Active site-directed irreversible inhibition of glutathione S-transferases by the glutathione conjugate of tetrachloro-1,4-benzoquinone

Purified glutathione S-transferase from rat liver cytosol are irreversibly inhibited by the glutathione conjugate of tetrachloro-1,4-benzoquinone, 2-S-glutathionyl-3,5,6-trichloro-1,4-benzoquinone. The inhibition is due to covalent binding in or near the active site, resulting in modification of a single amino acid residue/subunit, presumably a cysteine residue. The amount of inhibition is related to the molar ratio of the inhibitor and the enzyme and is independent of the enzyme concentration. A 70-80% inhibition is obtained on incubating the enzyme with a 5-fold molar excess of the conjugate. Complete 100% inhibition is never reached. The derivative bound to the enzyme still possesses a quinone structure and is able to react with thiol-containing compounds. Reduction of the enzyme-bound quinone abolishes its reactivity but does not decrease the inhibition. At 0 degrees C, the glutathione conjugate of tetrachloro-1,4-benzoquinone inhibits the glutathione S-transferases at a much higher rate than the corresponding beta-mercaptoethanol conjugate, indicating a distinct targetting effect of the glutathione moiety. However, the parent compound, tetrachloro-1,4-benzoquinone, also has a considerable affinity for the enzymes. Although it does not react as fast as the glutathione conjugate, it reacts with the same amino acid residue. Protection from inhibition by the substrate analog S-hexylglutathione also indicates an active site-directed modification. Small but significant differences exist between the different rat liver transferase isoenzymes; using a 20-fold molar excess the inhibition ranges from 78 to 98% for the conjugate, and from 72 to 93% for the quinone, with isoenzyme 1-1 being the most and isoenzyme 2-2 the least inhibited forms.     

S-(4-Bromo-2,3-dioxobutyl)glutathione: a new affinity label for the 4-4 isoenzyme of rat liver glutathione S-transferase

S-(4-Bromo-2,3-dioxobutyl)glutathione (S-BDB-G), a reactive analogue of glutathione, has been synthesized and characterized by UV spectroscopy and thin-layer chromatography, as well as by bromide and primary amine analysis. Incubation of S-BDB-G (200 microM) with the 4-4 isoenzyme of rat liver glutathione S-transferase at pH 6.5 and 25 degrees C results in a time-dependent inactivation of the enzyme. The kobs exhibits a nonlinear dependence on S-BDB-G concentration from 50 to 1000 microM, with a kmax of 0.078 min-1 and K1 = 66 microM. The addition of 5 mM S-hexylglutathione, a competitive inhibitor with respect to glutathione, completely protects against inactivation by S-BDB-G. About 1.3 mol of [3H]S-BDB-G/mol of enzyme subunit is incorporated concomitant with 100% inactivation, whereas only 0.48 mol of reagent/mol of subunit is incorporated in the presence of S-hexylglutathione when activity is fully retained. Modified enzyme, prepared by incubating glutathione S-transferase with [3H]S-BDB-G in the absence or in the presence of S-hexylglutathione, was reduced with NaBH4, carboxymethylated, and digested with trypsin. The tryptic digest was fractionated by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Two radioactive peptides were identified: Lys82-His-Asn-Leu-X-Gly-Glu-Thr-Glu-Glu-Glu-Arg93, in which X is modified Cys86, and Leu109-Gln-Leu-Ala-Met-CmCys-Y-Ser-Pro-Asp-Phe-Glu-Arg121 , in which Y is modified Tyr115. Only the Lys82-Arg93 peptide was modified in the presence of S-hexylglutathione when the enzyme retained full activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Identification of Tyr115 labeled by S-(4-bromo-2,3-dioxobutyl)glutathione in the hydrophobic substrate binding site of glutathione S-transferase, isoenzyme 3-3.

