The three-dimensional structure of Cys-47-modified mouse liver glutathione S-transferase P1-1. Carboxymethylation dramatically decreases the affinity for glutathione and is associated with a loss of electron density in the alphaB-310B region

Covalent Inhibition by a Natural Product-Inspired Latent Electrophile

Strategies to target specific protein cysteines are critical to covalent probe and drug discovery. 3-Bromo-4,5-dihydroisoxazole (BDHI) is a natural product-inspired, synthetically accessible electrophilic moiety that has previously been shown to react with nucleophilic cysteines in the active site of purified enzymes. Here, we define the global cysteine reactivity and selectivity of a set of BDHI-functionalized chemical fragments using competitive chemoproteomic profiling methods. Our study demonstrates that BDHIs capably engage reactive cysteine residues in the human proteome and the selectivity landscape of cysteines liganded by BDHI is distinct from that of haloacetamide electrophiles. Given its tempered reactivity, BDHIs showed restricted, selective engagement with proteins driven by interactions between a tunable binding element and the complementary protein sites. We validate that BDHI forms covalent conjugates with glutathione S-transferase Pi (GSTP1) and peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase NIMA-interacting 1 (PIN1), emerging anticancer targets. BDHI electrophile was further exploited in Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor design using a single-step late-stage installation of the warhead onto acrylamide-containing compounds. Together, this study expands the spectrum of optimizable chemical tools for covalent ligand discovery and highlights the utility of 3-bromo-4,5-dihydroisoxazole as a cysteine-reactive electrophile.

Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Acetaminophen Covalent Binding to Glutathione S-Transferases

Acetaminophen (APAP)-induced hepatotoxicity is the most common cause of acute liver failure in the Western world. APAP is bioactivated to N-acetyl p-benzoquinone imine (NAPQI), a reactive metabolite, which can subsequently covalently bind to glutathione and protein thiols. In this study, we have used liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to characterize NAPQI binding to human glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) in vitro. GSTs play a crucial role in the detoxification of reactive metabolites and therefore are interesting target proteins to study in the context of APAP covalent binding. Recombinantly-expressed and purified GSTs were used to assess NAPQI binding in vitro. APAP biotransformation to NAPQI was achieved using rat liver microsomes or human cytochrome P450 Supersomes in the presence of GSTA1, M1, M2, or P1. Resulting adducts were analyzed using bottom-up proteomics, with or without LC fractionation prior to LC-MS/MS analysis on a quadrupole-time-of-flight instrument with data-dependent acquisition (DDA). Targeted methods using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) on a triple quadrupole platform were also developed by quantitatively labeling all available cysteine residues with a labeling reagent yielding isomerically-modified peptides following enzymatic digestion. Seven modified cysteine sites were confirmed, including Cys112 in GSTA1, Cys78 in GSTM1, Cys115 and 174 in GSTM2, as well as Cys15, 48, and 170 in GSTP1. Most modified peptides could be detected using both untargeted (DDA) and targeted (MRM) approaches, however the latter yielded better detection sensitivity with higher signal-to-noise and two sites were uniquely found by MRM.

Characterizing protein modifications by reactive metabolites using magnetic bead bioreactors and LC-MS/MS

We report here label-free metabolite-protein adduct detection and identification employing magnetic beads coated with metabolic enzymes as bioreactors to generate metabolites and possible metabolite-protein adducts for analysis by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Chemical proteomics with sulfonyl fluoride probes reveals selective labeling of functional tyrosines in glutathione transferases

Chemical probes have great potential for identifying functional residues in proteins in crude proteomes. Here we studied labeling sites of chemical probes based on sulfonyl fluorides (SFs) on plant and animal proteomes. Besides serine proteases and many other proteins, SF-based probes label Tyr residues in glutathione transferases (GSTs). The labeled GSTs represent four different GST classes that share less than 30% sequence identity. The targeted Tyr residues are located at similar positions in the promiscuous substrate binding site and are essential for GST function. The high selectivity of SF-based probes for functional Tyr residues in GSTs illustrates how these probes can be used for functional studies of GSTs and other proteins in crude proteomes.

