selection of GST A1-1 mutants with altered catalytic properties. The affinity ligand used was the sigma-complex of 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene and glutathione immobilized to Sepharose. The complex was designed to mimic the transition state of SNAr reactions catalyzed by GSTs. The selection system is based on the combination of affinity for the sigma-complex as well as the ability to promote its formation, thus mimicking two salient features of the assumed catalytic mechanism for the SNAr reactions. Many of the GST A1-1 mutants selected and analyzed contained an aromatic amino acid residue in one of the mutated positions, suggesting favorable interactions with the trinitrocyclohexadienate moiety of the affinity ligand. A mutant C36 was selected for more detailed studies. Its catalytic efficiency with several chloronitrobenzene substrates was 20-90-fold lower than that of wild-type GST A1-1, but fully comparable to naturally evolved GSTs of different classes, providing a 10(5)-fold rate enhancement over the uncatalyzed reaction. In the conjugation of ethacrynic acid, a Michael addition reaction, mutant C36 was 13-fold more efficient than the wild-type enzyme. Within experimental error, the quotient between the KF values for wild-type GST A1-1 and mutant C36 is the same as that between the kcat/KM values determined with 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene for the two enzyme forms. This result indicates that sigma-complex formation is rate-limiting for the catalyzed reaction. Thus, the principle of transition-state stabilization as a component of catalysis has been successfully exploited in affinity selection of catalytically competent GST A1-1 mutants. This mechanism-based procedure also selects for the ability to promote sigma-complex formation, and serves as a probe of the catalytic mechanism.

The 3.0 A projection structure of microsomal glutathione transferase as determined by electron crystallography of p 21212 two-dimensional crystals

Two-dimensional crystals of rat microsomal glutathione transferase were grown during dialysis of detergent-solubilized enzyme after addition of a small amount of phospholipid. The crystals had two-sided plane group symmetry p21212 with a calibrated unit cell size of a=91.90 A, b=90.83 A. Electron diffraction patterns were recorded showing significant reflections extending to 3.0 A. A combination of these structure factor amplitudes with phases from high-resolution images following image processing was used to calculate a projection map of the protein. The asymmetric unit of the structure consists of three microsomal glutathione transferase molecules. The local 3-fold axis at the center of the trimer is delineated by six parallel alpha-helices, two from each monomer. The two helices differ significantly in their respective projection structure. The inner helical core of the trimer is partly surrounded by elongated domains with extensions towards the helices and which contain resolved density maxima at a spacing of 4 to 5 A. A well-defined strong peak is localized close to the elongated domain and at a distance of about 9.5 A from two of the inner helices.

Identification of the nonsubstrate steroid binding site of rat liver glutathione S-transferase, isozyme 1-1, by the steroid affinity label, 3beta-(iodoacetoxy)dehydroisoandrosterone

3beta-(Iodoacetoxy)dehydroisoandrosterone (3beta-IDA), an analogue of the electrophilic substrate, Delta5-androstene-3,17-dione, as well as an analogue of several other steroid inhibitors of glutathione S-transferase, was tested as an affinity label of rat liver glutathione S-transferase, isozyme 1-1. A time-dependent loss of enzyme activity is observed upon incubation of 3beta-IDA with the enzyme. The rate of enzyme inactivation exhibits a nonlinear dependence on 3beta-IDA concentration, yielding an apparent Ki of 21 microM. Upon complete inactivation of the enzyme, a reagent incorporation of approximately 1 mol/mol of enzyme subunit or 2 mol/mol of enzyme dimer is observed. Protection against inactivation and incorporation is afforded by alkyl glutathione derivatives and nonsubstrate steroid ligands such as 17beta-estradiol-3,17-disulfate but, surprisingly, not by Delta5-androstene-3,17-dione or any other electrophilic substrate analogues tested. These results suggest that the site of reaction is within the nonsubstrate steroid binding site of the enzyme, which is distinguishable from the electrophilic substrate binding site, near the active site of the enzyme. Two cysteine residues, Cys17 and Cys111, are modified in nearly equal amounts, despite an average reagent incorporation of 1 mol/mol enzyme subunit. Isolation of enzyme subunits indicates the presence of unmodified, singly labeled, and doubly labeled subunits, consistent with mutually exclusive modification of cysteine residues across enzyme subunits; i.e., modification of Cys111 on subunit A prevents modification of Cys111 on subunit B and similarly for Cys17. Molecular modeling analysis suggests that Cys17 and Cys111 are located in the nonsubstrate steroid binding site, within the cleft between the subunits of the dimeric enzyme.

Structure and function of the xenobiotic substrate-binding site and location of a potential non-substrate-binding site in a class pi glutathione S-transferase

Complex structures of a naturally occurring variant of human class pi glutathione S-transferase 1-1 (hGSTP1-1) with either S-hexylglutathione or (9R,10R)-9-(S-glutathionyl)-10-hydroxy-9, 10-dihydrophenanthrene [(9R,10R)-GSPhen] have been determined at resolutions of 1.8 and 1.9 A, respectively. The crystal structures reveal that the xenobiotic substrate-binding site (H-site) is located at a position similar to that observed in class mu GST 1-1 from rat liver (rGSTM1-1). In rGSTM1-1, the H-site is a hydrophobic cavity defined by the side chains of Y6, W7, V9, L12, I111, Y115, F208, and S209. In hGSTP1-1, the cavity is approximately half hydrophobic and half hydrophilic and is defined by the side chains of Y7, F8, V10, R13, V104, Y108, N204, and G205 and five water molecules. A hydrogen bond network connects the five water molecules and the side chains of R13 and N204. V104 is positioned such that the introduction of a methyl group (the result of the V104I mutation) disturbs the H-site water structure and alters the substrate-binding properties of the isozyme. The hydroxyl group of Y7 forms a hydrogen bond (3.2 A) with the sulfur atom of the product. There is a short hydrogen bond (2.5 A) between Y108 (OH) and (9R, 10R)-GSPhen (O5), indicating the hydroxyl group of Y108 as an electrophilic participant in the addition of glutathione to epoxides. An N-(2-hydroxethyl)piperazine-N'-2-ethanesulfonic acid (HEPES) molecule is found in the cavity between beta2 and alphaI. The location and properties of this HEPES-binding site fit a possible non-substrate-binding site that is involved in noncompetitive inhibition of the enzyme.

