Identification of two lithocholic acid-binding proteins. Separation of ligandin from glutathione S-transferase B.

1. Two lithocholic acid-binding proteins in rat liver cytosol, previously shown to have glutathione S-transferase activity, were resolved by CM-Sephadex chromatography. 2. Phenobarbitone administration resulted in induction of both binding proteins. 3. The two proteins had distinct subunit compositions indicating that they are dimers with mol.wts. 44 000 and 47 000. 4. The two lithocholic acid-binding proteins were identified by comparing their elution volumes from CM-Sephadex with those of purified ligandin and glutathione S-transferase B prepared by published procedures. Ligandin and glutathione S-transferase B were eluted separately, as single peaks of enzyme activity, at volumes equivalent to the two lithocholic acid-binding proteins. 5. Peptide 'mapping' revealed structural differences between the two proteins.     

Newly identified bile acid binders in rat liver cytosol. Purification and comparison with glutathione S-transferases

Gel filtration of male rat liver cytosol preincubated with radiolabeled lithocholic, chenodeoxycholic, and glycochenodeoxycholic acids, and taurocholic acid revealed two major peaks of radioactivity, one co-eluting with the glutathione S-transferases and the other with a separate fraction, respectively. Chromatofocusing of the pooled fractions containing the new bile acid binding activity resulted in a separation of bile acid binding from the previously described organic anion binding activity in this fraction. Two binding peaks for lithocholic acid (pI 5.6, Binder I, and pI 5.5, Binder II) were identified on chromatofocusing and were further purified to apparent homogeneity by hydroxyapatite chromatography. The two Binders were monomers having identical molecular weight (33,000) and similar amino acid compositions. Bile acid binding to purified Binders I and II and glutathione S-transferases A, B, and C was studied by inhibition of the fluorescence of bound 1-anilino-8-naphthalenesulfonate (ANS). Confirmatory experiments using equilibrium dialysis produced comparable results. Glutathione S-transferase B had greater affinity for bile acids than transferases A or C. Binder II, which had greater affinity than Binder I for most bile acids, had greater affinity for chenodeoxycholic acid than transferase B but comparable or lower affinities for the other bile acids. All bile acids studied diminished ANS fluorescence with Binder II. Taurocholic and cholic acids increased ANS fluorescence with Binder I without affecting KANS, whereas lithocholic and chenodeoxycholic acids diminished ANS fluorescence with Binder I. In summary, we have identified and isolated two proteins (Binders I and II) which, along with glutathione S-transferase B, are the major hepatic cytosol bile acid binding proteins; these proteins have overlapping but distinct specificities for various bile acids.     

A comparison of the glutathione S-transferases of trout and rat liver.

1. Cytosol from trout liver, gills and intestinal caeca has substantial glutathione S-transferase activity. 2. Gel-exclusion and ion-exchange chromatography suggest that trout liver has several glutathione S-transferases with different molecular weights and ionic charges. 3. A component capable of binding lithocholic acid eluted together with glutathione S-transferase activity. Some of the transferase activity did not elute together with binding activity. 4. The enzymic activity from trout liver was less stable at 37 degrees C than that from rat liver. 5. The glutathione S-transferases of fish liver have a similar specific activity to those of rat liver but different molecular properties.     

Interrelationship between anionic and cationic forms of glutathione S-transferases of human liver.