Diuretic drug binding to human glutathione transferase P1-1: potential role of Cys-101 revealed in the double mutant C47S/Y108V

The diuretic drug ethacrynic acid (EA), both an inhibitor and substrate of pi class glutathione S-transferase (GST P1-1), has been tested in clinical trials as an adjuvant in chemotherapy. We recently studied the role of the active site residue Tyr-108 in binding EA to the enzyme and found that the analysis was complicated by covalent binding of this drug to the highly reactive Cys-47. Previous attempts to eliminate this binding by chemical modification yielded ambiguous results and therefore we decided here to produce a double mutant C47S/Y108V by site directed mutagenesis and further expression in Escherichia coli and the interaction of EA and its GSH conjugate (EASG) examined by calorimetric studies and X-ray diffraction. Surprisingly, in the absence of Cys-47, Cys-101 (located at the dimer interface) becomes a target for modification by EA, albeit at a lower conjugation rate than Cys-47. The Cys-47 → Ser mutation in the double mutant enzyme induces a positive cooperativity between the two subunits when ligands with affinity to G-site bind to enzyme. However, this mutation does not seem to affect the thermodynamic properties of ligand binding to the electrophilic binding site (H-site) and the thermal or chemical stability of this double mutant does not significantly affect the unfolding mechanism in either the absence or presence of ligand. Crystal structures of apo and an EASG complex are essentially identical with a few exceptions in the H-site and in the water network at the dimer interface.

Influence of the H-site residue 108 on human glutathione transferase P1-1 ligand binding: structure-thermodynamic relationships and thermal stability

The effect of the Y108V mutation of human glutathione S-transferase P1-1 (hGST P1-1) on the binding of the diuretic drug ethacrynic acid (EA) and its glutathione conjugate (EASG) was investigated by calorimetric, spectrofluorimetric, and crystallographic studies. The mutation Tyr 108 --> Val resulted in a 3D-structure very similar to the wild type (wt) enzyme, where both the hydrophobic ligand binding site (H-site) and glutathione binding site (G-site) are unchanged except for the mutation itself. However, due to a slight increase in the hydrophobicity of the H-site, as a consequence of the mutation, an increase in the entropy was observed. The Y108V mutation does not affect the affinity of EASG for the enzyme, which has a higher affinity (K(d) approximately 0.5 microM) when compared with those of the parent compounds, K(d) (EA) approximately 13 microM, K(d) (GSH) approximately 25 microM. The EA moiety of the conjugate binds in the H-site of Y108V mutant in a fashion completely different to those observed in the crystal structures of the EA or EASG wt complex structures. We further demonstrate that the Delta C(p) values of binding can also be correlated with the potential stacking interactions between ligand and residues located in the binding sites as predicted from crystal structures. Moreover, the mutation does not significantly affect the global stability of the enzyme. Our results demonstrate that calorimetric measurements maybe useful in determining the preference of binding (the binding mode) for a drug to a specific site of the enzyme, even in the absence of structural information.

Recombinant protein glutathione S-transferases P1 attenuates inflammation in mice

We have reported that intracellular glutathione S-transferases P1 (GSTP1) suppresses LPS (lipopolysaccharide)-induced excessive production of pro-inflammatory factors by inhibiting LPS-stimulated MAPKs (mitogen-activated protein kinases) as well as NF-kappaB activation. But under pathogenic circumstances, physiologic levels of GSTP1 are insufficient to stem pro-inflammatory signaling. Here we show that LPS-induced up-regulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in RAW246.7 cells is significantly reduced by incubating cells with recombinant GSTP1 protein. In vivo study demonstrates that treatment of mice (i.p.) with recombinant GSTP1 protein effectively suppresses the devastating effects of acute inflammation, which includes reduction of mortality rate of endotoxic shock, alleviation of LPS-induced acute lung injury and abrogation of thioglycolate (TG)-induced peritoneal deposition of leukocytes and polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs). Meanwhile, GSTP1 prevented LPS-induced TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, MCP-1 and NO production. Further investigation by using confocal microscopy and flow cytometry shows that recombinant GSTP1 protein can be delivered into RAW246.7 cells, mouse peritoneal macrophages and HEK 293 cells suggesting that extracellular GSTP1 protein could be transported across plasma membrane and act as a cytosolic protein. In conclusion our research demonstrates a new finding that increasing cellular GSTP1 level by supplement of recombinant GSTP1 effectively suppresses the devastating effects of acute inflammation.