Use of a fusion protein to obtain crystals suitable for X-ray analysis: crystallization of a GST-fused protein containing the DNA-binding domain of DNA replication-related element-binding factor, DREF

Crystals of glutathione-S-transferase (GST)-fused protein containing the DNA-binding domain of DNA replication-related element-binding factor, DREF, were obtained under crystallization conditions similar to those for GST. Preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis revealed that crystals of the GST-fused protein belong to space group P6(1)22 or P6(5)22 with unit cell dimensions a = b = 140.4 A, c = 93.5 A and gamma = 120 degrees, having one molecule in the crystallographic asymmetric unit. The crystals diffract to 2.5 A resolution. The cell dimensions are related to those of GST crystals thus far reported. Crystallization of the DNA-binding domain that was cleaved from the fused protein by thrombin was also carried out using several methods under numerous conditions, but efforts to produce well-ordered large crystals were unsuccessful. A possible application of GST-fusion proteins for small target proteins or domains to obtain crystals suitable for X-ray structure determination is proposed.

Knowledge-based modeling of a bacterial dichloromethane dehalogenase

A three-dimensional structural model of the dichloromethane dehalogenase (DCMD) from Methylophilus sp. DM11 is constructed based on sequence similarities to the glutathione S-transferases (GSTs). To maximize sequence identity and minimize gaps in the alignment, a hybrid approach is used that takes advantage of the increased homology found between DM11 and domain I of the sheep blowfly theta class GST (residues 1-79) and domain II of the human alpha class GST (residues 81-222). The resulting structure has C alpha root mean square deviations of 1.16 A in domain I and 1.83 A in domain II from the template GSTs, which compare well to those seen in other GST inter-class comparisons. The model is further applied to explore the structural basis for substrate binding and catalysis. A conserved network of hydrogen bonds is described that binds glutathione to the G site, placing the thiol group in a suitable location for nucleophilic attack of dichloromethane. A mechanism is proposed that involves activation through a hydrogen bond interaction between Ser12 and glutathione, similar to that found in the theta-GSTs. The model also demonstrates how aromatic residues in the hydrophobic site (H site) could play a role in promoting catalysis: His116 and Trp117 are ideally situated to accept a growing negative charge on a chlorine of dichloromethane, stabilizing displacement. This scheme is consistent with experimental results of single-point mutations and comparisons with other GST structures and mechanisms.

Ligand-based protein alignment and isozyme specificity of glutathione S-transferase inhibitors

Glutathione S-transferases (GST, E.C.2.5.1.18) comprise a family of detoxification enzymes. Elevated levels of specific GST isozymes in tumor cells are thought responsible for resistance to chemotherapeutics, which renders selective GST inhibitors potentially useful pharmaceutical agents. We discuss the development of a structure activity model that rationalizes the isozyme selectivity observed in a series of 12 glutathione (GSH) analogues. Enzymatic activity data was determined for human P1-1, A1-1, and M2-2 isozymes, and these data were then considered in light of structural features of these three GST proteins. A survey of all GST structures in the PDB revealed that GSH binds to these proteins in a single "bioactive" conformation. To focus on differences between binding sites, we exploited our finding of a common GSH conformation and aligned the GST x-ray structures using bound ligands rather than the backbones of the different proteins. Once aligned, binding site lipophilicity and electrostatic potentials were computed, visualized, and compared. Docking and energy minimization exercises provided additional refinements to a model of selectivity developed initially by visual analysis. Our results suggest that binding site shape and lipophilic character are key determinants of GST isozyme selectivity for close GSH analogues.

The crystal structure of seleno-glutathione peroxidase from human plasma at 2.9 A resolution

Glutathione peroxidase belongs to the family of selenoproteins and plays an important role in the defense mechanisms of mammals, birds and fish against oxidative damage by catalyzing the reduction of a variety of hydroperoxides, using glutathione as the reducing substrate. However, the physiological role of human plasma glutathione peroxidase remains unclear due to the low levels of reduced glutathione in human plasma and the low reactivity of this enzyme. The crystal structure of human plasma glutathione peroxidase was determined by Patterson search methods using a polyalanine model modified from the known structure of bovine erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase. The structure was refined to a crystallographic R-factor of 0.228 (R(free) = 0.335) with I > 2sigma(I) reflections in the resolution range of 8 to 2.9 A. The asymmetric unit contains a dimer. Tetramers are built up from dimers by crystallographic symmetry. The subunit structure of the plasma enzyme shows the typical structure motif of the thioredoxin fold consisting of a central beta-sheet and several flanking alpha-helices. The active site selenocysteine residue is situated in the loop between beta1 and alpha1 and is located in a pocket on the protein surface. The overall structure of the human plasma enzyme is similar to that of the bovine erythrocyte enzyme. The main differences in their subunit structures are an extended N terminus and the possible existence of a disulfide bridge in the plasma enzyme. Compared to the bovine erythrocyte enzyme, a number of residues in the active site are mutated or deleted in the plasma enzyme, including all the residues that were previously suggested to be involved in glutathione binding. The observed structural differences between the two enzymes suggest differences in substrate binding and specificity.

