title: Role of calcium fluxes in the action of glucagon on cytosolic glutathione S-transferase activity in rat liver slices.
abstract: In a previous study we demonstrated that the administration of 20 micrograms/kg b.wt. of glucagon to rats caused a significant diminution of hepatic cytosolic glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity. This inhibition was non-competitive and reversible. We suggested that the effect would be mediated by cytosolic effectors. The present work was performed to characterize the mechanism involved in this inhibition. Liver tissue slices (170 to 200 mg) were incubated during different periods of time (0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 30 min.) with several concentrations of glucagon (10(-5) M, 10(-8) M and 10(-10) M), dibutiryl cyclic AMP (10(-4) M, 10(-6) M and 10(-9) M), divalent cation ionophore A23187 (10(-4) M, 10(-6) M and 10(-9) M) or vasopressin (10(-7) M, 5 x 10(-7) M and 10(-8) M). The incubation was done with or without calcium in the medium. In all cases the cytosolic GST activity were determined in liver slices. The percentage of inhibition of GST activity was directly related to the increase of concentration of the test substances. An inhibition between 40% to 45% after 10 min. of incubation with the highest concentrations was observed (except vasopressin which caused 10% of inhibition). 10(-10) M glucagon did not produce a decrease of GST activity. The inhibition disappeared in calcium-free incubated slices, but direct relationship between plasma-membrane calcium influx and inhibition of GST activity (r = 0.950, P < 0.001, n = 24) could be obtained. By using calmodulin antagonists, we conclude that the inhibition process of the enzyme was mediated by calmodulin. In summary, we propose that plasma-membrane calcium influx induced by high concentrations of glucagon activates calmodulin, which promotes a modification (actually a methylation, according to other authors) on GST, thereby causing a decrease in its activity.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Physiology, CONICET-UNR, Faculty of Biochemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rosario, Argentina.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Monti
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Carnovale
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scapini
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Favre
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Carrillo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000001:Calcimycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology*; D002147:Calmodulin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology; D003600:Cytosol / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D005934:Glucagon / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D007466:Iodophors / Q000494:pharmacology; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D002147:Calmodulin; D007466:Iodophors; D000001:Calcimycin; D005934:Glucagon; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D002118:Calcium