Modulating catalytic activity by unnatural amino acid residues in a GSH-binding loop of GST P1-1

The loop following helix alpha2 in glutathione transferase P1-1 has two conserved residues, Cys48 and Tyr50, important for glutathione (GSH) binding and catalytic activity. Chemical modification of Cys48 thwarts the catalytic activity of the enzyme, and mutation of Tyr50 generally decreases the k(cat) value and the affinity for GSH in a differential manner. Cys48 and Tyr50 were targeted by site-specific mutations and chemical modifications in order to investigate how the alpha2 loop modulates GSH binding and catalysis. Mutation of Cys48 into Ala increased K(M)(GSH) 24-fold and decreased the binding energy of GSH by 1.5 kcal/mol. Furthermore, the protein stability against thermal inactivation and chemical denaturation decreased. The crystal structure of the Cys-free variant was determined, and its similarity to the wild-type structure suggests that the mutation of Cys48 increases the flexibility of the alpha2 loop rather than dislocating the GSH-interacting residues. On the other hand, replacement of Tyr50 with Cys, producing mutant Y50C, increased the Gibbs free energy of the catalyzed reaction by 4.8 kcal/mol, lowered the affinity for S-hexyl glutathione by 2.2 kcal/mol, and decreased the thermal stability. The targeted alkylation of Cys50 in Y50C increased the affinity for GSH and protein stability. Characterization of the most active alkylated variants, S-n-butyl-, S-n-pentyl-, and S-cyclobutylmethyl-Y50C, indicated that the affinity for GSH is restored by stabilizing the alpha2 loop through positioning of the key residue into the lock structure of the neighboring subunit. In addition, k(cat) can be further modulated by varying the structure of the key residue side chain, which impinges on the rate-limiting step of catalysis.

Expression, purification and functional analysis of hexahistidine-tagged human glutathione S-transferase P1-1 and its cysteinyl mutants

The bacterial expression and purification of human glutathione S-transferase P1-1(hGST P1-1), as a hexahistidine-tagged polypeptide was performed. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to construct mutants in which alanine replaced two (C47A/C101A), three (C14A/C47A/C101A) or all four (C14A/C47A/ C101A/C169A) cysteine residues using the plasmid for the wild type enzyme. Analysis of their catalytic activities and kinetic parameters suggested that cysteins are not essential for the catalytic activity but may contribute to some extent to the catalytic efficiency. Moreover, on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) under nonreducing conditions, hexahistidine-tagged hGST P1-1 (His(6)-hGST P1-1) treated with 1 mM H(2)O(2) showed at least three extra bands, in addition to the native His(6)-hGST P1-1 subunit band. These extra bands were not detected in the cysteinyl mutants. Thus, it indicated that disulfide bonds were formed mainly within subunits between cysteine residues, causing an apparent reduction in molecular weight, only small amounts of binding between subunits being observed.

Identification of the Protein Targets of the Reactive Metabolite of Teucrin A in Vivo in the Rat

Covalent modification of proteins is associated with the toxicity of many electrophiles, and the identification of relevant in vivo protein targets is a desirable but challenging goal. Here, we describe a strategy for the enrichment of adducted proteins utilizing single-chain fragment variable (ScFv) antibodies selected using phage-display technology. Teucrin A is a furan-containing diterpenoid found in the herb germander that is primarily responsible for the herb's hepatotoxicity in rodents and humans following metabolic activation by cytochrome P450 enzymes. Conjugates of the 1,4-enedial derivative of teucrin A, its presumed toxic metabolite, with lysine- and cysteine-containing peptides were synthesized and used to select ScFvs from a rodent phage-displayed library, which recognized the terpenoid moiety of the teucrin-derived adducts. Immunoaffinity isolation of adducted proteins from rat liver homogenates following administration of a toxic dose of teucrin A afforded a family of proteins that were identified by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. Of the 46 proteins identified in this study, most were of mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum origin. Several cytosolic proteins were found, as well as four peroxisomal and two secreted proteins. Using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis software, two significant networks involving the target genes were identified that had major functions in gene expression, small molecule biochemistry, and cellular function and maintenance. These included proteins involved in lipid, amino acid, and drug metabolism. This study illustrates the utility of chemically synthesized biological conjugates of reactive intermediates and the potential of the phage display technology for the generation of affinity reagents for the isolation of adducted proteins.