Multifunctional role of Tyr 108 in the catalytic mechanism of human glutathione transferase P1-1. Crystallographic and kinetic studies on the Y108F mutant enzyme

The possible role of the hydroxyl group of Tyr 108 in the catalytic mechanism of human glutathione transferase P1-1 has been investigated by means of site-directed mutagenesis, steady-state kinetic analysis, and crystallographic studies. Three representative cosubstrates have been used, i.e. ethacrynic acid, 7-chloro-4-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazole, and 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene. In the presence of ethacrynic acid, the enzyme follows a rapid equilibrium random bi-bi mechanism with a rate-limiting step which occurs after the addition of the substrates and before the release of products. The replacement of Tyr 108 with Phe yields a 14-fold decrease of k(cat), while it does not change appreciably the affinity of the H site for the substrate. In this case, it would appear that the role of the hydroxyl function is to stabilize the transition state for the chemical step, i.e. the Michael addition of GSH to the electrophilic substrate. Crystallographic data are compatible with this conclusion showing the hydroxyl group of Y108 in hydrogen bonding distance of the ketone moiety of ethacrynic acid [Oakley, A. J., Rossjohn, J., Lo Bello, M., Caccuri, A. M., Federici, G., & Parker, M. W. (1997) Biochemistry 36, 576-585]. Moreover, no structural differences are observed between the Y108F mutant and the wild type, suggesting that the removal of the hydroxyl group is solely responsible for the loss of activity. A different involvement of Tyr 108 appears in the catalyzed conjugation of 7-chloro-4-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazole with GSH in which the rate-limiting step is of a physical nature, probably a structural transition of the ternary complex. The substitution of Tyr 108 yields an approximately 7-fold increase of k(cat) and a constant k(cat)/Km(NBD-Cl) value. Lack of a critical hydrogen bond between 7-chloro-4-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazole and Tyr 108 appears to be the basis of the increased k(cat). In the 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene/GSH system, no appreciable changes of kinetics parameters are found in the Y108F mutant. We conclude that Y108 has a multifunctional role in glutathione transferase P1-1 catalysis, depending on the nature of the electrophilic cosubstrate.

Cloning and characterization of two glutathione S-transferases from a DDT-resistant strain of Anopheles gambiae

Two cDNA species, aggst1-5 and aggst1-6, comprising the entire coding region of two distinct glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) have been isolated from a 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis-(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT) resistant strain (ZANDS) of Anopheles gambiae. The nucleotide sequences of these cDNA species share 80.2% identity and their derived amino acid sequences are 82.3% similar. They have been classified as insect class I GSTs on the basis of their high sequence similarity to class I GSTs from Drosophila melanogaster and Musca domestica and they are localized to a region of an An. gambiae chromosome known to contain further class I GSTs. The genes aggst1-5 and aggst1-6 were expressed at high levels in Escherichia coli and the recombinant GSTs were purified by affinity chromatography and characterized. Both agGST1-5 and agGST1-6 showed high activity with the substrates 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene and 1, 2-dichloro-4-nitrobenzene but negligible activity with the mammalian theta class substrates, 1,2-epoxy-3-(4-nitrophenoxy)propane and p-nitrophenyl bromide. Despite their high level of sequence identity, agGST1-5 and agGST1-6 displayed different kinetic properties. Both enzymes were able to metabolize DDT and were localized to a subset of GSTs that, from earlier biochemical studies, are known to be involved in insecticide resistance in An. gambiae. This subset of enzymes is one of three in which the DDT metabolism levels are elevated in resistant insects.

Mass spectrometric analysis of rat ovary and testis cytosolic glutathione S-transferases (GSTs): identification of a novel class-alpha GST, rGSTA6*, in rat testis

Cytosolic glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) from rat ovaries and testis were purified by a combination of GSH and S-hexylglutathione affinity chromatography. The isolated GSTs were subjected to reverse-phase HPLC, electrospray MS and N-terminal peptide sequencing analysis. The major GST isoenzymes expressed in ovaries are subunits A3, A4, M1, M2 and P1. Other isoenzymes detected are subunits A1, M3 and M6*. In rat testis, the major GST isoenzymes expressed are subunits A3, M1, M2, M3, M5* and M6*. Subunits A1, A4 and P1 are expressed in lesser amounts. We could not detect post-translational modifications of any GSTs with known cDNA sequence. The molecular masses of subunits M5* and M6*, two class-Mu GSTs that have not been cloned, were determined to be 25495 and 26538 Da respectively. An N-terminally modified protein from rat testis with molecular mass 25737 Da was isolated from the S-hexylglutathione column. Results from internal peptide sequencing analysis indicate that this is a novel class-Alpha GST that has not been previously reported. We designate this protein rGSTA6*.

Characterization of a marsupial glutathione transferase, a class Alpha enzyme from Brown Antechinus (Antechinus stuartii)

The major form of glutathione transferase from the marsupial Antechinus stuartii has been purified and characterized as an Alpha class enzyme (Ast GST A1-1) with distant sequence relationships to other class Alpha sublines, compatible with the early origin of marsupials. Amino acid replacements toward the closest enzyme characterized (chicken, form A3) involve no less than 79 positions (36%). At the active site, as deduced from comparisons with the known tertiary structure of the corresponding human enzyme, over half of the residues (8 of 15) ascribed to substrate binding interactions are exchanged although the general character of that site is conserved, while only 1 of 11 positions ascribed to interactions with GSH is exchanged. Class variability and species variability appear to coincide, with divergent segments centering around positions 33-49, 103-130 and 205-222. The pattern is reminiscent of that in similarly multiple MDR alcohol dehydrogenases. Both these enzyme families involved in cellular defense reactions have diverged considerably.

