title: Subcellular localization of gamma-glutamyltransferase activity in guinea pig liver. Effect of phenobarbital on the enzyme activity levels.
abstract: The localization of gamma-glutamyltransferase activity in guinea pig liver was studied after subcellular fractionation. The enzyme activity was essentially connected with plasma membranes whereas only low activity was found in the endoplasmic reticulum. A similar activity distribution was demonstrated for 5'-nucleotidase. Highest specific activity of gamma-glutamyltransferase was found in plasma membranes enriched in bile canaliculi. In this fraction the specific activity was 35 times greater than the specific activity of the total homogenate, a value similar to the relative specific activity of (Na+,K+)-ATPase. More than 90% of the total gamma-glutamyltransferase activity in guinea pig liver was connected with parenchymal cells and the enzyme seemed to have an outside orientation. Animals treated with phenobarbital showed moderate increased in gamma-glutamyltransferase activity in serum and liver, whereas high activities were found in most bile samples. No particular liver subfraction showed substantial accumulation of gamma-glutamyltransferase activity. The present findings do not support the suggested use of serum gamma-glutamyltransferase measurements as a direct index of "microsomal enzyme induction".
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000201:enzymology; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D008862:Microsomes, Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D010206:Papain; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D010206:Papain; D010634:Phenobarbital