Site-specific arylation of rat glutathione s-transferase A1 and A2 by bromobenzene metabolites in vivo

The hepatotoxicity of bromobenzene (BB) derives from its reactive metabolites (epoxides and quinones), which arylate cellular proteins. Application of proteomic methods to liver proteins from rats treated with a hepatotoxic dose of [14C]-BB has identified more than 40 target proteins, but no adducted peptides have yet been observed. Because such proteins are known to contain bromophenyl- and bromodihydroxyphenyl derivatives of cysteine, histidine, and lysine, the failure to observe modified peptides has been attributed to the low level of total covalent binding and to the "dilution" effect of multiple metabolites reacting at multiple sites on multiple proteins. In this work glutathione S-transferase (GST), a well-known and abundant BB-target protein, was isolated from liver cytosol of rats treated with 14C-BB by use of a glutathione (GSH)-agarose affinity column and further resolved by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) into subunits M1, M2, A1, A2 and A3. The subunits were identified by a combination of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), whole-molecule mass spectrometry, and peptide mass mapping and found to contain radioactivity corresponding to 0.01-0.05 adduct per molecule of protein. Examination of tryptic digests of these subunits by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) failed to reveal any apparent adducted peptides despite observed sequence coverages up to 87%. However, use of HPLC-linear ion-trap quadrupole Fourier transform mass spectrometry (LTQ-FTMS) to search for predicted modified tryptic peptides revealed peaks corresponding, with a high degree of mass accuracy, to a bromobenzoquinone adduct of peptide 89-119 in both GSTA1 and A2. The identity of these adducts and their location at Cys-111 was confirmed by tandem mass spectrometry (MS-MS). No evidence for the presence of any putative BB-adducts in GST M1, M2, or A3 was obtained. This work highlights the challenges involved in the unambiguous identification of reactive metabolite adducts formed in vivo.

Prostanoids with cyclopentenone structure as tools for the characterization of electrophilic lipid-protein interactomes

Electrophilic eicosanoids arise from the free radical-induced peroxidation of arachidonic acid or its metabolites. These reactive species may play an important role in pathophysiological processes associated with inflammation and oxidative stress. Cyclopentenone prostaglandins (cyPG) and isoprostanes are reactive eicosanoids that can form covalent adducts with cysteine residues in proteins through Michael addition. In pharmacological studies, cyPG have shown potent protective effects in experimental models of inflammation and tissue injury, and they have been proposed to contribute to inflammatory resolution. An important mechanism for the anti-inflammatory effects of cyPG is the covalent modification of critical cysteine residues in proteins involved in the modulation of inflammation, such as transcription factors NF-kappaB and AP-1. In recent years, analogs of electrophilic prostanoids have been used in various approaches to identify biologically relevant protein targets for this modification. Prostanoids with cyclopentenone structure have been shown to target a defined subproteome that is beginning to be characterized. Structural studies suggest that diverse cyPG may modify distinct proteins selectively. Functional studies put forward a dual role for these compounds in the cellular response to inflammation or stress. Therefore, a detailed knowledge of targets of electrophilic eicosanoids and the functional consequences of their modification will contribute to the understanding of their mechanism of action and help assess whether these endogenous mediators can be exploited as the basis for the development of novel therapeutic strategies. In this article we discuss the recent advances in this rapidly growing field.

Analysis of protein adduction kinetics by quantitative mass spectrometry: competing adduction reactions of glutathione-S-transferase P1-1 with electrophiles