Structural and functional aspects of rat microsomal glutathione transferase. The roles of cysteine 49, arginine 107, lysine 67, histidine, and tyrosine residues

Rat liver microsomal glutathione transferase is rapidly inactivated upon treatment with the arginine-selective reagent phenylglyoxal or the lysine-selective 1,3,5-trinitrobenzenesulfonate. Glutathione sulfonate, an inhibitor of the enzyme, gives nearly complete protection against inactivation and prevents modification, indicating that these residues form part of or reside close to the active site. Sequence analysis of peptides from peptic and tryptic digests of [7-14C]phenylglyoxal- and 1,3,5-trinitrobenzenesulfonate-treated microsomal glutathione transferase indicated arginine 107 and lysine 67 as the sites of modification. A set of mutant forms of microsomal glutathione transferase was constructed by site-directed mutagenesis and heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3). Arginine 107 was exchanged for alanine and lysine residues. The alanine mutant (R107A) exhibited an activity and inhibition profile similar to that of the wild type enzyme but displayed a decreased thermostability. Thus, arginine 107 does not appear to participate in catalysis or substrate binding; instead, an important structural role is suggested for this residue. Lysine 67 was mutated to alanine and arginine with no effect on activity. All three histidines were replaced by glutamine, and the resulting mutant proteins had activities comparable with that of the wild type. It can thus be concluded that the chemical modification experiments indicating that arginine 107, lysine 67, and one of the histidines partake in catalysis can be disproved. However, protection from modification by a competitive inhibitor indicates that these residues could be close to the glutathione binding site. All tyrosine to phenylalanine substitutions resulted in mutants with activities similar to that of the wild type. Interestingly, the exchange of tyrosine 137 appears to result in activation of the enzyme. Thus, the microsomal glutathione transferase must display an alternate stabilization of the thiolate anion of glutathione other than through interaction with the phenolic hydroxyl group of a tyrosine residue. Substitution of cysteine 49 with alanine resulted in a semiactivated mutant enzyme with enzymatic properties partly resembling the activated form of microsomal glutathione transferase. The function of this mutant was not altered upon reaction with N-ethylmaleimide, and cysteine 49 is thus demonstrated as the site of modification that results in activation of microsomal glutathione transferase.

4-Substituted 1-chloro-2-nitrobenzenes: structure-activity relationships and extension of the substrate model of rat glutathione S-transferase 4-4

In the present study, eleven 4-substituted 1-chloro-2-nitrobenzenes were tested for their GSH conjugation capacity when catalyzed by base or rat glutathione S-transferase (GST) 4-4. Kinetic parameters (ks and K(m), kcat, and kcat/K(m)) were determined and subsequently used for the description of structure-activity relationships (SAR's). For this purpose, eight physicochemical parameters (electronic, steric, and lipophilic) of the substituents and five computer-calculated parameters of the substrates (charge distributions and several energy values) were used in regression analyses with the kinetic parameters. The obtained SAR's are compared with corresponding SAR's for the GSH conjugation of 2-substituted 1-chloro-4-nitrobenzenes, previously determined [Van der Aar et al. (1996) Chem. Res. Toxicol. 9, 527-534]. The kinetic parameters of the 4-substituted 1-chloro-2-nitrobenzenes correlated well with the Hammett sigma p- constant; the Hammett sigma p constant corrected for "through resonance", while the corresponding kinetic parameters of the 2-substituted 1-chloro-4-nitrobenzenes did not. The base- and GST 4-4-catalyzed GSH conjugation reactions of 2-substituted 1-chloro-4-nitrobenzenes depend to a different extent on the electronic properties of the ortho substituents, suggesting the involvement of different rate-limiting transition states. The base- and GST 4-4-catalyzed conjugation of 4-substituted 1-chloro-2-nitrobenzenes, however, showed a similar dependence on the electronic properties of the para substituents, indicating that these substrates are conjugated to GSH via a similar transition state. Multiple regression analyses revealed that, besides electronic interactions, also steric and lipophilic restrictions appeared to play an important role in the GST 4-4-catalyzed GSH conjugation of 4-substituted 1-chloro-2-nitrobenzenes. Finally, the 4-substituted 1-chloro-2-nitrobenzenes were also used to extend the previously described substrate model for GST 4-4 [De Groot et al. (1995) Chem. Res. Toxicol. 8, 649-658], by which a specific steric restriction of substrates for GST 4-4 became clear.

Pressure-dependent ionization of Tyr 9 in glutathione S-transferase A1-1: contribution of the C-terminal helix to a "soft" active site