Human liver glutathione S-transferases (GSH S-transferases) were fractionated into cationic and anionic proteins. During fractionation with (NH4)2SO4 the anionic GSH S-transferases are concentrated in the 65%-saturated-(NH4)2SO4 fraction, whereas the cationic GSH S-transferases separate in the 80%-saturated-(NH4)2SO4 fraction. From the 65%-saturated-(NH4)2SO4 fraction two new anionic GSH S-transferases, omega and psi, were purified to homogeneity by using ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, Sephadex G-200 gel filtration, affinity chromatography on GSH bound to epoxy-activated Sepharose and isoelectric focusing. By a similar procedure, cationic GSH S-transferases were purified from the 80%-saturated-(NH4)2SO4 fraction. Isoelectric points of GSH S-transferases omega and psi are 4.6 and 5.4 respectively. GSH S-transferase omega is the major anionic GSH S-transferase of human liver, whereas GSH S-transferase psi is present only in traces. The subunit mol.wt. of GSH S-transferase omega is about 22500, whereas that of cationic GSH S-transferases is about 24500. Kinetic and structural properties as well as the amino acid composition of GSH S-transferase omega are described. The antibodies raised against cationic GSH S-transferases cross-react with GSH S-transferase omega. There are significant differences between the catalytic properties of GSH S-transferase omega and the cationic GSH S-transferases. GSH peroxidase II activity is displayed by all five cationic GSH S-transferases, whereas both anionic GSH S-transferases do not display this activity.     

Evidence for a common high affinity binding site on glutathione S-transferase B for lithocholic acid and bilirubin

Binding of lithocholic acid, bilirubin, and gossypol to glutathione S-transferase B (ligandin or transferase YaYc) was compared using four methods. Tryptophan quenching revealed a single high affinity site for bilirubin and gossypol but could not be used for lithocholic acid. Both displacement of the fluorescent probe, 1-anilino-8-naphthalenesulfonate, and spectral changes induced by bilirubin binding demonstrated a common high affinity site for which all three ligands compete. Similar results were obtained by equilibrium dialysis. The dissociation constants for the binding of both bilirubin and lithocholic acid were comparable with the various methods (range 0.2-0.7 microM). Thus, lithocholic acid and bilirubin share a high affinity binding site on gluthathione S-transferase B that appears to be separate from the binding site for substrates.     

Comparison of the effects of bile acids and GSH on the fluorescence of bound 1-anilino-8-naphthalene sulfonate and the enzymatic activity of cationic and neutral human hepatic GSH S-transferases

Three cationic (C1, C2, A1) and a neutral (N1) glutathione (GSH) S-transferase were purified to homogeneity from human liver, as we have previously reported. GSH had no effect on the fluorescence of 1-anilino-8-naphthalene sulfonate (ANS) bound by transferase C1 and N1, but markedly enhanced the fluorescence with C2 and A1 without changing the affinity for ANS. This effect of GSH was saturable and with C2 was intermediate between A1 and C1. Bile acids inhibited the fluorescence of ANS bound to C1 and C2. GSH in the presence of bile acids further decreased the fluorescence of ANS bound to C1 and increased the fluorescence with C2. Transferase A1 showed decreased fluorescence in the presence of lithocholic acid and increased fluorescence in the presence of cholic acid; both changes were reversed by GSH. Transferase N1 showed increased fluorescence of bound ANS in the presence of various bile acids and this effect was diminished in the presence of GSH. Enzyme activity of the transferase was inhibited by bile acids with the exception of transferase A1. All the proteins bound lithocholic acid. The inhibition of C1 and N1 was greater at pH 6.5 than 7.4 and the order of addition of substrates and inhibitor made no difference.     

A study of the structures of the YaYa and YaYc glutathione S-transferases from rat liver cytosol. Evidence that the Ya monomer is responsible for lithocholate-binding activity.

The two dimeric lithocholic acid-binding proteins previously identified as ligandin (YaYa) and glutathione S-transferase B (YaYc) were isolated from rat liver cytosol. These proteins have molecular weights of 44000 and 47000 respectively. The recovery of these two proteins from liver was not affected by the addition of the proteinase inhibitor Trasylol. No spontaneous interconversion between these two proteins was observed on storage. YaYa and YaYc proteins yielded peptides of identical molecular weight after limited digestion with Staphylococcus aureus V8 proteinase. Analytical and preparative tryptic-digest peptide 'maps' showed that all the soluble peptides obtained from YaYa protein were also recovered from YaYc protein. Approximately six extra soluble peptides, which were not recovered from YaYa protein, were obtained from the tryptic digest of YaYc protein. Subdigests of the insoluble tryptic-digest 'cores' also resulted in the recovery of identical peptides from both proteins. Evidence is presented that the Ya subunit possessed by both proteins is identical; glutathione S transferase B is a hybrid of ligandin and glutathione S-transferase AA. The Ya monomer is responsible for lithocholate binding.     

