Gene expression of rat glutathione S-transferases. Evidence for gene conversion in the evolution of the Yb multigene family

Mechanisms of induction of cytosolic and microsomal glutathione transferase (GST) genes by xenobiotics and pro-inflammatory agents

Glutathione transferase (GST) isoezymes are encoded by three separate families of genes (designated cytosolic, microsomal and mitochondrial transferases), with distinct evolutionary origins, that provide mammalian species with protection against electrophiles and oxidative stressors in the environment. Members of the cytosolic class Alpha, Mu, Pi and Theta GST, and also certain microsomal transferases (MGST2 and MGST3), are up-regulated by a diverse spectrum of foreign compounds typified by phenobarbital, 1,4-bis[2-(3,5-dichloropyridyloxy)]benzene, pregnenolone-16α-carbonitrile, 3-methylcholanthrene, 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro-dibenzo-p-dioxin, β-naphthoflavone, butylated hydroxyanisole, ethoxyquin, oltipraz, fumaric acid, sulforaphane, coumarin, 1-[2-cyano-3,12-dioxooleana-1,9(11)-dien-28-oyl]imidazole, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, dexamethasone and thiazolidinediones. Collectively, these compounds induce gene expression through the constitutive androstane receptor (CAR), the pregnane X receptor (PXR), the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) and CAATT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) β. The microsomal T family includes 5-lipoxygenase activating protein (FLAP), leukotriene C(4) synthase (LTC4S) and prostaglandin E(2) synthase (PGES-1), and these are up-regulated by tumour necrosis factor-α, lipopolysaccharide and transforming growth factor-β. Induction of genes encoding FLAP, LTC4S and PGES-1 is mediated by the transcription factors C/EBPα, C/EBPδ, C/EBPϵ, nuclear factor-κB and early growth response-1. In this article we have reviewed the literature describing the mechanisms by which cytosolic and microsomal GST are up-regulated by xenobiotics, drugs, cytokines and endotoxin. We discuss cross-talk between the different induction mechanisms, and have employed bioinformatics to identify cis-elements in the upstream regions of GST genes to which the various transcription factors mentioned above may be recruited.

The proximal promoter governs germ cell-specific expression of the mouse glutathione transferase mGstm5 gene

To explain the tissue-selective expression patterns of a distinct subclass of glutathione S-transferase (GST), transgenic mice expressing EGFP under control of a 2 kb promoter sequence in the 5'-flanking region of the mGstm5 gene were produced. The intent of the study was to establish whether the promoter itself or whether posttranscriptional mechanisms, particularly at the levels of mRNA translation and stability or protein targeting, based on unique properties of mGSTM5, determine the restricted expression pattern. Indeed, the transgene expression was limited to testis as the reporter was not detected in somatic tissues such as brain, kidney or liver, indicating that the mGstm5 proximal promoter is sufficient to target testis-specific expression of the gene. EGFP expression was also more restricted vis-a-vis the natural mGstm5 gene and exclusively found in germ but not in somatic cells. Real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) data were consistent with alternate transcription start sites in which the promoter region of the natural mGstm5 gene in somatic cells is part of exon 1 of the germ cell transcript. Thus, the primary transcription start site for mGstm5 is upstream of a TATA box in testis and downstream of this motif in somatic cells. The 5' flanking sequence of the mGstm5 gene imparts germ cell-specific transcription.

Fractalkine-upregulated milk-fat globule EGF factor-8 protein in cultured rat microglia

Fractalkine is the only known member of the CX(3)C-chemokine family, and so is its receptor CX(3)CR1. Fractalkine, typically is expressed by neurons where it is inserted in the plasma membrane ("chemokine on a stalk"). It can, however, be clipped off by a specific enzyme and diffuse into the extracellular space. CX(3)CR1 is primarily expressed by microglia, the phagocytes of the brain. This study was aimed at studying gene expression changes in cultured rat microglia upon fractalkine stimulation using gene chip technology. Six genes turned out to be upregulated, amongst which milk-fat globule EGF factor-8 protein (MFG-E8) was the most surprising, but also the most revealing one. We hypothesize that it serves as a bridging molecule between apoptotic cells (neurons) and microglia. Since the docking to microglia is, in part, mediated by members of the integrin family, six of these molecules have been-post hoc-included in real-time PCR confirmations of chip results. Two of them-integrin alpha(2) and integrin beta(5)-were upregulated as well. These data provide a much closer look into molecular mechanisms involved in apoptosis of neurons and their removal by microglia.