The glutathione S-transferase (GST) isozyme A1-1 contains at its active site a catalytic tyrosine, Tyr9, which hydrogen bonds to, and stabilizes, the thiolate form of glutathione, GS-. In the substrate-free GST A1-1, the Tyr 9 has an unusually low pKa, approximately 8.2, for which the ionization to tyrosinate is monitored conveniently by UV and fluorescence spectroscopy in the tryptophan-free mutant, W21F. In addition, a short alpha-helix, residues 208-222, provides part of the GSH and hydrophobic ligand binding sites, and the helix becomes "disordered" in the absence of ligands. Here, hydrostatic pressure has been used to probe the conformational dynamics of the C-terminal helix, which are apparently linked to Tyr 9 ionization. The extent of ionization of Tyr 9 at pH 7.6 is increased dramatically at low pressures (p1/2 = 0.52 kbar), based on fluorescence titration of Tyr 9. The mutant protein W21F:Y9F exhibits no changes in tyrosine fluorescence up to 1.2 kbar; pressure specifically ionizes Tyr 9. The volume change, delta V, for the pressure-dependent ionization of Tyr 9 at pH 7.6, 19 degrees C, was -33 +/- 3 mL/mol. In contrast, N-acetyl tyrosine exhibits a delta V for deprotonation of -11 +/- 1 mL/mol, beginning from the same extent of initial ionization, pH 9.5. The pressure-dependent ionization is completely reversible for both Tyr 9 and N-acetyl tyrosine. Addition of S-methyl GSH converted the "soft" active site to a noncompressible site that exhibited negligible pressure-dependent ionization of Tyr 9 below 0.8 kbar. In addition, Phe 220 forms part of an "aromatic cluster" with Tyr 9 and Phe 10, and interactions among these residues were hypothesized to control the order of the C-terminal helix. The amino acid substitutions F220Y, F2201, and F220L afford proteins that undergo pressure-dependent ionization of Tyr 9 with delta V values of 31 +/- 2 mL/mol, 43 +/- 3 mL/mol, and 29 +/- 2 mL/mol, respectively. The p1/2 values for Tyr 9 ionization were 0.61 kbar, 0.41 kbar, and 0.46 kbar for F220Y, F220I, and F220L, respectively. Together, the results suggest that the C-terminal helix is conformationally heterogeneous in the absence of ligands. The conformations differ little in free energy, but they are significantly different in volume, and mutations at Phe 220 control the conformational distribution.

Resonance energy transfer between sites in rat liver glutathione S-transferase, 1-1, selectively modified at cysteine-17 and cysteine-111

Monobromobimane (mBBr) can label both Cys111 and Cys17 of rat liver glutathione S-transferase, 1-1 (GST 1-1). However, selective modification of Cys111 was achieved by the maleimide-based sulfhydryl reagents N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) and fluorescein 5-maleimide (NFM). Incubation of GST 1-1 with 5 mM NEM for 30 min at pH 7.5 and 25 degrees C leads to the formation of modified enzyme with 92% residual activity toward 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene and completely blocks Cys111 from subsequent reaction with either NFM or mBBr. Reaction of GST 1-1 with 0.2 mM NFM under the same conditions affords a modified enzyme with only 14% residual activity even though NFM and NEM target the same Cys111. The results indicate that when the bulky fluorescein is covalently bound to Cys111, the ligand projects into both the xenobiotic binding site and the glutathione site. After NEM or NFM modification of GST 1-1, the enzyme was further modified by monobromobimane at Cys17 with loss of activity. Together with the only tryptophan (Trp20), fluorescein linked to Cys111 and bimane to Cys17 provide three fluorescent probes to study the solution structure of GST 1-1. Fluorescence spectral analysis suggests that Trp20 and bimane linked to Cys17 are located in a relatively hydrophobic environment, while fluorescein linked to Cys111 is located in a charged environment. These fluorescent probes constitute three sets of donor-acceptor pairs for the measurement of fluorescence energy transfer, and distances calculated from such measurements are 20 A between Trp20 and bimane at Cys17, 19 A between Trp20 and fluorescein at Cys111, and < 22 A between bimane at Cys17 and fluorescein at Cys111. Molecular modeling studies indicate that fluorescein lies between the two subunits, is surrounded by charged residues, and is extended into the xenobiotic binding site. They also suggest that mBBr must approach from the dimer interface in order to reach the reaction site at Cys17.

Identification of an N-capping box that affects the alpha 6-helix propensity in glutathione S-transferase superfamily proteins: a role for an invariant aspartic residue

We have identified an N-capping box motif (Ser/Thr-Xaa-Xaa-Asp) that is strictly conserved, at the beginning of alpha 6 helix, in all glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) and most of the related superfamily proteins. By using CD and peptide modelling we have demonstrated that the capping box residues have an important role in determining the helical conformation adopted by this fragment in the hydrophobic environment of the protein. This is an example in which a local motif, contributing to nucleation of a structural element essential to the global folding of the protein, is strictly conserved in a superfamily of homologous proteins.

Structure of human chi chi alcohol dehydrogenase: a glutathione-dependent formaldehyde dehydrogenase

The crystal structure of the human class III chi chi alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) in a binary complex with NAD+(gamma) was solved to 2.7 A resolution by molecular replacement with human class I beta1 beta1 ADH. chi chi ADH catalyzes the oxidation of long-chain alcohols such as omega-hydroxy fatty acids as well as S-hydroxymethyl-glutathione, a spontaneous adduct between formaldehyde and glutathione. There are two subunits per asymmetric unit in the chi chi ADH structure. Both subunits display a semi-open conformation of the catalytic domain. This conformation is half-way between the open and closed conformations described for the horse EE ADH enzyme. The semi-open conformation and key changes in elements of secondary structure provide a structural basis for the ability of chi chi ADH to bind S-hydroxymethyl-glutathione and 10-hydroxydecanoate. Direct coordination of the catalytic zinc ion by Glu68 creates a novel environment for the catalytic zinc ion in chi chi ADH. This new configuration of the catalytic zinc is similar to an intermediate for horse EE ADH proposed through theoretical computations and is consistent with the spectroscopic data of the Co(II)-substituted chi chi enzyme. The position for residue His47 in the chi chi ADH structure suggests His47 may function both as a catalytic base for proton transfer and in the binding of the adenosine phosphate of NAD(H). Modeling of substrate binding to this enzyme structure is consistent with prior mutagenesis data which showed that both Asp57 and Arg115 contribute to glutathione binding and that Arg115 contributes to the binding of omega-hydroxy fatty acids and identifies additional residues which may contribute to substrate binding.