Defining the mechanisms and consequences of protein adduction is crucial to understanding the toxicity of reactive electrophiles. Application of tandem mass spectrometry and data analysis algorithms enables detection and mapping of chemical adducts at the level of amino acid sequence. Nevertheless, detection of adducts does not indicate relative reactivity of different sites. Here, we describe a method to measure the kinetics of competing adduction reactions at different sites on the same protein. Adducts are formed by electrophiles at Cys14 and Cys47 on the metabolic enzyme glutathione-S-transferase P1-1 and modification is accompanied by a loss of enzymatic activity. Relative quantitation of protein adducts was done by tagging N-termini of peptide digests with isotopically labeled phenyl isocyanate and tracking the ratio of light-tagged peptide adducts to heavy-tagged reference samples in liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analyses using a multiple reaction monitoring method. This approach was used to measure rate constants for adduction at both positions with two different model electrophiles, N-iodoacetyl-N-biotinylhexylenediamine and 1-biotinamido-4-(4'-[maleimidoethyl-cyclohexane]-carboxamido)butane. The results indicate that Cys47 was approximately two- to three-fold more reactive toward both electrophiles than was Cys14. This result was consistent with the relative reactivity of these electrophiles in a complex proteome system and with previously reported trends in reactivity of these sites. Kinetic analyses of protein modification reactions provide a means of evaluating the selectivity of reactive mediators of chemical toxicity.

Modification of Proteins by Cyclopentenone Prostaglandins is Differentially Modulated by GSH in Vitro

Prostanoids with cyclopentenone structure (cyP) display a potent anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative activity. CyP are reactive compounds, which may modulate cellular functions by multiple mechanisms, including the direct covalent modification of cysteine residues by Michael addition. This interaction displays selectivity since only a subset of cellular proteins is modified by cyP. Several factors have been proposed to influence the selectivity and/or extent of cyP addition to proteins, including determinants related to protein and cyP structure, and levels of cellular thiols, such as glutathione (GSH). Here we have explored the ability of biotinylated cyP analogs to modify several recombinant proteins in vitro, and the influence of GSH in these effects. We have observed that protein modification by cyP is protein- and cyP-selective. Under our conditions, biotinylated 15-deoxy-Delta(12,14)-PGJ(2) (15d-PGJ(2)-B) was more efficient than biotinylated PGA(1) (PGA(1)-B) at forming adducts with components of the transcription factors NF-kappaB and activator protein-1 (AP-1). However, both biotinylated cyP were nearly equipotent at modifying human GSTP1-1. Interestingly, the presence of GSH differentially modulated the formation of protein-cyP adducts. Under our conditions, GSH reduced the incorporation of cyP into GST, but improved their binding to p50, more intensely in the case of PGA(1)-B. These results evidence the importance of GSH-cyP and/or GSH-protein interactions for the selectivity of protein modification by cyP and suggest a complex role for GSH that may be related to its ability to prevent protein oxidation or induce conformational alterations. This may shed light on the factors involved in the pleiotropic effects of electrophiles with therapeutic potential.

Structure of the major cytosolic glutathione S-transferase from the parasitic nematode Onchocerca volvulus

Onchocerciasis is a debilitating parasitic disease caused by the filarial worm Onchocerca volvulus. Similar to other helminth parasites, O. volvulus is capable of evading the host's immune responses by a variety of defense mechanisms, including the detoxification activities of the glutathione S-transferases (GSTs). Additionally, in response to drug treatment, helminth GSTs are highly up-regulated, making them tempting targets both for chemotherapy and for vaccine development. We analyzed the three-dimensional x-ray structure of the major cytosolic GST from O. volvulus (Ov-GST2) in complex with its natural substrate glutathione and its competitive inhibitor S-hexylglutathione at 1.5 and 1.8 angstrom resolution, respectively. From the perspective of the biochemical classification, the Ov-GST2 seems to be related to pi-class GSTs. However, in comparison to other pi-class GSTs, in particular to the host's counterpart, the Ov-GST2 reveals significant and unusual differences in the sequence and overall structure. Major differences can be found in helix alpha-2, an important region for substrate recognition. Moreover, the binding site for the electrophilic co-substrate is spatially increased and more solvent-accessible. These structural alterations are responsible for different substrate specificities and will form the basis of parasite-specific structure-based drug design investigations.