6alpha-hydroxylation of taurochenodeoxycholic acid and lithocholic acid by CYP3A4 in human liver microsomes

The aim of the present study was to identify the enzymes in human liver catalyzing hydroxylations of bile acids. Fourteen recombinant expressed cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes, human liver microsomes from different donors, and selective cytochrome P450 inhibitors were used to study the hydroxylation of taurochenodeoxycholic acid and lithocholic acid. Recombinant expressed CYP3A4 was the only enzyme that was active towards these bile acids and the enzyme catalyzed an efficient 6alpha-hydroxylation of both taurochenodeoxycholic acid and lithocholic acid. The Vmax for 6alpha-hydroxylation of taurochenodeoxycholic acid by CYP3A4 was 18.2 nmol/nmol P450/min and the apparent Km was 90 microM. Cytochrome b5 was required for maximal activity. Human liver microsomes from 10 different donors, in which different P450 marker activities had been determined, were separately incubated with taurochenodeoxycholic acid and lithocholic acid. A strong correlation was found between 6alpha-hydroxylation of taurochenodeoxycholic acid, CYP3A levels (r2=0.97) and testosterone 6beta-hydroxylation (r2=0.9). There was also a strong correlation between 6alpha-hydroxylation of lithocholic acid, CYP3A levels and testosterone 6beta-hydroxylation (r2=0.7). Troleandomycin, a selective inhibitor of CYP3A enzymes, inhibited 6alpha-hydroxylation of taurochenodeoxycholic acid almost completely at a 10 microM concentration. Other inhibitors, such as alpha-naphthoflavone, sulfaphenazole and tranylcypromine had very little or no effect on the activity. The apparent Km for 6alpha-hydroxylation of taurochenodeoxycholic by human liver microsomes was high (716 microM). This might give an explanation for the limited formation of 6alpha-hydroxylated bile acids in healthy humans. From the present results, it can be concluded that CYP3A4 is active in the 6alpha-hydroxylation of both taurochenodeoxycholic acid and lithocholic acid in human liver.     

Development of novel lithocholic acid derivatives as vitamin D receptor agonists

Lithocholic acid (2) was identified as the second endogenous ligand of vitamin D receptor (VDR), though its binding affinity to VDR and its vitamin D activity are very weak compared to those of the active metabolite of vitamin D₃, 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ (1). 3-Acylated lithocholic acids were reported to be slightly more potent than lithocholic acid (2) as VDR agonists. Here, aiming to develop more potent lithocholic acid derivatives, we synthesized several derivatives bearing a 3-sulfonate/carbonate or 3-amino/amide substituent, and examined their differentiation-inducing activity toward human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells. Introduction of a nitrogen atom at the 3-position of lithocholic acid (2) decreased the activity, but compound 6 bearing a 3-methylsulfonate group showed more potent activity than lithocholic acid (2) or its acylated derivatives. The binding of 6 to VDR was confirmed by competitive binding assay and X-ray crystallographic analysis of the complex of VDR ligand-binding domain (LBD) with 6.     

Binding of bile acids by 100 000g supernatants from rat liver.