Drosophila glutathione S-transferases

The Drosophila glutathione S-transferases (GSTs; EC2.5.1.18) comprise a host of cytosolic proteins that are encoded by a gene superfamily and a homolog of the human microsomal GST. Biochemical studies of certain recombinant GSTs have linked their enzymatic functions to important substrates such as the pesticide DDT and 4-hydroxynonenal, a reactive lipid metabolite. Moreover, a correspondence has been observed between resistance to insecticide substrates-such as DDT-and elevated enzyme levels in resistant strains. Such significant, recurring connections suggest that these gst genes may feature in a model for the development of insecticide resistance. We have amassed substantial biochemical support for relating the overexpression of a particular gst gene to insecticide resistance but are still short of solid genetic evidence to affirm a causal relationship. With the Drosophila system, we have at our disposal genetic and molecular techniques such as p-element mutagenesis and excision, siRNA technology, and versatile transgenic techniques. We can use these methods to effect loss-of-function and gain-of-function conditions and, in these rendered contexts, study other potentially important functions of the gst gene superfamily. An immediate problem that comes to mind is the possible causal relationship between GST substrate specificity and chemical resistance phenotype(s). In this chapter, we present an analysis of selected strategies and laboratory methods that may be useful in pursuing a variety of interesting problems. We will cover three kinds of approaches-biochemistry, genetics, and genomics-as important instruments in a toolkit for studies of the Drosophila gst superfamily. We make the case that these approaches (biochemistry, genetics, and genomics) have helped us gain important insights and can continue to help the community gain a more complete understanding of the biological functions of GSTs. Such knowledge may be key in addressing questions about the detoxification of pesticides and how oxidative stresses affect life span. We hope that these techniques will prove fruitful in studying a host of other physiologic functions as well.

Evolution of differential substrate specificities in Mu class glutathione transferases probed by DNA shuffling

A library of variant enzymes was created by combined shuffling of the DNA encoding the human Mu class glutathione transferases GST M1-1 and GST M2-2. The parental GSTs are 84 % sequence identical at the protein level, but their specific activities with the substrates aminochrome and 2-cyano-1,3-dimethyl-1-nitrosoguanidine (cyanoDMNG) differ by more than 100-fold. Aminochrome is of particular interest as an oxidation product of dopamine and of possible significance in the etiology of Parkinson's disease, and cyanoDMNG is a model for genotoxic and potentially carcinogenic nitroso compounds. GST M2-2 has at least two orders of magnitude higher catalytic activity with both of the substrates than any of the other known GSTs, including GST M1-1. The DNA library of variant Mu class GST sequences contained "mosaic" structures composed of alternating segments of both parental sequences. All clones contained the 5'-end of a GST M1-1 clone optimized for high-level expression in Escherichia coli. The remainder of the sequences derived from segments of GST M2-2 and GST M1-1 DNA. All of the clones analyzed contained between two and seven distinct DNA segments. In addition, each clone contained an average of approximately one point mutation. None of the library clones analyzed was identical with either of the two parental structures. Variant GST sequences were expressed in E. coli, and their enzymatic activities with aminochrome, cyanoDMNG, and 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) were determined in bacterial lysates. Such screening of more than 70 clones demonstrated a continuous range of activities covering at least two orders of magnitude for each of the substrates. For a given clone, the activities with aminochrome and cyanoDMNG, in spite of their different chemistries, were clearly correlated, whereas no strong correlation was found with CDNB. This functional correlation suggests a common structural basis for the enzymatic mechanisms for conjugation of aminochrome and denitrosation of cyanoDMNG. From an evolutionary perspective, the results show that recombination of segments from homologous proteins gives rise to a large proportion of functionally competent proteins with a range of activities. The data support the proposal that natural evolution of protein functions may involve recombination of DNA segments followed by selection for advantageous functional properties of the resulting proteins. Clearly, the same approach can be utilized in the engineering of proteins displaying novel functions by in vitro evolution.