Incubation of S-(4-bromo-2,3-dioxobutyl)glutathione (S-BDB-G), a reactive analogue of glutathione, with the 3-3 isoenzyme of rat liver glutathione S-transferase at pH 6.5 and 25 degrees C results in a time-dependent inactivation of the enzyme. The kobs exhibits a nonlinear dependence on S-BDB-G concentration from 50 to 900 microM, with a kmax of 0.073 min-1 and KI = 120 microM. The addition of 5 mM S-hexylglutathione, a competitive inhibitor with respect to glutathione, completely protects against inactivation by S-BDB-G. About 2.0 mol of [3H]S-BDB-G/mol of enzyme subunit is incorporated concomitant with 100% inactivation, whereas only 0.96 mol of reagent/mol subunit is incorporated in the presence of S-hexylglutathione when activity is fully retained. Modified enzyme, prepared by incubating glutathione S-transferase with [3H]S-BDB-G in the absence or in the presence of S-hexylglutathione, was reduced with NaBH4, reacted with N-ethylmaleimide, and digested with trypsin. Analysis of the tryptic digests, fractionated by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, revealed Tyr115 as the amino acid whose reaction with S-BDB-G correlates with inactivation. Examination of the stability of S-(4-bromo-2,3-dioxobutyl)glutathione and modified enzyme in the absence and presence of dithiothreitol and under acidic conditions suggests that for stable linkage to peptides, the carbonyl moieties of the reagent should be reduced immediately after modification of a protein. Comparison of results from the 4-4 and 3-3 isoenzymes of rat liver glutathione S-transferase (both of the mu gene class) indicates: the 4-4 isoenzyme exhibits a greater affinity for S-BDB-G; Cys86 is labeled by [3H]S-BDB-G in both isoenzymes but is nonessential for activity; in the 3-3 isoenzyme, Cys86 is more accessible to S-BDB-G; and Tyr115 is an important residue in the hydrophobic binding site of both enzymes.     

Schistosoma mansoni: single-step purification and characterization of glutathione S-transferase isoenzyme 4.

A soluble glutathione S-transferase isoenzyme, designated SmGST-4 was purified to apparent homogeneity in a single step from the cytosol of adult Schistosoma mansoni by selective elution of the enzyme from a glutathione-agarose affinity column using glutathione disulfide. SmGST-4, which comprised about 5% of the bound glutathione S-transferase activity, could be distinguished from the previously characterized glutathione S-transferase isoenzyme family (SmGST-1/2/3), by its unique chromatographic behavior, lower subunit M(r) (26,000), differences in substrate specificity and inhibitor sensitivity, and a lack of reactivity with antiserum to SmGST-3. The purified isoenzyme catalyzed the conjugation of several model xenobiotics including 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene, ethacrynic acid, and trans-4-phenyl-3-buten-2-one. Like the SmGST-1/2/3 isoenzyme family, SmGST-4 failed to catalyze the conjugation of a model epoxide substrate, 1,2-epoxy-3-(p-nitrophenoxy)propane. Because glutathione S-transferases from other organisms play a role in protecting cells against the toxic products of lipid peroxidation, SmGST-4 and the members of the SmGST-1/2/3 isoenzyme family were tested for their capacity to reduce cumene hydroperoxide and to catalyze the conjugation of 4-hydroxyalk-2-enals. Although all four isoenzymes catalyzed both reactions, the specific activity of SmGST-1, SmGST-2, and SmGST-3 toward cumene hydroperoxide was at least 10-fold greater than that of SmGST-4. In contrast, the latter more effectively conjugated a homologous series of 4-hydroxyalk-2-enal isomers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Studies on the glutathione S-transferase activity associated with rat liver mitochondria.

The major proportion of rat liver glutathione S-transferase is cytosolic. Carefully washed mitochondria contain 0.25-0.47% of the cytosolic activity. Subfractionation of washed mitochondria using digitonin treatment revealed that glutathione S-transferase release did not parallel that of any of the mitochondrial marker enzymes. Glutathione S-transferase release paralleled that of lactate dehydrogenase, suggesting that these 'mitochondrial' activities are due to loosely bound cytoplasmic forms.     

Affinity labeling of Cys111 of glutathione S-transferase, isoenzyme 1-1, by S-(4-bromo-2,3-dioxobutyl)glutathione.

