Reversible ATP-induced inactivation of branched-chain 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase.

1. Antiserum was raised against purified Wistar-rat liver UDP-glucuronyltransferase. 2. UDP-glucuronyltransferase activities towards 4-nitrophenol, bilirubin, 1-naphthol and morphine were co-immunoprecipitated from solubilized Wistar-rat liver preparations. 3. UDP-glucuronyltransferase activities towards 1-naphthol, 2-aminophenol and 4-nitrophenol were precipitated from solubilized Gunn-rat liver preparations by this antiserum. 4. UDP-glucuronyltransferase activities towards 1-naphthol, 4-nitrophenol and bilirubin, from Wistar-rat liver, were slightly inhibited by antiserum, whereas 1-naphthol UDP-glucuronyltransferase activity from Gunn-rat livers was greatly inhibited. 5. Measurable Wistar-rat liver glucuronyltransferase activities in washed immunoprecipitates indicate that the enzyme(s) were not merely inhibited by antiserum. 6. Immunoglobulin G purified from this antiserum immunoprecipitated transferase activities towards 4-nitrophenol, bilirubin and 1-naphthol. 7. The washed immunoprecipitates from both rat strains, containing UDP-glucuronyltransferase activity, appear to be similar when analysed by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. 8. Radial-immunodiffusion studies suggest that a smaller amount of UDP-glucuronyltransferase protein is present in Gunn-rat liver than in Wistar-rat liver. 9. The significance of these results in relation to the genetic deficiency in the Gunn rat is discussed.     

Reconstitution of purified Wistar rat liver bilirubin UDP-glucuronyltransferase into Gunn-rat liver microsomes.

1. Reconstitution of purified bilirubin UDP-glucuronyltransferase from Wistar-rat liver into Gunn-rat liver microsomes provides a better environment than phosphatidylcholine liposomes, such that the final specific activity of the Wistar-rat liver enzyme was increased up to 85 units/mg of protein. 2. Gunn- and Wistar-rat liver microsomes were equally effective for reconstitution of the purified enzyme. 3. The transferase activity does not appear to be fully expressed in the more rigid environment of foetal Wistar-rat liver microsomes. 4. These reconstitution experiments reveal a final specific activity for the purified bilirubin UDP-glucuronyltransferase consistent with the capacity of the whole rat liver to glucuronidate bilirubin and indicate that the absence of this enzyme activity in Gunn-rat liver microsomes is not due to an abnormal microenvironment.     

Development of uridine diphosphate-glucuronyltransferase activity in cultures of chick-embryo liver

1. The liver of the domestric fowl (Gallus gallus) remains capable of conjugating o-aminophenol with glucuronic acid after 8 days' culture. The pathway of o-aminophenyl glucuronide formation in cultured liver, as in fresh tissue, includes the enzyme UDP-glucuronyltransferase. 2. UDP-glucuronyltransferase activity in chick-embryo liver increases on culture from very low to adult values within 6-8 days. 3. The development of UDP-glucuronyltransferase activity in cultured chick-embryo liver requires certain serum factors in the medium. The requirements change with embryo age. Liver from embryos younger than 15 days develops enzyme activity equally well in media containing either foetal or adult serum; liver from embryos older than 16 days develops activity only with adult serum. The development of enzyme activity in liver from the older embryos appears to be stimulated by diffusible factors in adult serum and inhibited by diffusible factors in foetal serum. It is suggested that the stimulation and inhibition of enzyme formation by small, diffusible molecules may be part of the mechanism regulating UDP-glucuronyltransferase activity in vivo. 4. Liver from 19-day-old chick embryos cultured with foetal serum begins to develop UDP-glucuronyltransferase activity if transferred to an adult-serum medium. Its capacity to develop UDP-glucuronyltransferase activity in adult serum survives in a foetal-serum medium for at least 5 days, the longest period tested. 5. The activity of UDP-glucuronyltransferase reached in 19-day chick-embryo liver after 1 or 2 days with adult serum is maintained without further increase after transfer to a foetal-serum medium. After 3 days with adult serum UDP-glucuronyltransferase activity continues to increase when the tissue is transferred to a foetal-serum medium. Thus liver from 19-day-old embryos requires 3 days with adult serum before development of enzyme activity becomes independent of a continuous adult-serum environment.     