1. The binding of glycocholic acid, chenodeoxycholic acid and lithocholic acid to rat liver 1000 000g supernatants was studied by equilibrium dialysis. 2. The binding characteristics of the bile acids suggest that the binding components are involved in bile acid transport. 3. When mixtures of [14C]lithocholic acid and liver supernatants were eluted from columns of Sephadex G-75, a prominent peak of [14C]lithocholic acid appeared with proteins of mol.wt. approx. 40000. A second, smaller, peak of [14C]lithocholic acid was eluted with proteins of mol.wt. approx. 100000. 4. The inclusion of cholic acid, glycocholic acid or chenodeoxycholic acid in the eluting buffer decreased the amount of [14C]lithocholic acid that was eluted with the higher-molecular-weight component.     

Multiple aflatoxin B1 binding proteins exist in rat liver cytosol

The in vitro binding of aflatoxin B1 to rat liver cytosolic proteins was investigated. Aflatoxin B1 binding activity was assayed with protein purified by gel permeation chromatography, ammonium sulfate fractionation, and DEAE-cellulose chromatography. Twenty-five percent of the total binding activity was associated with proteins eluted by 0 and 0.1 M NaCl. Over 50% of the total binding activity was associated with protein present in the 0.2 M NaCl fraction. Glutathione S-transferase activity was also monitored and found only in the low salt (less than 0.2 M NaCl) fractions. The proteins eluted by 0.2 M NaCl were further purified by hydroxylapatite column chromatography and binding was found predominantly in a single fraction. The protein purification steps resulted in a 20-fold increase in the specific binding activity over that initially observed in the cytosol. These results indicate that multiple proteins are capable of binding aflatoxin B1 in rat liver cytosol.     

The isolation and characterization of the major glutathione S-transferase from the squid Loligo vulgaris

1. The major glutathione S-transferase (GST) from the common squid Loligo vulgaris has been purified and shown to be a homodimer of subunit molecular mass 24,000 and pI 6.8. 2. It has high activity towards 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene, p-nitrobenzyl chloride, 4-hydroxynon-2-enal and linoleic acid hydroperoxide, low activity with 1,2-dichloro-4-nitrobenzene and no activity with ethacrynic acid, trans-4-phenyl-3-buten-2-one and 1,2-epoxy-3-(p-nitrophenoxy)propane. 3. The L. vulgaris GST did not cross-react with any of the available polyclonal antibodies raised against mammalian GSTs. 4. Forty amino acids of its N-terminal sequence have been determined. 5. Its activities and primary structure are compared with related proteins from other species.     

Anti-SLA seropositive autoimmune hepatitis sera recognize distinct subunits of glutathione S-transferase: high prevalence of the Ya autoantigen.

We have recently reported that anti-SLA seropositive autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) patients develop autoantibodies against glutathione S-transferase (GST). GSTs are multifunctional enzymes mediating hepatic detoxification of cytotoxic and genotoxic compounds and are also involved in biliary secretion. We have observed varying reactivity of individual AIH sera towards several GST isoenzymes. Since the GST subunits have very similar molar masses and therefore are not satisfactorily resolved by one-dimensional gel electrophoresis, we have performed their fractionation by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to better separate the individual GST isoenzymes. 4 individual GST subunits were isolated as judged by electrophoretic analysis of the 4 distinct peaks. The identity of isolated proteins was unequivocally determined by protein sequencing. Isolated subtypes were loaded on 15% SDS gels and blotted. Immunoblotting was performed with eleven anti-SLA positive sera that displayed differential reactivity with total GSTs. Fractionation of the GSTs by HPLC did not impair their ability to react with specific autoantibodies. Interestingly, the majority of GST-positive AIH sera reacted with one or two GST subtypes, only two sera recognized 3 subunits. Ya was most prevalent autoantigen. Autoantibodies against Yb2 were detected solely in one serum. This pattern of reactivity indicates that individual patients' sera discriminate between GST subunits despite their sequence homology. It is well known that the GST variants differ within their amino-terminal part while the residual moiety is highly conserved. It would suggest that autoantibodies recognize distinct epitopes located within amino-terminus of individual GST variants.     

Collapsin response mediator protein-2 inhibits neuronal phospholipase D(2) activity by direct interaction.