The three-dimensional structure of the human Pi class glutathione transferase P1-1 in complex with the inhibitor ethacrynic acid and its glutathione conjugate

The potent diuretic drug ethacrynic acid has been tested in clinical trials as an adjuvant in chemotherapy. Its target is the detoxifying enzyme glutathione transferase which is often found overexpressed in cancer tissues. We have solved the crystal structures of human pi class glutathione transferase P1-1 in complex with the inhibitor ethacrynic acid and its glutathione conjugate. Ethacrynic acid is found to bind in a nonproductive mode to one of the ligand binding sites of the enzyme (the H site) while the glutathione binding site (G site) is occupied by solvent molecules. There are no structural rearrangements of the G site in the absence of ligand. The structure indicates that bound glutathione is required for ethacrynic acid to dock into the H site in a productive binding mode. The binding of the ethacrynic acid-glutathione conjugate shows that the contacts of the glutathione moiety with the protein are identical to those observed in crystal structures of the enzyme with other glutathione-based substrates and inhibitors. The ethacrynic acid moiety of the conjugate binds in the H site in a fashion that has not been observed in crystal structures of other glutathione-based inhibitor complexes. The crystal structures implicate Tyr 108 as an electrophilic participant in the Michael addition of glutathione to ethacrynic acid.

Epitope mapping of a monoclonal antibody to human glutathione transferase P1-1 the binding of which is inhibited by glutathione

Although the three-dimensional structure of human glutathione transferase (GST) P1-1 crystallized with a GSH analogue has been reported, its structure in the non-complexed form has not been determined. Four monoclonal antibodies to GST P1-1 were produced to facilitate structural analysis. Of these, one, clone d-1 of IgG2a isotype, dose-dependently inhibited the activity of GST P1-1 but did not affect the activities of either GST A1-1 or M1-1. On immunoblotting, the antibody reacted strongly with GST P1-1 and weakly with rat GST-P and mouse GST-II, indicating cross-reactivity with Pi-class forms but preferential reactivity with GST P1-1. When GST P1-1 and the antibody were incubated in the presence of 60 microM GSH, no inhibition of activity was found, whereas 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene had no effect at concentrations up to 10 microM. The binding of GST P1-1 to antibody adsorbed to Protein A-Sepharose was also prevented by both 0.1 mM GSH and N-ethylmaleimide treatment. Trypsin digests of GST P1-1 were resolved by HPLC and a peptide that reacted with the antibody was detected by absorption experiments. N-Terminal amino acid sequencing revealed the peptide to be in the C-terminal portion of the enzyme, stretching from amino acid residues 198 to 208. A synthetic peptide of this sequence also absorbed the antibody. These results suggest that both GSH bound to the active site and N-ethylmaleimide bound to the cysteine residue repress antibody binding to the C-terminal region. Thus this antibody may be useful for examining the steric configuration of the C-terminal and other regions of GST P1-1 in the absence of GSH.

Homology model for the human GSTT2 Theta class glutathione transferase

A tertiary model of the human GSTT2 Theta class glutathione transferase is presented based on the recently solved crystal structure of a related thetalike isoenzyme from Lucilia cuprina. Although the N-terminal domains are quite homologous, the C-terminal domains share less than about 20% identity. The model is used to consolidate the role of Ser 11 in the active site of the enzyme as well as to identify other residues and mechanisms of likely catalytic importance. The T2 subfamily of theta class enzymes have been shown to inactivate reactive sulfate esters arising from arylmethanols. A possible reaction pathway involving the conjugation of glutathione with one such sulfate ester, 1-menaphthyl-sulfate, is described. It is also proposed that the C-terminal region of the enzyme plays an important role in allowing substrate access to the active site.

Probing the active site of alpha-class rat liver glutathione S-transferases using affinity labeling by monobromobimane

Monobromobimane (mBBr) is a substrate of both mu- and alpha-class rat liver glutathione S-transferases, with Km values of 0.63 microM and 4.9 microM for the mu-class isozymes 3-3 and 4-4, respectively, and 26 microM for the alpha-class isozymes 1-1 and 2-2. In the absence of substrate glutathione, mBBr acts as an affinity label of the 1-1 as well as mu-class isozymes, but not of the alpha-class 2-2 isozyme. Incubation of rat liver isozyme 1-1 with mBBr at pH 7.5 and 25 degrees C results in a time-dependent inactivation of the enzyme but at a slower (threefold) rate than for reactions with the mu-class isozyme 3-3 and 4-4. The rate of inactivation of 1-1 isozyme by mBBr is not decreased but, rather, is slightly enhanced by S-methyl glutathione. In contrast, 17 beta-estradiol-3,17-disulfate (500 microM) gives a 12.5-fold decrease in the observed rate constant of inactivation by 4 mM mBBr. When incubated for 60 min with 4 mM mBBr, the 1-1 isozyme loses 60% of its activity and incorporates 1.7 mol reagent/mol subunit. Peptide analysis after thermolysin digestion indicates that mBBr modification is equally distributed between two cysteine residues at positions 17 and 111. Modification at these two sites is reduced equally in the presence of the added protectant, 17 beta-estradiol-3,17-disulfate, suggesting that Cys 17 and Cys 111 reside within or near the enzyme's steroid binding sites. In contrast to the 1-1 isozyme, the other alpha-class isozyme (2-2) is not inactivated by mBBr at concentrations as high as 15 mM. The different reaction kinetics and modification sites by mBBr suggest that distinct binding site structures are responsible for the characteristic substrate specificities of glutathione S-transferase isozymes.