Bilirubin mono- and di-glucuronide formation by purified rat liver microsomal bilirubin UDP-glucuronyltransferase.

Highly purified bilirubin UDP-glucuronyltransferase from Wistar-rat liver, when reconstituted with Gunn-rat liver microsomes (microsomal fraction), was able to catalyse the conversion of unesterified bilirubin into both bilirubin monoglucuronide and diglucuronide. Under zero-order kinetic conditions for monoglucuronide formation, the fraction of bilirubin diglucuronide formed by incubation of bilirubin with the reconstituted highly purified transferase accounted for 18% of total bilirubin glucuronides, which was only slightly lower than the fraction of diglucuronides (23% of total bilirubin glucuronides) formed by incubation with hepatic microsomes in the presence of UDP-N-acetylglucosamine or Lubrol. The reconstituted purified enzyme also catalysed the UDP-glucuronic acid-dependent conversion of bilirubin monoglucuronide into diglucuronide and, when bilirubin was incubated with UDP-glucose or UDP-xylose, the formation of bilirubin glucosides and xylosides respectively. These results suggest that a single microsomal bilirubin UDP-glycosyltransferase may be responsible for the formation of bilirubin mono- and di-glycosides.     

Phospholipid content and activity of pure uridine diphosphate-glucuronyltransferase from rat liver.

Rat liver phospholipids were radioactively labeled in vivo before purification of UDP-glucuronyltransferase to homogeneity. The pure enzyme contained very little phospholipid (approx. 0.7 mol of phospholipid/mol of protein). The solubilization detergent Lubrol 12A9 appeared to act as a phospholipid substitute, capable of supporting UDP-glucuronyltransferase activity. Phospholipase C did not inhibit the pure enzyme activity and pure UDP-glucuronyltransferase was stimulated by 40--100% by the addition of phospholipid dispersions.     

Determination of bilirubin glucuronide and assay of glucuronyltransferase with bilirubin as acceptor

1. Conjugated bilirubin is conveniently determined by coupling with the diazonium salt of ethyl anthranilate. 2. This method has been used in the development of assays for UDP-glucuronyltransferase (EC 2.4.1.17), with bilirubin as substrate, in rat liver homogenates, microsomal preparations and partly purified fractions. 3. Chromatographic analysis suggests that bilirubin monoglucuronide is the product of the enzyme systems studied.     

Altered sexual differentiation of hepatic uridine diphosphate glucuronyltransferase by neonatal hormone treatment in rats

The hepatic microsomal enzyme UDP-glucuronyltransferase undergoes a complex developmental pattern in which enzyme activity is first detectable on the 18th day of gestation in rats. Prepubertal activities are similar for males and females. However, postpubertal sexual differentiation of enzyme activity occurs in which male activities are twice those of females. Neonatal administration of testosterone propionate or diethylstilboestrol to intact animals resulted in lowered UDP-glucuronyltransferase activity in liver microsomal fractions of adult male rats, whereas no changes were observed in the adult females and prepubertal male and female animals. Neonatal administration of testosterone propionate and diethylstilboestrol adversely affected male reproductive-tract development as evidenced by decreased weights of testes, seminal vesicles and ventral prostate. Diethylstilboestrol also markedly decreased spermatogenesis. Hypophysectomy of adult male rats resulted in negative modulation of microsomal UDP-glucuronyltransferase and prevented the sexual differentiation of enzyme activity. In contrast hypophysectomy had no effect on female UDP-glucuronyltransferase activity. A pituitary transplant under the kidney capsule was not capable of reversing the enzyme effects of hypophysectomy, therefore suggesting that the male pituitary factor(s) responsible for positive modulation of UDP-glucuronyltransferase might be under hypothalamic control in the form of a releasing factor. Neonatal testosterone propionate and diethylstilboestrol administration apparently interfered with the normal sequence of postpubertal UDP-glucuronyltransferase sexual differentiation.     