Although the functional significance of neuronal phospholipase D (PLD) is being recognized, little is known about its regulatory role in neuronal cells. To elucidate the regulatory mechanism of neuronal PLD, we investigated PLD(2)-binding neuronal protein from rat brain cytosol. During the fractionation of rat brain cytosol by four-column chromatography, a 62-kDa PLD(2)-interacting protein was detected by PLD(2) overlay assay and identified as collapsin response mediator protein-2 (CRMP-2), which controls neuronal axon guidance and outgrowth. Using bacterially expressed glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins, we found that two regions (amino acids 65-192 (the phagocytic oxidase domain) and 724-825) of PLD(2) and a single region (amino acids 243-300) of CRMP-2 are required for the direct binding of both proteins. A co-immunoprecipitation study in COS-7 cells also showed an in vivo interaction between CRMP-2 and PLD(2). Interestingly, CRMP-2 was found to potently inhibit PLD(2) activity in a concentration-dependent manner (IC(50) = 30 nm). Overexpression studies also showed that CRMP-2 is an in vivo inhibitor of PLD(2) in PC12 cells. Moreover, increasing the concentration of semaphorin 3A, one of the repulsive axon guidance cues, showed that PLD(2) activity can be inhibited in PC12 cells. Immunocytochemistry further revealed that PLD(2) is co-localized with CRMP-2 in the distal tips of neurites, its possible action site, in differentiated PC12 cells. Taken together, our results indicate that CRMP-2 may interact directly with and inhibit neuronal PLD(2), suggesting that this inhibitory mode of regulation may play a role in neuronal pathfinding during the developmental stage.     

Lithocholic acid-cholesterol interactions in rat liver plasma membrane fractions

This study was designed to elucidate the steps involved in the incorporation of lithocholic acid and the increase in cholesterol in liver plasma membranes after lithocholic acid injection. In vitro, cholesterol incorporation or binding to liver plasma membrane fractions enriched in bile canalicular structures occurred only when cholesterol was added simultaneously with lithocholic acid. The addition of cholic acid did not prevent the incorporation or binding of lithocholic acid and of cholesterol. However, when cholic acid was incubated with membranes already containing lithocholic acid and cholesterol, the ratio of cholesterol to lithocholic acid increased from 2 to more than 3 via a reduction of lithocholic acid. The binding of lithocholic acid and cholesterol to membranes rose 5-fold in the presence of cytosolic proteins. By electron microscopy the canalicular membrane structures with a high cholesterol content exhibited few microvilli, and their lumen appeared to have collapsed. These data suggest that simultaneous interaction of lithocholic acid and cholesterol, and not prior incorporation or binding of lithocholic acid to the membrane, may be a prerequisite to cholesterol accumulation in the membrane.     

Identification of a high affinity leukotriene C4-binding protein in rat liver cytosol as glutathione S-transferase

A soluble high affinity binding unit for leukotriene (LT) C4 in the high speed supernatant of rat liver homogenate was characterized at 4 degrees C as having a single type of saturable affinity site with a dissociation constant of 0.77 +/- 0.27 nM (mean +/- S.E., n = 5). The binding activity was identified as the liver cytosolic subunit 1 (Ya) of glutathione S-transferase, commonly known as ligandin, by co-purification with the catalytic activity during DEAE-cellulose column chromatography and 11,12,14,15-tetrahydro-LTC4 (LTC2)-affinity gel column chromatography; resolution into two major bands by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of Mr 23,000 and 25,000, of which only the smaller protein was labeled with [3H]LTC4 coupled via a photoaffinity cross-linking reagent; and immunodiffusion analysis with rabbit antiserum to glutathione S-transferase which showed a line of identity between the purified LTC4-binding protein and rat liver glutathione S-transferase. The affinity-purified binding protein bound 800 pmol of [3H] LTC4/mg of protein and possessed 12 mumol/min/mg of glutathione transferase activity as assayed with 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene as substrate. The enzyme activity of the cytosolic LTC4-binding protein was inhibited by submicromolar quantities of unlabeled LTC4, and the binding activity for [3H]LTC4 was blocked by the ligandin substrates, hematin and bilirubin. The high affinity interaction between LTC4 and glutathione S-transferase suggests that glutathione S-transferase may have a role in LTC4 disposition and that previous studies of LTC4 binding to putative receptors in nonresponsive tissues may require redefinition of the binding unit.     