Identification of glutathione S-transferase p-1 as the class pi form dominantly expressed in mouse hepatic adenomas

To clarify which of the two genes for pi class glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) (p-1 and p-2) is dominantly expressed in mouse hepatic adenomas, the relative mRNA levels were examined by means of the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Hepatic adenomas were induced in male and female B6C3F1 mice by diethylnitrosamine treatment. Northern blot analysis revealed that pi class mRNA levels were decreased in adenomas of male mice, but increased in those of females, with reference to the respective surrounding non-adenoma tissues. In contrast to the marked sex difference in surrounding tissues, pi class GST mRNA levels in adenomas were almost the same in both males and females. To evaluate p-1 and p-2 mRNA levels separately, the products of RT-PCR employing primers common for both cDNAs were digested with the endonuclease BanI (specific for p-2) and then resolved by electrophoresis. The p-1 mRNA was thus found to be dominant in adenomas of both female and male mice. The p-2 mRNA levels were increased in the lesions as compared with those in the surrounding non-adenoma tissues. Recombinant p-1 and p-2 proteins were expressed in Escherichia coli. Unlike p-1, the p-2 protein did not show any significant activity towards 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene and did not bind to S-hexylglutathione-Sepharose despite immunological cross-reactivity. The dominant pi class form in adenomas could also be identified as p-1 by its binding to S-hexylglutathione-Sepharose. Single radial immunodiffusion analyses confirmed that the p-1 protein levels were in line with the mRNA findings, i.e., 1.9+/-0.3 mg/g adenoma as compared to 6.5+/-1.2 mg/g non-adenoma tissue for males and 2.2+/-0.6 mg/g as compared to 0.7+/-0.2 mg/g for females. The results thus indicated that the change of pi class forms in adenomas is caused mainly by alteration in the p-1 level and the contribution of p-2 is minimal.

Identification of dioxin-responsive elements (DREs) in the 5' regions of putative dioxin-inducible genes

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is an exogenous ligand for the cytosolic aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), a ligand-inducible transcription factor whose exact physiological role remains elusive. TCDD has been shown to modulate the expression of a large array of genes, albeit often indirectly, by demonstration of protein or mRNA upregulation. Here, by computer analysis of available promoter sequences, we identify dioxin-responsive elements in the promoter regions of many putative AhR regulated and therefore dioxin-inducible genes.

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

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

Brain and testis selective expression of the glutathione S-transferase Yb3 subunit is governed by tandem direct repeat octamer motifs in the 5'-flanking region of its gene

To gain insight into mechanisms of cell type-specific transcription of class mu-glutathione S-transferase genes, the gene encoding the Yb3 subunit was cloned. Yb3 subunits are selectively expressed at high levels in rat brain and testis but not in liver or kidney. The Yb3 subunit gene spans over 6 kb and consists of 8 exons and 7 introns and a sequence consisting of tandem direct repeat consensus octamer DNA binding motifs separated by a 6 base pair (bp) spacer was identified in its 5'-flanking region. Gel shift assays with a 40 bp segment of DNA containing the two consensus octamer sequences, revealed the presence of specific binding proteins in nuclear extracts of rat brain, testis and C6 glioma cells. DNA binding activity was greatly reduced in liver, kidney and HTC cells. Reporter vectors carrying segments of the 5'-flanking region of the Yb3 subunit gene fused to a luciferase gene were introduced into C6 glioma cells which express high levels of Yb3 subunits, and into HTC cells which do not. The plasmids consisting of the Yb3 gene promoter up to, but not including, the octamer motifs did not support luciferase transcription in the C6 glioma cells, but larger fragments that included the octamer repeat sequences, effectively directed transcription in the C6 glioma cells. With mutated octameric sequences transcriptional activity was greatly reduced, and none of the same Yb3 constructs directed substantial luciferase transcription in the HTC cells. The results show that octamer motifs in the 5'-flanking region of the Yb3 subunit gene are functional and are the principal cis-acting elements that account for its discrete cell type-selective expression. This gene is one of the few known targets for octamer DNA binding transcription factors in brain.