Purification of rat-liver microsomal UDP-glucuronyltransferase. Separation of two enzyme forms inducible by 3-methylcholanthrene or phenobarbital.

Glucuronidation reactions catalysed by rat liver microsomal UDP-glucuronyltransferase are differentially inducible by 3-methylcholanthrene and phenobarbital. To elucidate the molecular basis of this functional heterogeneity the enzyme was purified from livers of rats pretreated with the inducing agents. Using cholate solubilization, chromatography on Bio-Gel A-1.5m and on DEAE-cellulose in the presence of the nonionic detergent Brij 58, two enzyme forms could be separated. Both forms were subsequently purified to apparent homogeneity by affinity chromatography on UDP-hexanolamine Sepharose 4B, 3-Methylcholanthrene-inducible enzyme activity towards 1-naphthol, 4-nitrophenol, 3-hydroxybenzo(a)pyrene and N-hydroxy-2-naphthylamine copurified with one enzyme form (enzyme 1). In contrast phenobarbital-inducible enzyme activity towards morphine, chloramphenicol and 4-hydroxybiphenyl was associated with the other enzyme fraction (enzyme 2). Sodium dodecylsulfate/polyacrylamide gels showed similar molecular weights of 54000 for enzyme 1 and 56000 for enzyme 2. The results suggest the presence of at least two forms of UDP-glucuronyltransferase in rat liver. Factors affecting enzyme activity in purified and membrane-bound states are discussed.     

Alkyl dihydroxyacetone phosphate synthase in human fibroblasts and its deficiency in Zellweger syndrome

The cerebro-hepato-renal (Zellweger) syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder biochemically characterized by the absence of morphologically distinguishable peroxisomes. Key enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of ether phospholipids, i.e., dihydroxyacetone phosphate acyltransferase and alkyl dihydroxyacetone phosphate synthase, are located in mammalian (micro)peroxisomes. We have previously shown a strikingly reduced activity of dihydroxyacetone phosphate acyltransferase in liver, brain, and cultured skin fibroblasts from Zellweger patients (Schutgens et al. 1984. Biochim. Biophys. Res. Commun. 120: 179-184). We have now extended these investigations by studying alkyl dihydroxyacetone phosphate synthase in cultured human skin fibroblasts. Enzymatic activity was determined by measuring the formation of radioactive alkyl dihydroxyacetone phosphate from palmitoyl dihydroxyacetone phosphate and [1-14C]hexadecanol as substrates. The enzyme was optimally active at pH 8.5 and was stimulated (about 2-3-fold) by the presence of 0.05% (v/v) Triton X-100. The apparent KM values for the enzyme in control fibroblasts amounted to 35 microM for palmitoyl dihydroxyacetone phosphate and 90 microM for hexadecanol. The reaction became inhibited at higher concentrations of both Triton X-100 and palmitoyl dihydroxyacetone phosphate. Control skin fibroblasts showed alkyl dihydroxyacetone phosphate synthase activity of 69 +/- 28 pmol X min-1 X mg-1 (n = 7), while fibroblasts from patients had an activity of only 6.3 +/- 1.7 pmol X min-1 X mg-1 (n = 7). Alkyl dihydroxyacetone phosphate synthase was also found to be deficient in tissue homogenates of Zellweger patients. The specific activity of this enzyme in liver, kidney, and brain homogenates from Zellweger patients was less than 15% of that in the corresponding tissues from controls.     