Incubation of S-(4-bromo-2,3-dioxobutyl)glutathione (S-BDB-G), a reactive analogue of glutathione, with the 1-1 isoenzyme of rat liver glutathione S-transferase at pH 6.5 and 25 degrees C results in a time-dependent inactivation of the enzyme. k(obs) exhibits a nonlinear dependence on S-BDB-G from 50 to 1200 microM, with a kmax of 0.111 min-1 and KI = 185 microM. The addition of 5 mM S-hexylglutathione, a competitive inhibitor with respect to glutathione, gives almost complete protection against inactivation by S-BDB-G. About 1.2 mol of [3H]S-BDB-G/mol of enzyme subunit is incorporated when the enzyme is 85% inactivated, whereas 0.33 mol of reagent/mol of subunit is incorporated in the presence of S-hexylglutathione when the enzyme has lost only 17% of its original activity. Modified enzyme, prepared by incubating glutathione S-transferase with [3H]S-BDB-G in the absence or in the presence of S-hexylglutathione, was reduced with sodium borohydride, reacted with N-ethylmaleimide, and digested with alpha-chymotrypsin. Analysis of the chymotryptic digests, fractionated by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, revealed Cys111 as the amino acid whose reaction with S-BDB-G correlates with enzyme inactivation. It is concluded that Cys111 lies within or near the hydrophobic substrate binding site of glutathione S-transferase, isoenzyme 1-1.     

Spectroscopic and kinetic evidence for the thiolate anion of glutathione at the active site of glutathione S-transferase

Ultraviolet difference spectroscopy of the binary complex of isozyme 4-4 of rat liver glutathione S-transferase with glutathione (GSH) and the enzyme alone or as the binary complex with the oxygen analogue, gamma-L-glutamyl-L-serylglycine (GOH), at neutral pH reveals an absorption band at 239 nm (epsilon = 5200 M-1 cm-1) that is assigned to the thiolate anion (GS-) of the bound tripeptide. Titration of this difference absorption band over the pH range 5-8 indicates that the thiol of enzyme-bound GSH has a pKa = 6.6, which is about 2.4 pK units less than that in aqueous solution and consistent with the kinetically determined pKa previously reported [Chen et al. (1988) Biochemistry 27, 647]. The observed shift in the pKa between enzyme-bound and free GSH suggests that about 3.3 kcal/mol of the intrinsic binding energy of the peptide is utilized to lower the pKa into the physiological pH range. Apparent dissociation constants for both GSH and GOH are comparable and vary by a factor of less than 2 over the same pH range. Site occupancy data and spectral band intensity reveal large extinction coefficients at 239 nm (epsilon = 5200 M-1 cm-1) and 250 nm (epsilon = 1100 M-1 cm-1) that are consistent with the existence of either a glutathione thiolate (E.GS-) or ion-paired thiolate (EH+.GS-) in the active site. The observation that GS- is likely the predominant tripeptide species bound at the active site suggested that the carboxylate analogue of GSH, gamma-L-glutamyl-(D,L-2-aminomalonyl)glycine, should bind more tightly than GSH.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Evidence for the involvement of tryptophan 38 in the active site of glutathione S-transferase P.

Glutathione S-transferase P (GST-P) exists as a homodimeric form and has two tryptophan residues, Trp28 and Trp38, in each subunit. In order to elucidate the role of the two tryptophan residues in catalytic function, we examined intrinsic fluorescence of tryptophan residues and effect of chemical modification by N-bromosuccinimide (NBS). The quenching of intrinsic fluorescence was observed by the addition of S-hexylglutathione, a substrate analogue, and the enzymatic activity was totally lost when single tryptophan residue was oxidized by NBS. To identify which tryptophan residue is involved in the catalytic function, each tryptophan was changed to histidine by site-directed mutagenesis. Trp28His GST-P mutant enzyme showed a comparable enzymatic activity with that of the wild type one. Trp38His mutant neither was bound to S-hexylglutathione-linked Sepharose nor exhibited any GST activity. These findings indicate that Trp38 is important for the catalytic function and substrate binding of GST-P.     

Contribution of tyrosine 6 to the catalytic mechanism of isoenzyme 3-3 of glutathione S-transferase.