Structure-activity relationships for chemical and glutathione S-transferase-catalysed glutathione conjugation reactions of a series of 2-substituted 1-chloro-4-nitrobenzenes

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) constitute an important class of phase II (de)toxifying enzymes, catalysing the conjugation of glutathione (GSH) with electrophilic compounds. In the present study, Km, kcat and kcat/Km values for the rat GST 1-1-, 3-3-, 4-4- and 7-7-catalysed conjugation reactions between GSH and a series of 10 different 2-substituted 1-chloro-4-nitrobenzenes, and the second-order rate constants (ks) of the corresponding base-catalysed reactions, were correlated with nine classical physicochemical parameters (electronic, steric and lipophilic) of the substituents and with 16 computer-calculated molecular parameters of the substrates and of the corresponding Meisenheimer complexes with MeS- as a model nucleophile for GS- (charge distributions and several energy values), giving structure-activity relationships. On the basis of an identical dependence of the base-catalysed as well as the GST 1-1- and GST 7-7-catalysed reactions on electronic parameters (among others, Hammett substituent constant sigma p and charge on p-nitro substituents), and the finding that the corresponding reactions catalysed by GSTs 3-3 and 4-4 depend to a significantly lesser extent on these parameters, it was concluded that the Mu-class GST isoenzymes have a rate-determining transition state in the conjugation reaction between 2-substituted 1-chloro-4-nitrobenzenes and GSH which is different from that of the other two GSTs. Several alternative rate-limiting transition states for GST 3-3 and 4-4 are discussed. Furthermore, based on the obtained structure-activity relationships, it was possible to predict the kcat/Km values of the four GST isoenzymes and the ks of the base-catalysed GSH conjugation of 1-chloro-4-nitrobenzene.

Binding of the aflatoxin-glutathione conjugate to mouse glutathione S-transferase A3-3 is saturated at only one ligand per dimer

The binding of two different reaction products (p-nitrobenzyl glutathione and the aflatoxin-glutathione conjugate) to mouse glutathione S-transferase A3-3 (mGSTA3-3) has been measured using equilibrium dialysis and a direct fluorescence quenching technique. As expected, p-nitrobenzyl glutathione was found to bind with a stoichiometry of 2.24 +/- 0.17 mol/mol of dimeric enzyme. However, the much larger aflatoxin-glutathione conjugate, 8, 9-dihydro-8-(S-glutathionyl)-9-hydroxyl-aflatoxin B1 (AFB-GSH), was found to bind with a stoichiometry of 1.12 +/- 0.08 mol/mol of dimeric enzyme. p-Nitrobenzyl glutathione bound mGSTA3-3 with a dissociation constant (Kd) of 59 +/- 17 microM while the aflatoxin-glutathione conjugate bound the enzyme with a Kd of 0.86 +/- 0.19 microM. Glutathione competitively inhibited binding of AFB-GSH to mGSTA3-3 with a Ki of 1.5 mM, suggesting that AFB-GSH was binding to the enzyme active site. Although AFB-GSH bound to mGSTA3-3 with a stoichiometry of 1 mol/mol of dimeric enzyme, AFB-GSH completely inhibited activity toward 1-chloro-2, 4-dinitrobenzene, indicating that AFB-GSH binding to one active site alters affinity for 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene in the active site of the other subunit. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a glutathione S-transferase reaction product which binds to the enzyme with a stoichiometry of 1 mol/mol of dimer.

Determination of a binding site for a non-substrate ligand in mammalian cytosolic glutathione S-transferases by means of fluorescence-resonance energy transfer

To determine the location of the non-substrate-ligand-binding region in mammalian glutathione S-transferases, fluorescence-resonance energy transfer was used to calculate distances between tryptophan residues and protein-bound 8-anilinonaphthalene 1-sulphonate (an anionic ligand) in the human class-alpha glutathione S-transferase, and in a human Trp28-->Phe mutant class-pi glutathione S-transferase. Distance values of 2.21 nm and 1.82 nm were calculated for the class-alpha and class-pi enzymes, respectively. Since glutathione S-transferases bind one non-substrate ligand/protein dimer, the ligand-binding region, according to the calculated distances, is found to be located in the dimer interface near the twofold axis. This region is the same as that in which the parasitic helminth Schistosoma japonicum glutathione S-transferase binds praziquantel, a non-substrate drug used to treat schistosomiasis [McTigue, M. A., Williams, D. R. & Tainer, J. A. (1995) J. Mol. Biol. 246, 21-27]. Since the overall folding topology is conserved and certain features at the dimer interface are similar throughout the superfamily, it is reasonable to expect that all cytosolic glutathione S-transferases bind non-substrate ligands in the amphipathic groove at the dimer interface.

Mutagenesis of the active site of the human Theta-class glutathione transferase GSTT2-2: catalysis with different substrates involves different residues

The role of serine-11 in the catalytic mechanism of recombinant human GSTT2-2 was examined by site-directed mutagenesis. Amino acid sequence comparison of the Theta-class isoenzymes has identified a conserved serine residue in the N-terminal domain [Wilce, Board, Feil and Parker (1995) EMBO J. 14, 2133-2143]. This conserved serine has been implicated in the activation of the enzyme-bound glutathione [Board, Coggan and Parker (1995) Biochem. J. 311, 247-250]. Mutating the equivalent serine (residue 11) of GSTT2-2 to Ala, Thr or Tyr abolished the catalytic properties of GSTT2-2 with cumene hydroperoxide and ethacrynic acid as second substrate. However, with l-menaphthyl sulphate (MSu) as the second substrate, the specific activity of the S11A mutant was doubled, while the S11T mutant retained half the wild-type activity and the S11Y mutant was inactive. The role of Ser-11 in catalysis seems to vary with different second substrates. In the substitution reaction with MSu, GSTT2-2 activity appears to depend on the size of the Ser-11 replacement rather than the presence of a side-chain hydroxy group. In addition, the reaction rate appears to be a function of pH, and there is no non-enzymic reaction even at high pH. We demonstrated that a reaction between MSu and an alternative thiol such as L-cysteine or 2-mercaptoethanol can take place in the presence of S-methylglutathione and GSTT2-2. We propose that the catalytic activity of GSTT2-2 with MSu is preceded by a conformational or charge modification to the enzyme upon the binding of glutathione or S-methylglutathione. This is followed by the binding of MSu and the subsequent removal of the sulphate group, giving rise to the carbonium ion of l-methylnaphthelene as the electrophile that reacts with the nucleophilic species. The reaction mechanism of GSTT2-2 with MSu may represent a novel function of GSTT2-2 as a glutathione-dependent sulphatase.