Inhibition of glutathione S-transferases by thonningianin A, isolated from the African medicinal herb, Thonningia sanguinea, in vitro

There is evidence that increased expression of glutathione S-transferase (EC: 2.5.1.18, GST) is involved in resistance of tumor cells against chemotherapeutic agents. In this study we investigated the inhibitory effects of thonningianin A (Th A), a novel antioxidant isolated from the medicinal herb, Thonningia sanguinea on uncharacterized rat liver GST and human GST P1-1. Using 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) as substrate, rat liver cytosolic GST activity was inhibited by Th A in a concentration dependent manner with 50% inhibition concentration (IC50) of 1.1 microM. When Th A was compared with known potent GST inhibitors the order of inhibition was tannic acid>cibacron blue>hematin>Th A>ethacrynic acid with CDNB as substrate. Th A also exhibited non-competitive inhibition towards both CDNB and glutathione. Furthermore, using 1,2-dichloro-4-nitrobenzene, ethacrynic acid and 1,2-epoxy-3-(p-nitrophenoxy) propane as substrates Th A at 1.0 microM inhibited cytosolic GST by 2%, 12% and 36% respectively. Human GST P1-1 was also inhibited by Th A with an IC50 of 3.6 microM. While Th A showed competitive inhibition towards CDNB it exhibited non-competitive inhibition towards GSH of the human GST P1-1. These results suggest that Th A represents a new potent GST in vitro inhibitor.

A novel amphibian Pi-class glutathione transferase isoenzyme from Xenopus laevis: importance of phenylalanine 111 in the H-site

Screening of a liver tumour cDNA library from Xenopus laevis resulted in the isolation of a full-length cDNA clone encoding a novel Pi-class amphibian glutathione transferase (GST) isoenzyme (designated as XlGSTP1-1). The gene encodes a protein of 212 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 24428 Da. The product of the gene has been overexpressed in Escherichia coli and characterized. XlGSTP1-1 has one of the highest specific activities towards 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (1310 micromol/min per mg of protein) obtained with any GST. A notable feature of XlGSTP1-1 is the presence in the H-site of Phe(111) and Pro(208) in place of tyrosine and glycine residues respectively, present in other mammalian Pi-class GSTs. Site-directed mutagenesis indicate that Phe(111) is involved in substrate specificity of XlGSTP1-1. We provide evidence showing that XlGSTP1-1 is present only in the embryo and its expression might be associated with cellular proliferation.

Effects of glutathione on kinetics and structural properties of amphibian BbGSTP1-1

Effects of glutathione on the kinetics and structural properties of BbGSTP1-1 were investigated. The liganded state BbGSTP1-1 acquires the capacity to bind the hydrophobic molecules more avidly. Thus, GSH-binding produces significant conformational changes on BbGSTP1-1 which are transmitted to the hydrophobic binding site. Fluorescent experiments carried out with glutathione-analog S-methylglutathione suggest that the -SH group of tripeptide is essential for triggering protein conformational changes. It is argued that the capacity of BbGSTP1-1 to be modulated by GSH concentration allows it to play an efficient detoxication action in both aquatic and terrestrial environments.

Impact of domain interchange on conformational stability and equilibrium folding of chimeric class micro glutathione transferases

Rat micro class glutathione transferases M1-1 and M2-2 are homodimers that share a 78% sequence identity but display differences in stability. M1-1 is more stable at the secondary and tertiary structural levels, whereas its quaternary structure is less stable. Each subunit in these proteins consists of two structurally distinct domains with intersubunit contacts occurring between domain 1 of one subunit and domain 2 of the other subunit. The chimeric subunit variants M(12), which has domain 1 of M1 and domain 2 of M2, and its complement M(21), were used to investigate the conformational stability of the chimeric homodimers M(12)-(12) and M(21)-(21) to determine the contribution of each domain toward stability. Exchanging entire domains between class micro GSTs is accommodated by the GST fold. Urea-induced equilibrium unfolding data indicate that whereas the class micro equilibrium unfolding mechanism (i.e., N(2) <--> 2I <--> 2U) is not altered, domain exchanges impact significantly on the conformational stability of the native dimers and monomeric folding intermediates. Data for the wild-type and chimeric proteins indicate that the order of stability for the native dimer (N(2)) is M2-2 > M(12)-(12) M1-1 approximately M(21)-(21), and that the order of stability of the monomeric intermediate (I) is M1 > M2 approximately M(12) > M(21). Interactions involving Arg 77, which is topologically conserved in GSTs, appear to play an important role in the stability of both the native dimeric and folding monomeric structures.