The glutathione S-transferase supergene family: regulation of GST and the contribution of the isoenzymes to cancer chemoprotection and drug resistance

The glutathione S-transferases (GST) represent a major group of detoxification enzymes. All eukaryotic species possess multiple cytosolic and membrane-bound GST isoenzymes, each of which displays distinct catalytic as well as noncatalytic binding properties: the cytosolic enzymes are encoded by at least five distantly related gene families (designated class alpha, mu, pi, sigma, and theta GST), whereas the membrane-bound enzymes, microsomal GST and leukotriene C4 synthetase, are encoded by single genes and both have arisen separately from the soluble GST. Evidence suggests that the level of expression of GST is a crucial factor in determining the sensitivity of cells to a broad spectrum of toxic chemicals. In this article the biochemical functions of GST are described to show how individual isoenzymes contribute to resistance to carcinogens, antitumor drugs, environmental pollutants, and products of oxidative stress. A description of the mechanisms of transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation of GST isoenzymes is provided to allow identification of factors that may modulate resistance to specific noxious chemicals. The most abundant mammalian GST are the class alpha, mu, and pi enzymes and their regulation has been studied in detail. The biological control of these families is complex as they exhibit sex-, age-, tissue-, species-, and tumor-specific patterns of expression. In addition, GST are regulated by a structurally diverse range of xenobiotics and, to date, at least 100 chemicals have been identified that induce GST; a significant number of these chemical inducers occur naturally and, as they are found as nonnutrient components in vegetables and citrus fruits, it is apparent that humans are likely to be exposed regularly to such compounds. Many inducers, but not all, effect transcriptional activation of GST genes through either the antioxidant-responsive element (ARE), the xenobiotic-responsive element (XRE), the GST P enhancer 1(GPE), or the glucocorticoid-responsive element (GRE). Barbiturates may transcriptionally activate GST through a Barbie box element. The involvement of the Ah-receptor, Maf, Nrl, Jun, Fos, and NF-kappa B in GST induction is discussed. Many of the compounds that induce GST are themselves substrates for these enzymes, or are metabolized (by cytochrome P-450 monooxygenases) to compounds that can serve as GST substrates, suggesting that GST induction represents part of an adaptive response mechanism to chemical stress caused by electrophiles. It also appears probable that GST are regulated in vivo by reactive oxygen species (ROS), because not only are some of the most potent inducers capable of generating free radicals by redox-cycling, but H2O2 has been shown to induce GST in plant and mammalian cells: induction of GST by ROS would appear to represent an adaptive response as these enzymes detoxify some of the toxic carbonyl-, peroxide-, and epoxide-containing metabolites produced within the cell by oxidative stress. Class alpha, mu, and pi GST isoenzymes are overexpressed in rat hepatic preneoplastic nodules and the increased levels of these enzymes are believed to contribute to the multidrug-resistant phenotype observed in these lesions. The majority of human tumors and human tumor cell lines express significant amounts of class pi GST. Cell lines selected in vitro for resistance to anticancer drugs frequently overexpress class pi GST, although overexpression of class alpha and mu isoenzymes is also often observed. The mechanisms responsible for overexpression of GST include transcriptional activation, stabilization of either mRNA or protein, and gene amplification. In humans, marked interindividual differences exist in the expression of class alpha, mu, and theta GST. The molecular basis for the variation in class alpha GST is not known. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED)

Rates of amino acid evolution in the 26- and 28-kDa glutathione S-transferases of Schistosoma

Statistical analysis of glutathione S-transferase (GST) sequences of Schistosoma mansoni, Schistosoma japonicum, and other animals revealed that, in comparison both to the related mammalian alpha GSTs and to Schistosoma 26-kDa GSTs, the 28-kDa GSTs of Schistosoma have evolved unusually rapidly at the amino acid level in the ordinarily conserved N-terminal portion of the molecule. Because this rapid rate of evolution is reflected at the amino acid level and at nonsynonymous nucleotide sites but not at synonymous nucleotide sites, it must be due to a relaxation of functional constraint on the N-terminal region of the Schistosoma 28-kDa GSTs rather than to a high mutation rate. By contrast, the 26-kDa GSTs of Schistosoma not only show a slower rate of amino acid evolution in the N-terminal portion than the 28-kDa GSTs but also have evolved more slowly in the C-terminal portion than have the related mammalian mu GSTs. The two 26-kDa GSTs of S. mansoni show particularly strong amino acid conservation between one another in the N-terminal region and a predominance of conservative amino acid replacements.