Rational modulation of the catalytic activity of A1-1 glutathione S-transferase: evidence for incorporation of an on-face (pi...HO-Ar) hydrogen bond at tyrosine-9

The alpha-, pi-, and mu-class glutathione S-transferases utilize a hydrogen bond between a conserved tyrosine and glutathione (GSH) to stabilize the nucleophilic thiolate anion, as Tyr-OH...-SG. This hydrogen bond is critical for efficient detoxication catalysis. The detailed structure of this hydrogen bond, however, is controlled by active site features which are not conserved across class boundaries. The alpha-class GST A1-1 has a cluster of aromatic residues on one side of the ring of the catalytic tyrosine, Tyr-9. Also, a hydrophobic Met-16 side chain is packed against the edge of the ring of Tyr-9. Molecular modeling and ab initio calculations suggested that substitution of Phe-220 with tyrosine could generate an aromatic on-face hydrogen bond (pi...HO-Ar) between the ring of Tyr-9 and the hydroxyl group of Tyr-220, and this would lower the pKa of enzyme-bound GSH. Therefore, Phe-220 was replaced by Tyr in the rat A1-1 isozyme. Also, Met-16 was replaced by Thr in order to investigate the effect of a hydrogen bond donor at the Tyr-9 ring edge. UV spectroscopic titration of GST.GSH and steady-state kinetic analysis indicate that substitution of Tyr at Phe-220 results in a decrease of the pKa of the cofactor, whereas substitution of Met-16 with Thr results in an increase of this pKa. Also, the pKa of Tyr-9 in the absence of substrates was determined directly by fluorescence titration. Substitutions F220Y and M16T resulted in a decrease of 0.5 pKa unit and an increase of 0.6 pKa unit, respectively. Together, these results indicate that a weak hydrogen bond between the engineered Tyr-220 side chain and the aromatic ring face of the catalytic Tyr-9 decreases the pKa of GSH and Tyr-9, and this alters the pH dependence of the enzymatic reaction.

Use of a designed fusion protein dissociates allosteric properties from the dodecameric state of Pseudomonas aeruginosa catabolic ornithine carbamoyltransferase

The catabolic ornithine carbamoyltransferase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an enzyme consisting of 12 identical 38-kDa subunits, displays allosteric properties, namely carbamoylphosphate homotropic cooperativity and heterotropic activation by AMP and other nucleoside monophosphates and inhibition by polyamines. To shed light on the effect of the oligomeric organization on the enzyme's activity and/or allosteric behavior, a hybrid ornithine carbamoyltransferase/glutathione S-transferase (OTCase-GST) molecule was constructed by fusing the 3' end of the P. aeruginosa arcB gene (OTCase) to the 5' end of the cDNA encoding Musca domestica GST by using a polyglycine encoding sequence as a linker. The fusion protein was overexpressed in Escherichia coli and purified from cell extracts by affinity chromatography, making use of the GST domain. It was found to exist as a trimer and to retain both the homotropic and heterotropic characteristic interactions of the wild-type catabolic OTCase but to a lower extent as compared with the wild-type OTCase. The dodecameric organization of catabolic P. aeruginosa OTCase may therefore be related to an enhancement of the substrate cooperativity already present in its trimers (and perhaps also to the thermostability of the enzyme).

Effect of glutathione, glutathione sulphonate and S-hexylglutathione on the conformational stability of class pi glutathione S-transferase

The glutathione S-transferases (GST) are a supergene family of phase II detoxification enzymes which catalyse the S-conjugation between glutathione and an electrophilic substrate. The active site can be divided into two adjacent functional regions, a highly specific G-site for binding the physiological substrate glutathione and a nonspecific H-site for binding nonpolar electrophilic substrates. Equilibrium and kinetic unfolding experiments employing tryptophan fluorescence and enzyme activity measurements were preformed to study the effect of ligand binding to the G-site on the unfolding and stability of the porcine class pi glutathione S-transferase against urea. The presence of glutathione caused a shift in the equilibrium-unfolding curves towards lower urea concentrations and enhanced the first-order rate constant for unfolding suggesting a destabilisation of the pGSTP1-1 structure against urea. The presence of either glutathione sulphonate or S-hexylglutathione, however, produced the opposite effect in that their binding to the G-site appeared to exet a stablising effect against urea. The binding of these glutathione analogues also reduced significantly the degree of cooperativity of unfolding indicating a possible change in the protein's unfolding pathway.

Location of a potential transport binding site in a sigma class glutathione transferase by x-ray crystallography

The crystal structure of the sigma class glutathione transferase from squid digestive gland in complex with S-(3-iodobenzyl)glutathione reveals a third binding site for the glutathione conjugate besides the two in the active sites of the dimer. The additional binding site is near the crystallographic two-fold axis between the two alpha 4-turn-alpha 5 motifs. The principal binding interactions with the conjugate include specific electrostatic interactions between the peptide and the two subunits and a hydrophobic cavity found across the two-fold axis that accommodates the 3-iodobenzyl group. Thus, two identical, symmetry-related but mutually exclusive binding modes for the third conjugate are observed. The hydrophobic pocket is about 14 A from the hydroxyl group of Tyr-7 in the active site. This site is a potential transport binding site for hydrophobic molecules or their glutathione conjugates.