An ensemble of theta class glutathione transferases with novel catalytic properties generated by stochastic recombination of fragments of two mammalian enzymes

The correlation between sequence diversity and enzymatic function was studied in a library of Theta class glutathione transferases (GSTs) obtained by stochastic recombination of fragments of cDNA encoding human GST T1-1 and rat GST T2-2. In all, 94 randomly picked clones were characterized with respect to sequence, expression level, and catalytic activity in the conjugation reactions between glutathione and six alternative electrophilic substrates. Out of these six different compounds, dichloromethane is a selective substrate for human GST T1-1, whereas 1-menaphthyl sulfate and 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene are substrates for rat GST T2-2. The other three substances serve as substrates for both enzymes. Through this broad characterization, we have identified enzyme variants that have acquired novel activity profiles that differ substantially from those of the original GSTs. In addition, the expression levels of many clones were improved in comparison to the parental enzyme. A library of mutants can thus display a distribution of properties from which highly divergent evolutionary pathways may emerge, resembling natural evolutionary processes. From the GST library, a clone was identified that, by the point mutation N49D in the rat GST T2-2 sequence, has a 1700% increased activity with 1-menaphthyl sulfate and a 60% decreased activity with 4-nitrophenethyl bromide. Through the N49D mutation, the ratio of these activities has thus been altered 40-fold. An extensive characterization of a population of stochastically mutated enzymes can accordingly be used to find variants with novel substrate-activity profiles and altered catalytic properties. Recursive recombination of selected sequences displaying optimized properties is a strategy for the engineering of proteins for medical and biochemical applications. Such sequential design is combinatorial protein chemistry based on remodeling of existing structural scaffolds and has similarities to evolutionary processes in nature.

The crystal structures of glutathione S-transferases isozymes 1-3 and 1-4 from Anopheles dirus species B

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are dimeric proteins that play an important role in cellular detoxification. Four GSTs from the mosquito Anopheles dirus species B (Ad), an important malaria vector in South East Asia, are produced by alternate splicing of a single transcription product and were previously shown to have detoxifying activity towards pesticides such as DDT. We have determined the crystal structures for two of these alternatively spliced proteins, AdGST1-3 (complexed with glutathione) and AdGST1-4 (apo form), at 1.75 and 2.45 A resolution, respectively. These GST isozymes show differences from the related GST from the Australian sheep blowfly Lucilia cuprina; in particular, the presence of a C-terminal helix forming part of the active site. This helix causes the active site of the Anopheles GSTs to be enclosed. The glutathione-binding helix alpha2 and flanking residues are disordered in the AdGST1-4 (apo) structure, yet ordered in the AdGST1-3 (GSH-bound) structure, suggesting that insect GSTs operate with an induced fit mechanism similar to that found in the plant phi- and human pi-class GSTs. Despite the high overall sequence identities, the active site residues of AdGST1-4 and AdGST1-3 have different conformations.

Inactivation of glutathione S-transferases by nitric oxide-derived oxidants: exploring a role for tyrosine nitration

Reactive intermediates derived from nitric oxide ((*)NO) are thought to play a contributing role in disease states associated with inflammation and infection. We show here that glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), principal enzymes responsible for detoxification of endogenous and exogenous electrophiles, are susceptible to inactivation by reactive nitrogen species (RNS). Treatment of isolated GSTs or rat liver homogenates with either peroxynitrite, the myeloperoxidase/hydrogen peroxide/nitrite system, or tetranitromethane, resulted in loss of GST activity with a concomitant increase in the formation of protein-associated 3-nitrotyrosine (NO(2)Tyr). This inactivation was only partially (<25%) reversible by dithiothreitol, and exposure of GSTs to hydrogen peroxide or S-nitrosoglutathione was only partially inhibitory (<25%) and did not result in protein nitration. Thus, irreversible modifications such as tyrosine nitration may have contributed to GST inactivation by RNS. Since all GSTs contain a critical, highly conserved, active-site tyrosine residue, we postulated that this Tyr residue might present a primary target for nitration by RNS, thus leading to enzyme inactivation. To directly investigate this possibility, we analyzed purified mouse liver GST-mu, following nitration by several RNS, by trypsin digestion, HPLC separation, and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight analysis, to determine the degree of tyrosine nitration of individual Tyr residues. Indeed, nitration was found to occur preferentially on several tyrosine residues located in and around the GST active site. However, RNS concentrations that resulted in near complete GST inactivation only caused up to 25% nitration of even preferentially targeted tyrosine residues. Hence, nitration of active-site tyrosine residues may contribute to GST inactivation by RNS, but is unlikely to fully account for enzyme inactivation. Overall, our studies illustrate a potential mechanism by which RNS may promote (oxidative) injury by environmental pollutants in association with inflammation.