Glutathione S-transferases: gene structure and regulation of expression

The current knowledge about the structure of GST genes and the molecular mechanisms involved in regulation of their expression are reviewed. Information derived from the study of rat and mouse GST Alpha-class, Ya genes, and a rat GST Pi-class gene seems to indicate that a single cis-regulatory element, composed of two adjacent AP-1-like binding sites in the 5'-flanking region of these GST genes, is responsible for their basal and xenobiotic-inducible activity. The identification of Fos/Jun (AP-1) complex as the trans-acting factor that binds to this element and mediates the basal and inducible expression of GST genes offers a basis for an understanding of the molecular processes involved in GST regulation. The induction of expression of Fos and Jun transcriptional regulatory proteins by a variety of extracellular stimuli is known to mediate the activation of target genes via the AP-1 binding sites. The modulation of the AP-1 activity may account for the changes induced by growth factors, hormones, chemical carcinogens, transforming oncogenes, and cellular stress-inducing agents in the pattern of GST expression. Recent observations implying reactive oxygen as the transduction signal that mediates activation of c-fos and c-jun genes are presently considered to provide an explanation for the induction of GST gene expression by chemical agents of diverse structure. The possibility that these agents may all induce conditions of oxidative stress by various pathways to activate expression of GST genes that are regulated by the AP-1 complex is discussed.

Correlation between trans-stilbene oxide-glutathione conjugation activity and the deletion mutation in the glutathione S-transferase class mu gene detected by polymerase chain reaction

Glutathione S-transferase (GST) class Mu activity was determined in 145 unrelated hospital patients in Berlin by measuring their conjugation activity towards the specific substrate trans-stilbene oxide (TSO) with two substrate concentrations (50 and 250 microM) in homogenates prepared from lymphocytes. Eighty individuals (55.2%) had an activity lower than 10 pmol/min/10(6) lymphocytes and were classified as GST class Mu deficient. In 142 of 145 cases, phenotype was confirmed by the results of a genotyping procedure using the polymerase chain reaction technique. Two fragments of 273 and about 650 bp including one and two introns, respectively, could always be amplified from genomic DNA in individuals with high GST class Mu activity and could not be amplified in persons with impaired glutathione-TSO conjugation activity. This indicates that persons with low activity carry a large deletion mutation within the GST class Mu gene. The enzymatically determined antimode between low and high activity determined as 10 pmol/min/1 million lymphocytes in the assay with 50 microM TSO could be clearly confirmed by genotyping.

Glutathione transferases and cancer

The glutathione transferases, a family of multifunctional proteins, catalyze the glutathione conjugation reaction with electrophilic compounds biotransformed from xenobiotics, including carcinogens. In preneoplastic cells as well as neoplastic cells, specific molecular forms of glutathione transferase are known to be expressed and have been known to participate in the mechanisms of their resistance to drugs. In this article, following a brief description of recently identified molecular forms, we review new findings regarding the respective molecular forms involved in carcinogenesis and anticancer drug resistance, with particular emphasis on Pi class forms in preneoplastic tissues. The rat Pi class form, GST-P (GST 7-7), is strongly expressed not only in hepatic foci and hepatomas, but also in initiated cells that occur at the very early stages of chemical hepatocarcinogenesis, and is regarded as one of the most reliable markers for preneoplastic lesions in the rat liver. 12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-responsive element-like sequences have been identified in upstream regions of the GST-P gene, and oncogene products c-jun and c-fos are suggested to activate the gene. The Pi-class forms possess unique enzymatic properties, including broad substrate specificity, glutathione peroxidase activity toward lipid hydroperoxides, low sensitivity to organic anion inhibitors, and high sensitivity to active oxygen species. The possible functions of Pi class glutathione transferases in neoplastic tissues and drug-resistant cells are discussed.