The role of the hydroxyl group of tyrosine 6 in the catalytic mechanism of isoenzyme 3-3 of rat glutathione S-transferase has been examined by x-ray crystallography and site-specific replacement of the residue with phenylalanine and evaluation of the catalytic properties of the mutant enzyme. This particuar tyrosine residue is conserved in the sequences of all of the cytosolic enzymes and is found, in crystal structures of both isoenzyme 3-3 from the mu-gene class and an isoenzyme from the pi-gene class, to be proximal to the sulfur of glutathione (GSH) or glutathione sulfonate bound at the active site. The 2.2-A structure of the binary complex of isoenzyme 3-3 and GSH indicates that the hydroxyl group of Tyr6 is located 3.2-3.5 A from the sulfur of GSH, well within hydrogen bonding distance. Removal of the hydroxyl group of Tyr6 has essentially no effect on the dissociation constant (22 +/- 3 microM) for GSH. Nevertheless the Y6F mutant exhibits a turnover number which is only about 1% that of the native enzyme when assayed at pH 6.5 with either 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) or 4-phenyl-3-buten-2-one. UV difference spectra of the binary enzyme-GSH complexes suggest that the predominant ionization state of GSH in the active site of the Y6F mutant is the neutral thiol (e.g. EY6F.GSH) which is in contrast to the native enzyme in which the thiol is substantially deprotonated (e.g. E.GS-). Spectrophotometric titration suggests that the pKa of the thiol is 6.9 +/- 0.3 in the E.GSH complex and greater than or equal to 8 in the EY6F.GSH binary complex. In addition, the pH dependence of kcat/KmCDNB reveals that the reactions catalyzed by the native enzyme and the Y6F mutant are dependent on a single ionization in the E.GSH and EY6F.GSH complexes with pKa = 6.2 +/- 0.1 and 7.8 +/- 0.3, respectively. The results suggest that the hydrogen bond between Tyr6 and the enzyme-bound nucleophile helps to lower the pKa of GSH in the binary enzyme-substrate complex.     

Induction of translationally active rat liver glutathione S-transferase B messenger RNA by phenobarbital

Liver poly(A⁺)-RNA was isolated from untreated and phenobarbital-treated rats and translated in cell-free systems derived from wheat germ and rabbit reticulocyte lysates. The primary translation product of glutathione S-transferase B was comprised of two nonidentically sized subunits which comigrated on SDS-polyacrylamide gels with the purified glutathione S-transferase B subunits. The level of translatable glutathione S-transferase B mRNA in rat liver was elevated approximately 3 to 4-fold by phenobarbital administration. Our data suggest that chronic phenobarbital administration to rats increases the amount of cytosolic glutathione S-transferase B via an increase in the functional mRNA level encoding for the enzyme.     

Structure of a glutathione conjugate bound to the active site of aldose reductase

Aldose reductase (AR) is a monomeric NADPH-dependent oxidoreductase that catalyzes the reduction of aldehydes, ketones, and aldo-sugars. AR has been linked to the development of hyperglycemic injury and is a clinical target for the treatment of secondary diabetic complications. In addition to reducing glucose, AR is key regulator of cell signaling through it's reduction of aldehydes derived from lipoproteins and membrane phospholipids. AR catalyzes the reduction of glutathione conjugates of unsaturated aldehydes with higher catalytic efficiency than free aldehydes. The X-ray structure of human AR holoenzyme in complex with the glutathione analogue S-(1,2-dicarboxyethyl) glutathione (DCEG) was determined at a resolution of 1.94 A. The distal carboxylate group of DCEG's dicarboxyethyl moiety interacted with the conserved AR anion binding site residues Tyr48, His110, and Trp111. The bound DCEG's glutathione backbone adopted the low-energy Y-shape form. The C-terminal carboxylate of DCEG glutathione's glycine formed hydrogen bonds to Leu301 and Ser302, while the remaining interactions between DCEG and AR were hydrophobic, permitting significant flexibility of the AR and glutathione (GS) analogue interaction. The observed conformation and interactions of DCEG with AR were consistent with our previously published molecular dynamics model of glutathionyl-propanal binding to AR. The current structure identifies major interactions of glutathione conjugates with the AR active-site residues.     

