title: H.p.l.c. separation and study of the charge isomers of human placental glutathione transferase.
abstract: Glutathione transferase (GST) from human placenta was purified by affinity chromatography and anion-exchange h.p.l.c. The enzyme exhibited different chromatographic and electrophoretic behaviours according to the concentration of GSH, suggesting a possible change in the net charge of the molecule and a concomitant conformational change due to ligand binding. Two interconvertible forms were quantitatively separated into distinct catalytically active states by h.p.l.c. Depending upon the GSH concentration, polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis revealed the presence of one or two bands. A Kd of 0.42 mM for GSH was determined fluorimetrically. The loss in intrinsic fluorescence also suggested a conformational change in the enzyme. Kinetic studies using ethacrynic acid were conducted to determine whether the presumed conformational change could effect the catalytic capability of placental GST. A biphasic response in initial velocities was observed with increasing concentrations of GSH. Two apparent Km values of 0.38 and 50.27 mM were obtained for GSH, whereas Vmax. values showed a 46-fold difference. It was concluded that the enzyme assumes a highly anionic form in the presence of a low GSH concentration, whereas it is converted into relatively weaker anionic form when its immediate environment contains a high GSH concentration. Since the average tissue concentration of total GSH was estimated at 0.11 mM for term placenta, the results suggest that the high-affinity-low-activity conformer would predominate in vivo.
mesh_terms: D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005260:Female; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007700:Kinetics; D010920:Placenta / Q000201:enzymology*; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D007527:Isoenzymes; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D005978:Glutathione