Molecular cloning and amino acid sequencing of rat liver class theta glutathione S-transferase Yrs-Yrs inactivating reactive sulfate esters of carcinogenic arylmethanols

A cDNA containing the entire coding sequence for the subunit protein of rat liver class theta glutathione S-transferase (GST) Yrs-Yrs was isolated from a rat liver lambda gt11 cDNA library. The cDNA, designated GST theta-1, consisted of 1,258 bp which had an open reading frame of 732 bp encoding a polypeptide of 244 amino acid (AA) residues, including the leading AA Met to be removed on expression. The authenticity of the cDNA structure was supported by matching its deduced AA sequence with N-termini of Yrs and peptides obtained thereof by tryptic digestion as well as by CNBr cleavage. The deduced AA sequence of the subunit Yrs (M.W. 27,311) had only a weak homology (19-23%) with those of rat liver classes alpha, mu, and pi GST isozymes. Thus, the first evidence for the molecular cloning of the class theta GST was provided.

Nucleotide sequence of a class mu glutathione S-transferase from chicken liver

A clone coding for glutathione S-transferase (GST) CL2 was isolated from a chicken liver cDNA library. This clone (819 bp) encodes a polypeptide comprising 219 amino acids with a molecular weight of 25,717, excluding the initiator methionine. The primary amino acid sequence of the enzyme has 47% identical sequence with other class mu GSTs.

Resolution and kinetic characterization of glutathione S-transferases from human jejunal mucosa

Cytosolic glutathione S-transferases were purified from human jejunal mucosa by affinity chromatography on S-hexylglutathione-Sepharose 4B. Chromatofocusing in the pH range 7-4 yielded peaks with apparent pI's of 7.2 (peak 1), 5.2 (peak 2), and 4.4 (peak 3). Each enzymatic fraction was shown to have a homodimeric structure, with subunit mass of 24.9 +/- 0.5 (P1), 27.9 +/- 0.9 (P2), and 23.4 +/- 0.8 (P3) kDa, as determined by SDS-PAGE. The substrate specificity of each peak was tested using discriminating substrates for basic, near-neutral, and acidic GSTs. With cumene hydroperoxide, the diagnostic substrate for the alpha (basic) class of GSTs, P1 showed 8- to 36-fold higher activity than P2 and P3. Ethacrynic acid, the selective substrate for the acidic enzyme (pi), gave highest activity with P3. The inhibitory potentials of sulfobromophthalein, cibacron blue, tributyltin acetate, triphenyltin chloride, and bromphenol blue were also tested. A qualitative resemblance between P1 and alpha, and P3 and pi GSTs was noted. The substrate specificity and inhibiton parameters of P2 corresponded most closely to those of mu-GST. The relative abundances of P1, P2, and P3 (based on CDNB-conjugating activity) were 35, 5, and 60%, respectively.

Identification of rat liver glutathione S-transferase Yb subunits by partial N-terminal sequencing after electroblotting of proteins onto a polyvinylidene difluoride membrane from an analytical isoelectric focusing gel

Rat liver glutathione S-transferases were partially purified using S-hexyl glutathione affinity chromatography, followed by native isoelectric focusing employing a pH 7-11 or pH 3-10 gradient. Proteins were excised and eluted from the gel for determination of subunit composition using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. In separate experiments, isoelectric focusing gels were equilibrated with a sodium dodecyl sulfate-containing buffer at high pH, and proteins on the gel were electroblotted onto a polyvinylidene difluoride membrane, utilizing graphite plates as electrodes. The membrane-bound proteins were visualized by Coomassie Brilliant Blue staining. The protein bands were then excised from the membrane and inserted into a gas phase sequenator for direct sequencing. N-Terminal sequences thus determined were compared with published cDNA sequences. The isoelectric points (pIs) and positions on the isoelectric focusing gel of Yb1Yb1, Yb1Yb2 and Yb2Yb2 subunits were determined. We have also located on the pH 3-10 focusing gel an N-terminal blocked glutathione S-transferase which has a molecular weight similar to Yb subunits.