Interaction of 1,4-benzoquinone and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid with microsomal glutathione transferase from rat liver

Glutathione transferase (GST) was purified from the microsomes of rat liver by glutathione affinity chromatography. The interaction of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 1,4-benzoquinone with microsomal GST was investigated and compared with cytosolic GST. The kinetic inhibition pattern of 1,4-benzoquinone towards microsomal GST was found to be different from that towards cytosolic GST. Microsomal GST purified by affinity chromatography was inhibited by 2,4-D in a non dose-dependent manner, while the crude microsomal GST was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner. This difference was shown to be induced by a reaction on the affinity column, and not by Triton X-100 (also shown to be a GST inhibitor), glutathione, or the elution buffer 0.2% Triton X-100 and 5 mM glutathione in 50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 9.6. The binding of microsomal GST to the affinity matrix caused a partial inactivation of the active site for 2,4-D interaction. The results show that the properties of soluble GST enzymes may not be extrapolated to the microsomal ones.     

Identification of the fatty acid binding site on glutathione S-transferase P.

Glutathione S-transferase P (GST-P) bound a series of endogenous fatty acids (C12-C18). To clarify the function and the binding site of the fatty acids, interaction between fatty acids and GST-P was investigated by using 12-(9-anthroyloxy) stearic acid conjugated with Woodward's reagent K. The fluorescence-conjugated fatty acid noncompetitively inhibited GST activity. After GST-P was covalently labeled with the fatty acid, the enzyme was digested with Lysyl Endopeptidase. From the peptide mapping, a single fluorescence-labeled peptide was obtained. By the sequence analysis, the peptide binding fatty acid was determined as the residues of 141-188 from the amino terminus.     

Studies on the glutathione S-transferase of human platelets

The glutathione S-transferases of human platelets have been compared with those of erythrocytes. Although wide variations in activity were found, in individual subjects, the activity in these cell types was significantly correlated. The enzymes demonstrated similar isoelectric points and electrophoretic mobilities and it appears that the platelet enzyme is also a product of the GST3 locus. There was no correlation between platelet enzyme activity and plasma concentrations of retinol and cholesterol, but in men, the relationship between activity and carotene was significant. It is suggested that GST3 isoenzyme activity depends on vitamin A.     

Inhibition of jack bean urease by 1,4-benzoquinone and 2,5-dimethyl-1,4-benzoquinone. Evaluation of the inhibition mechanism

1,4-benzoquinone (BQ) and 2,5-dimethyl-1,4-benzoquinone (DMBQ) were studied as inhibitors of jack bean urease in 50 mM phosphate buffer, pH 7.0. The mechanisms of inhibition were evaluated by progress curves studies and steady-state approach to data achieved by preincubation of the enzyme with the inhibitor. The obtained reaction progress curves were time-dependent and characteristic of slow-binding inhibition. The effects of different concentrations of BQ and DMBQ on the initial and steady-state velocities as well as the apparent first-order velocity constants obeyed the relationships of two-step enzyme-inhibitor interaction, qualified as mechanism B. The rapid formation of an initial BQ-urease complex with an inhibition constant of Ki = 0.031 mM was followed by a slow isomerization into the final BQ-urease complex with the overall inhibition constant of Ki* = 4.5 x 10(-5) mM. The respective inhibition constants for DMBQ were Ki = 0.42 mM, Ki* = 1.2 x 10(-3) mM. The rate constants of the inhibitor-urease isomerization indicated that forward processes were rapid in contrast to slow reverse reactions. The overall inhibition constants obtained by the steady-state analysis were found to be 5.1 x 10(-5) mM for BQ and 0.98 x 10(-3) mM for DMBQ. BQ was found to be a much stronger inhibitor of urease than DMBQ. A test, based on reaction with L-cysteine, confirmed the essential role of the sulfhydryl group in the inhibition of urease by BQ and DMBQ.     

Nitration/S-nitrosation of proteins by peroxynitrite-treatment and subsequent modification by glutathione S-transferase and glutathione peroxidase