Purification and properties of 5-hydroxytryptamine UDP-glucuronyltransferase from rat liver microsomes

5-Hydroxytryptamine UDP-glucuronyltransferase was highly purified from untreated rat liver microsomes. The specific activity towards 5-hydroxytryptamine was increased 178-fold over the starting solubilized microsomes with a final yield of 3%. The final preparation contained two major and one minor Coomassie brilliant blue staining polypeptide bands visible after SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. One of the major bands was identified as 3-methylcholanthrene-inducible UDP-glucuronyltransferase, so the other (molecular weight of 55,500) appeared to be 5-hydroxytryptamine UDP-glucuronyltransferase. Concanavalin A reacted with the 55,500-dalton polypeptide. Phospholipid was indispensable for the enzyme activity. The enzyme activity in the final preparation was activated by divalent cations. Simple Michaelis-Menten kinetics were followed with respect to 5-hydroxytryptamine, but deviations from this kinetics were observed with respect to UDP-glucuronic acid and Mg2+. As regards Mg2+ stimulation, further experiments indicated that the added Mg2+ was non-competitive with 5-hydroxytryptamine, but at low concentrations of Mg2+ it was competitive with UDP-glucuronic acid and at high concentrations of Mg2+ it was non-competitive with UDP-glucuronic acid. The final preparation showed high substrate specificity towards 5-hydroxytryptamine among endogenous substrates tested. From these results, it was concluded that the enzyme described here is a new form of UDP-glucuronyltransferase isozyme, and its activity showed a peculiar dependence on Mg2+.     

Identification of increased amounts of UDP-glucuronyltransferase protein in phenobarbital-treated chick-embryo liver cells.

UDP-glucuronyltransferase activity of neonatal-chick liver or phenobarbital-treated chick-embryo liver catalysed the glucuronidation of 1-naphthol, 4-nitrophenol and 2-aminophenol. Only low transferase activity towards testosterone was detected, and activity towards bilirubin was not detectable. Liver microsomal transferase activity towards the three phenols was increased approx. 20-50-fold by phenobarbital treatment of chick embryos or by transfer of liver cells into tissue culture. A single form of UDP-glucuronyltransferase, which appears to catalyse the glucuronidation of these three phenols, was purified to near homogeneity from phenobarbital-treated chick-embryo liver microsomal fraction for the first time. The use of this purified enzyme as a standard protein facilitated the identification of this protein in chick-embryo liver microsomal fraction. Further, the accumulation of this microsomal protein was observed following phenobarbital treatment of chick embryos and during tissue culture of chick-embryo liver cells. The value of this model system for the study of the induction of UDP-glucuronyltransferase by drugs and hormones is discussed.     

Substrate specificity and properties of uridine diphosphate glucuronyltransferase purified to apparent homogeneity from phenobarbital-treated rat liver.

1. The purification to homogeneity of stable highly active preparations of UDP-glucuronyltransferase from liver of phenobarbital-treated rats is briefly described. 2. A single polypeptide was visible after sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis, of mol.wt.57000. 3. Antiserum raised against the pure enzyme produces a single sharp precipitin line after Ouchterlony double-diffusion analysis. 4. The pure UDP-glucuronyltransferase isolated from livers of untreated and phenobarbital-pretreated rats appears to be the same enzyme. 5. The Km (UDP-glucuronic acid) of the pure enzyme is 5.4 mM. 6. The activity of the pure enzyme towards 2-aminophenol can still be activated 2-3-fold by diethylnitrosamine. 7. UDP-glucose and UDP-galacturonic acid are not substrates for the purified enzyme. 8. The final preparation catalysed the glucuronidation of 4-nitrophenol, 1-naphthol, 2-aminophenol, morphine and 2-aminobenzoate. 9. Activities towards 4-nitrophenol, 1-naphthol and 2-aminophenol were all copurified. The proposed heterogeneity of UDP-glucuronyltransferase is discussed.     