Interactions of prostaglandin A2 with the glutathione-mediated biotransformation system

The cyclopentenone prostaglandin A2 (PGA2) is known to inhibit cell proliferation, and metabolism of this compound thus might be important in controlling its ultimate function. The glutathione-related metabolism of PGA2 was therefore investigated both with purified glutathione S-transferase P1-1 (GSTP1-1) and with IGR-39 human melanoma cells. Firstly, the irreversible inhibition of human GSTP1-1 and its mutants C47S, C101S, and C47S/C101S was studied. PGA2 appeared to inhibit GSTP1-1 mainly by binding to the cysteine 47 moiety of the enzyme. This binding was reversed by a molar excess of GSH, indicating that retro-Michael cleavage occurs. Secondly, after exposing IGR-39 human melanoma cells to PGA2, both diastereoisomers of the PGA2-glutathione conjugate are excreted into the medium, although with a clear excess of the S-form, due to its preferential formation by the GSTP1-1 present in the cells. Thirdly, the effect of PGA2 on intracellular GST activity was determined by quantification of the excreted glutathione conjugate S-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)glutathione (DNPSG) after exposure to 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene. DNPSG excretion was inhibited after incubation with 10 or 20 microM PGA2 for 1 or 4 hr, as a result of glutathione depletion, reversible GST inhibition, and covalent modification of intracellular GST. Furthermore, PGA2 also inhibited transport of DNPSG by the multidrug resistance-associated protein, an effect that was reversible and competitive. In conclusion, PGA2 modulates all three aspects of the glutathione-mediated biotransformation system, i.e. GSH levels, GSTP1-1 activity, and transport of GSH conjugates. A role for GSTP1-1 as a specific transport protein inside the cell is indicated.

Characterization of toad liver glutathione transferase

The major form of glutathione transferase from the toad liver previously designed as Bufo bufo liver GST-7.6 (A. Aceto, B. Dragani, T. Bucciarelli, P. Sacchetta, F. Martini, S. Angelucci, F. Amicarelli, M. Miranda and C. Di Ilio, Biochem. J. 289 (1993) 417-422) has been characterized. According to its partial amino acid sequence, the toad enzyme may be included in the pi class GST and named bbGST P2-2. However, bbGST P2-2 appears to be immunologically, structurally and kinetically distinct from any other members of pi family, including bbGST P1-1, suggesting that it may constitute a subset of pi class GST. The data support the hypothesis that the transition from aquatic to terrestrial life causes a switch of the GST amphibian pattern promoting the expression of a GST form (bbGST P2-2) able to counteract, with higher efficiency, the toxic effects of reactive metabolites of oxidative metabolism and those of hydrophobic xenobiotics.

Mechanistic imperatives for the evolution of glutathione transferases

Several significant advances in the understanding of the catalytic mechanisms, structures and evolution of glutathione transferases have occurred in the past year. These advances include new mechanistic information concerning the canonical soluble enzymes, the finding that the fosfomycin-specific enzyme, FosA, is a metalloglutathione transferase and a higher resolution projection structure of the microsomal enzyme.

The three-dimensional structure of a class-Pi glutathione S-transferase complexed with glutathione: the active-site hydration provides insights into the reaction mechanism

The structure of mouse liver glutathione S-transferase P1-1 complexed with its substrate glutathione (GSH) has been determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. No conformational changes in the glutathione moiety or in the protein, other than small adjustments of some side chains, are observed when compared with glutathione adduct complexes. Our structure confirms that the role of Tyr-7 is to stabilize the thiolate by hydrogen bonding and to position it in the right orientation. A comparison of the enzyme-GSH structure reported here with previously described structures reveals rearrangements in a well-defined network of water molecules in the active site. One of these water molecules (W0), identified in the unliganded enzyme (carboxymethylated at Cys-47), is displaced by the binding of GSH, and a further water molecule (W4) is displaced following the binding of the electrophilic substrate and the formation of the glutathione conjugate. The possibility that one of these water molecules participates in the proton abstraction from the glutathione thiol is discussed.