In various peroxynitrite (PN)-treated proteins, the formations of stable 3-nitrotyrosine (nitration) and labile S-nitrosocysteine (S-nitrosation) were observed by employing rapid Western blot in 6 h. The steps of SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and membrane-blotting were performed at 4°C. It was noted that the intensity of immunoreactive bands specific for anti-nitrotyrosine was stronger than that specific for anti-S-nitrosocysteine. Additionally, the intensity was in the manner of a dose-dependency of PN. Nitration/S-nitrosation were formed in the following treated proteins, including bovine serum albumin (BSA), DNase-1, ceruloplasmin, catalase and hemoglobin (Hb). The incubation of PN-pretreated hemoglobin with 1 mM reduced glutathione (GSH) did not change immunoreactivity significantly. However, the addition of glutathione S-transferase (GST) or glutathione peroxidase (GPX) to the above incubation mixture, resulted in decreased immunoreactivity, suggesting GSH may form a transition complex with PN-pretreated hemoglobin and/or partially reduce/modify the treated hemoglobin, thereby increasing the accessibility for the subsequent modification by GST or GPX. Such decreased immunoreactivity indicates that nitrotyrosine and S-nitrosocysteine of treated hemoglobin was, indeed, further modified via (a) converting –NO₂ to –NH₂ in tyrosine residues, (b) denitrating –NO₂ directly/indirectly in tyrosine residues, and/or (c) changing –S-NO to –SH in cysteine residues, or denitrosation. The findings imply similar enzymatic modifications of proteins may also occur in vivo, and therefore play a pivotal role in the NO-related cellular signaling cascade(s).     

Reaction of vitamin A with acceptors of electrons. Formation of radical anions from 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane and tetrachloro-1,4-benzoquinone

1. The interactions of retinol and retinoic acid with two electron acceptors, 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) and tetrachloro-1,4-benzoquinone (chloranil), were studied in an investigation on the ability of vitamin A to behave as a donor of electrons. 2. Retinol reacts with TCNQ in polar organic solvents with the formation, as judged by spectral studies, of the radical anion of TCNQ. 3. Addition of the products of this reaction to water is accompanied by a rapid consumption of OH(-) ions. 4. Consumption of OH(-) ions is also a feature of the reactions between retinol and chloranil, but the spectrum of the radical anion of chloranil is observed only when retinol and chloranil are suspended in aqueous salt solutions. 5. Retinoic acid behaves similarly to retinol in its reactions with TCNQ and chloranil, but it appears to be a weaker electron donor than retinol. 6. The reaction products that may be formed from retinol in its reactions with TCNQ and chloranil are discussed. 7. It is suggested that the ability of vitamin A to behave as a donor of electrons may be an important aspect of its biochemical mode of action.     

Chemical modification locates guanidinyl and carboxylate groups within the active site of prolidase.

Reagents phenylglyoxal or 1-cyclohexyl-3-(2-morpholinoethyl)carbodiimide metho-p-toluenesulfonate inactivate the enzyme prolidase, with protection conferred by the competitive inhibitor N-acetylproline. The presence of arginine and carboxylate (aspartic/glutamic acid) residues at the active site of this metallodipeptidase may be inferred.     

Inhibition of Jack Bean Urease by 1,4-benzoquinone and 2,5-dimethyl-1,4-benzoquinone. Evaluation of the Inhibition Mechanism

1,4-benzoquinone (BQ) and 2,5-dimethyl-1,4-benzoquinone (DMBQ) were studied as inhibitors of jack bean urease in 50 mM phosphate buffer, pH 7.0. The mechanisms of inhibition were evaluated by progress curves studies and steady-state approach to data achieved by preincubation of the enzyme with the inhibitor. The obtained reaction progress curves were time-dependent and characteristic of slow-binding inhibition. The effects of different concentrations of BQ and DMBQ on the initial and steady-state velocities as well as the apparent first-order velocity constants obeyed the relationships of two-step enzyme-inhibitor interaction, qualified as mechanism B. The rapid formation of an initial BQ-urease complex with an inhibition constant of K i =0.031 mM was followed by a slow isomerization into the final BQ-urease complex with the overall inhibition constant of K*_i=4.5 × 10 ^?5 mM. The respective inhibition constants for DMBQ were K i =0.42 mM, K*_i =1.2 × 10 ^?3 mM. The rate constants of the inhibitor-urease isomerization indicated that forward processes were rapid in contrast to slow reverse reactions. The overall inhibition constants obtained by the steady-state analysis were found to be 5.1 × 10 ^?5 mM for BQ and 0.98 × 10 ^?3 mM for DMBQ. BQ was found to be a much stronger inhibitor of urease than DMBQ. A test, based on reaction with L-cysteine, confirmed the essential role of the sulfhydryl group in the inhibition of urease by BQ and DMBQ.