Assay and properties of digitonin-activated bilirubin uridine diphosphate glucuronyltransferase from rat liver

1. The bilirubin UDP-glucuronyltransferase assay described by Van Roy & Heirwegh (1968) has been improved. 2. Extraction of final azo-derivatives is rendered more simple and efficient by thorough emulsification and by cooling. 3. Pretreatment of homogenates and cell fractions with digitonin increases the sensitivity of the assays and gives less variable results than those with untreated preparations. The activation procedure is flexible. 4. Blank values (obtained from incubation mixtures from which activating bivalent metal ion and UDP-glucuronic acid were omitted) are low. No endogenous conjugate formation could be detected except with untreated, fresh liver homogenates. Control incubation mixtures containing the latter preparations are preferably kept at 0 degrees C. 5. With activated microsomal preparations, rates of breakdown of UDP-glucuronic acid (as monitored by release of P(i)) were low. Little if any increase in enzyme activity was found when UDP-N-acetylglucosamine was included in the incubation mixtures. 6. Slight deviation from Michaelis-Menten kinetics with respect to bilirubin observed at low substrate concentrations is probably related to the use of binding protein in the assay mixtures. Michaelis-Menten kinetics were followed with respect to UDP-glucuronic acid. Part of the enzyme in microsomal preparations from rat liver functioned independently of added bivalent metal ions. Mn(2+) was slightly more, and Ca(2+) somewhat less, stimulatory than Mg(2+). The Mg(2+)-dependent fraction showed Michaelis-Menten kinetics with respect to the added Mg(2+). 7. The enzyme activities found were higher than values reported in the literature for untreated or purified preparations from rat liver. They were above reported values of the maximal biliary excretion rate of bilirubin.     

Studies of the catalytic mechanism of microsomal UDP-glucuronyltransferase. Alpha-glucuronidase activity and its stimulation by phospholipids

The rate at which a specific, purified form of microsomal UDP-glucuronyltransferase (designated as the GT2P type of this enzyme) catalyzes the hydrolysis of UDP-glucuronic acid was measured with pure, delipidated enzyme and enzyme reconstituted with different lysophosphatidylcholines. This activity of the GT2P type of UDP-glucuronyltransferase is referred to as alpha-glucuronidase activity. For delipidated enzyme, the rate of hydrolysis of UDP-glucuronic acid catalyzed by GT2P extrapolated to infinite concentrations of UDP-glucuronic acid was 1 X 10(-9) mol/min/mg of protein. This compares with a rate of glucuronidation of p-nitrophenol of 96 X 10(-9) mol/min/mg of enzyme, for delipidated enzyme. Addition of oleoyl- or myristoyllysophosphatidylcholine to GT2P did not affect the alpha-glucuronidase activity significantly. This activity was stimulated, however, in the presence of compounds that bind at the aglycone site but that do not undergo glucuronidation. alpha-Glucuronidase activity extrapolated to infinite concentration of UDP-glucuronic acid was 4.0 X 10(-9) mol/min/mg for delipidated enzyme assayed in the presence of less than saturating concentrations of p-nitrophenyl phenyl ether. Moreover, when the aglycone site of GT2P was occupied by ethers, the alpha-glucuronidase activity of this enzyme was enhanced by addition of phospholipids to delipidated enzyme. The extent of activation of the alpha-glucuronidase activity of GT2P, when the aglycone site was occupied, depended on the acyl chain of the lipid added to delipidated enzyme. These data indicate that the GT2P form of UDP-glucuronyltransferase catalyzes the hydrolysis of UDP-glucuronic acid at a significant rate and that lysophosphatidylcholines can influence this rate.     