Atypical Kunitz-type serine proteinase inhibitors produced by the ruminant placenta

Recently, an unusual family of genes was identified with expression confined to the trophoblast of ruminant ungulate species. The members of this family (the trophoblast Kunitz domain proteins, or TKDPs) are characterized by the presence of one or more similar, approximately 80-residue repeat sequences placed ahead of a Kunitz serine proteinase-inhibitor domain. To examine the specificity of the Kunitz moiety, the Kunitz domains of selected TKDPs and a control Kunitz protein, bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI), were produced as glutathione S-transferase fusions, and their abilities to inhibit six serine proteinases were examined. Circular dichroism spectroscopy confirmed that the Kunitz fold was intact. Three of the TKDPs had unusual residues at their P1 "warhead" (ovine TKDP-1, Asn; bovine TKDP-3, Thr; and bovine TKDP-5, Ile) and exhibited no measurable inhibitory activity toward any of the proteinases. Three (ovine TKDP-3, bovine TKDP-3, and bovine TKDP-4) lacked the conserved cysteines at residues 14 and 38 that form one of the highly conserved disulfide bonds that are structurally important in all known mammalian Kunitz proteins. Ovine TKDP-3 and bovine TKDP-4 had P1 lysines and inhibited trypsin and plasmin with K(i) values only approximately 10-fold higher than that of BPTI. Bovine TKDP-2 had a P1 lysine and the three conserved disulfides, but it possessed an unusual residue (Asp) at P2. It exhibited no inhibitory activity. These data suggest that the function of the TKDP, like certain Kunitz proteins found in snake venoms, may not be in proteinase inhibition.     

Characterization of Cytosolic Glutathione S-Transferase in Spruce Needles

Active glutathione S-transferase (GST) has been purified from needles of Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.). Two isoforms of the enzyme which exhibit different physico-chemical and catalytic properties were separated by (NH₄)₂SO₄ fractionation, affinity chromatography on epoxy-activated 4% cross-linked beaded agarose, using glutathione as the ligand, ion-exchange chromatography, and isoelectric focusing. The isozymes have pI values of 5.5 (GST I) and 4.3 (GST II). Both GST isozymes are homodimeric proteins with subunit sizes of 26 kD (GST I), and 23 kD (GST II). The kinetic properties of the enzymes are described and compared with other plants GSTs. Only GST II is able to conjugate the pesticides fluorodifen and alachlor.     

Short communication direct effect of Cd on glutathione S-transferase and glutathione reductase from Calystegia sepium

Interactions between heavy metals, glutathione, glutathione S-transferase (GST), and glutathione reductase (GR) are being investigated by many working groups, but evaluation of the direct effect of Cd+ on these enzymes in vitro is lacking. We report here the effect of cadmium (10, 50, 100, 250 microM CdSO4) on partially purified enzymes from Calystegia sepium. Plants were grown under normal field conditions without metals and the enzymes were extracted by Tris buffer and partially purified by ammonium sulphate fractionation and gel filtration. Glutathione S-transferase activity was measured with different substrates, i.e., 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB), p-nitrobenzylchloride (NBC), and the herbicide Fluorodifen. GST activity was significantly lower in leaf compared to stem, flower, and rhizome and the inhibitory effect of Cd was obtained with NBC and Fluorodifen substrates at 250 microM. There was no effect of Cd on GR activity up to 250 microM.