Isolation and characterization of the rat glutathione S-transferase Yb1 subunit gene

We have isolated and characterized a rat liver glutathione S-transferase Yb1 subunit gene. DNA sequence analysis of the Yb1 subunit gene indicates that it comprises eight exons separated by seven introns and spans approximately 5.0 kb. The transcription initiation site has been mapped by primer extension experiments. Transcription begins at a guanine residue 29 nucleotides downstream from a "TATA" sequence. The DNA sequences of all exons and some introns share significant sequence identity with the corresponding exons and introns in the Yb2 subunit gene characterized by Tu and co-workers [J. Biol. Chem. 263, 11389-11395 (1988)]. The isolation and characterization of the glutathione S-transferase Yb1 gene will allow for a detailed analysis of regulatory elements required for transcriptional regulation of this gene.

Construction, expression, and preliminary characterization of chimeric class mu glutathione S-transferases with altered catalytic properties

An expression plasmid for isoenzyme 3-3 of rat liver glutathione S-transferase has been constructed from the cDNA clone pGTA/C44 and the pAS expression vector pMG27NS, and used for the efficient production of the enzyme in the Escherichia coli strain M5219. The plasmid has also been manipulated, through the use of synthetic linkers, to encode chimeric polypeptides in which short sequences of the closely related isoenzyme 4-4 have been substituted into the N-terminal and C-terminal variable domains of isoenzyme 3-3. The chimeric polypeptides designated 4(9)3(208), 3(209)4(8), and 4(9)3(200)4(8) are expressed with varying degrees of efficiency in E. coli. The active dimeric holoenzymes 3-3, (4(9)3(208]2, (3(209)4(8]2, and (4(9)3(200)4(8]2 can be isolated. The spectroscopic and kinetic properties of the chimeric enzymes are significantly different than the native enzyme.

Characterization of a variant rat glutathione S-transferase by cDNA expression in Escherichia coli

We have isolated a glutathione S-transferase Yb1 subunit cDNA from a lambda gt11 cDNA collection constructed from rat testis poly(A) RNA enriched for glutathione S-transferase mRNA activities. This Yb1 cDNA, designated pGTR201, is identical to our liver Yb1 cDNA clone pGTR200 except for a shorter 5'-untranslated sequence. Active glutathione S-transferase is expressed from this Yb1 cDNA driven by the tac promoter on the plasmid construct pGTR201-KK. The expressed glutathione S-transferase protein begins with the third codon (Met) of the cDNA, and is missing the N-terminal proline of rat liver glutathione S-transferase 3-3. Therefore, our Escherichia coli expressed glutathione S-transferase protein represents a variant form of glutathione S-transferase 3-3 (Yb1Yb1), designated GST 3-3(-1). The expressed Yb1 subunits are assembled into a dimer as purified from sonicated E. coli crude extracts. In the absence of dithiothreitol three active isomers can be resolved by ion-exchange chromatography. The pure protein has an extinction coefficient of 9.21 x 10(4) M-1 cm-1 at 280 nm or E0.1% 280 = 1.78 and a pI at 8.65. It has a substrate specificity pattern similar to that of the authentic glutathione S-transferase 3-3. The GST 3-3(-1) has a KM of 202 microM for reduced GSH and of 36 microM for 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene. The turnover number for this conjugation reaction is 57 s-1. Results of kinetic studies of this reaction with GST 3-3(-1) are consistent with a sequential substrate binding mechanism. We conclude that the first amino acid proline of glutathione S-transferase 3-3 is not essential for enzyme activities.

Expression of Yb1 glutathione S-transferase using a baculovirus expression system

A full-length cDNA clone was isolated for rat liver Yb1 glutathione S-transferase (EC 2.5.1.18). The coding sequence of Yb1 cDNA was inserted into a baculovirus vector for infection of Spodoptera frugiperda (SF9) cells. The enzymatically active recombinant Yb1 glutathione S-transferase protein has a native molecular weight of 42,000 daltons (by molecular sieve chromatography), a subunit molecular weight of 26,500 daltons (by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis), a pI of 8.4 and an extinction coefficient E1%280 of 5.6 +/- 0.4.