Inhibition of carbonyl reductase activity in pig heart by alkyl phenyl ketones

The inhibitory effects of alkyl phenyl ketones on carbonyl reductase activity were examined in pig heart. In this study, carbonyl reductase activity was estimated as the ability to reduce 4-benzoylpyridine to S(-)-alpha-phenyl-4-pyridylmethanol in the cytosolic fraction from pig heart (pig heart cytosol). The order of their inhibitory potencies was hexanophenone > valerophenone > heptanophenone > butyrophenone > propiophenone. The inhibitory potencies of acetophenone and nonanophenone were much lower. A significant relationship was observed between Vmax/Km values for the reduction of alkyl phenyl ketones and their inhibitory potencies for carbonyl reductase activity in pig heart cytosol. Furthermore, hexanophenone was a competitive inhibitor for the enzyme activity. These results indicate that several alkyl phenyl ketones including hexanophenone inhibit carbonyl reductase activity in pig heart cytosol, by acting as substrate inhibitors.     

Effects of sorghum grain tannins and dietary protein on the activity of liver UDP-glucuronyltransferase

The activity of liver microsomal UDP-glucuronyltransferase (EC 2.4.1.17), an enzyme known to detoxify phenolic compounds, was measured in chicks and rats fed high- (HTS) and low-tannin sorghums (LTS). In an initial investigation, activity was significantly elevated in chicks fed HTS-soybean meal diets over those fed the LTS control diet. Other studies were designed to differentiate between the effects due to tannin and those resulting from a protein deficiency which had previously been reported to increase the activity of this enzyme. In general, only a relatively small part of the increased activity observed by feeding HTS to chicks could be attributed to a tannin-induced protein deficiency. The same phenomenon of elevated activity produced by feeding HTS to chicks was not observed in the rat. These results would suggest that sorghum tannins, or their breakdown products, are absorbed and activating UDP-glucuronyltransferase in the chick, but not the rat.     

Subcellular distribution and regulation of hepatic bilirubin UDP-glucuronyltransferase

We have investigated the subcellular location and regulation of hepatic bilirubin UDP-glucuronyltransferase, which has been presumed to be located largely in the smooth endoplasmic reticulum. Purity of subcellular membrane fractions isolated from rat liver was assessed by electron microscopy and marker enzymes. Bilirubin UDP-glucuronyltransferase activity was measured by radiochemical assay using a physiologic concentration of [14C]bilirubin, and formation rates of bilirubin diglucuronide and monoglucuronides (C-8 and C-12 isomers) were determined. Activity of the enzyme was widely distributed in subcellular membranes, the majority being found in smooth and rough endoplasmic reticulum, with small amounts in nuclear envelope and Golgi membranes. No measurable activity was found in plasma membranes or in cytosol. Synthesis of bilirubin diglucuronide as a percentage of total conjugates and the ratio of C-8/C-12 bilirubin monoglucuronide isomers formed were comparable in all membranes, suggesting that the same enzyme is present in all locations. However, the regulation of bilirubin UDP-glucuronyltransferase activity differed among intracellular membranes; enzyme activity measured in the presence of the allosteric effector uridine 5'-diphospho-N-acetylglucosamine exhibited latency in smooth endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi membranes, but not in rough endoplasmic reticulum and nuclear envelope. Since rough membranes comprise 60% of hepatocyte endoplasmic reticulum and bilirubin UDP-glucuronyltransferase activity in vitro is maximal in this membrane fraction under presumed physiologic conditions, it is likely that the rough endoplasmic reticulum represents the major site of bilirubin glucuronidation in hepatocytes.     

Steroid glucuronyltransferases of rat liver. Properties of oestrone and testosterone glucuronyltransferases and the effect of ovariectomy, castration and administration of steroids on the enzymes.

1. Microsomal preparations from rat liver, kidney and intestine were tested for UDP-glucuronyltransferase activity by using oestrone, oestradiol-17 beta, oestriol, testosterone, cortisol, cortisone, corticosterone, aldosterone, tetrahydrocortisol and tetrahydrocortisone as substrates. The microsomal preparation from the liver glucuronidated oestrone, oestradiol-17 beta and testosterone. 2. The specific activity of the enzyme was significantly higher in livers from female rats than in those from male rats. 3. Testosterone was actively glucuronidated by both sexes. Cortisol, cortisone, corticosterone, aldosterone, tetrahydrocortisol and tetrahydrocortisone were not glucuronidated by any of the three tissues. 4. The non-ionic detergent Lubrol WX activates liver microsomal UDP-glucuronyltransferase 2-3-fold with oestrone and testosterone as substrates. 5. Oestrone glucuronyltransferase was inhibited by oestradiol-17 beta, predominantly competitively and by testosterone non-competitively. Bilirubin was a non-competitive inhibitor of oestrone glucuronidation. p-Nitrophenol had no effect. 6. Oestrone glucuronyltransferase could not be stimulated by either acute or prolonged treatment of animals with phenobarbital, whereas a single dose of 3-methylcholanthrene led to a moderate stimulation. 7. Ovariectomy leads to a 56% decrease in oestrone glucuronyltransferase activity; administration of oestradiol-17 beta induces the enzyme to normal activity after 12 days, and after 15 days the activity is twice the control value. Actinomycin D and cycloheximide block the oestradiol-17 beta-induced increase in enzyme activity. 8. Castration has no effect on the activity of testosterone glucuronyltransferase, nor does administration of testosterone influence enzyme activity. The results provide strong evidence for the existence of multiple steroid glucuronyltransferases in the liver of the rat.     

The phospholipid-dependence of uridine diphosphate glucuronyltransferase. Effect of protein deficiency on the phospholipid composition and enzyme activity of rat liver microsomal fraction

After force-feeding a protein-free diet to male rats for 5-7 days a substantial (2.4-fold) increase in the specific activity of the liver microsomal enzyme UDP-glucuronyltransferase (EC 2.4.1.17) was observed. A similar activation of the enzyme occurred when rats were fed on a low-protein (5%, w/w, casein) diet for 60 days. Although both the short- and long-term protein-deficient diets decreased the contents of microsomal protein and phospholipid in liver tissue they did not significantly alter the ratio of these major membrane components. Protein deficiency profoundly altered the phospholipid composition of microsomal membranes. The most striking difference in microsomal phospholipid composition between control and protein-deficient rats was their content of lysophosphatides. Whereas microsomal membranes from protein-deficient rats contained significant proportions of lysophosphatidylcholine and lysophosphatidylethanolamine very little or no lysophosphatides were detected in control preparations. Pretreatment of microsomal fractions from normal rats with phospholipase A markedly increased their UDP-glucuronyltransferase activity as did their pretreatment with lysophosphatidylcholine. It is concluded that the quantities of lysophosphatides present in microsomal membranes from protein-deficient rats were sufficient to have caused the increased UDP-glucuronyltransferase activities of these preparations. Evidence is presented suggesting that these changes in microsomal phospholipid composition and UDP-glucuronyltransferase activity caused by protein deficiency reflect changes that occur in vivo. The possible physiological significance of these findings is discussed.     

Enzymic oxidation of unconjugated bilirubin by rat liver.

The presence of the enzyme bilirubin oxidase, which degrades bilirubin in vitro, was demonstrated in the liver. Subcellular-fractionation experiments indicate that bilirubin oxidase is located in both the inner and outer membranes of the mitochondria. The mean rate of the reaction is 1.57 +/- 0.38 (S.D.) nmol of bilirubin degraded/min per mg of mitochondrial protein (munits/mg of protein). With respect to the overall breakdown of bilirubin, the enzyme has a Km' of 136 microM-bilirubin and a Vmax.' of 9.13 munits/mg of protein. Its activity is influenced by the ionic strength of the media and is inhibited by KCN, thiol reagents, NADH and albumin. The enzyme is aerobic, and between 1 and 1.5 mol of O2 are consumed per mol of bilirubin degraded. The products of the reaction include propentdyopents. The hepatic bilirubin oxidase activity of the jaundiced Gunn-rat liver is not significantly different from that of the Sprague-Dawley rat, and it is not induced by beta-naphthoflavone.