Alteration of liver glutathione S-transferase and protease activities by cobalt chloride treatment of rats.

Abstract

Effects of cobalt chloride on liver glutathione S-transferase and protease activities were studied. When cobalt chloride (60 mg/kg) was given to rats, liver microsomal glutathione S-transferase and protease activities were significantly increased 24 hr after the injection, whereas glutathione peroxidase activity in microsomes was decreased. The increase in glutathione S-transferase by N-ethylmaleimide was similar to that of the control, indicating that the increase in the transferase activity by cobalt chloride is not due to a modification of the sulfhydryl group of the enzyme. Immunochemical analysis of the liver microsomes did not detect any proteolytic product of microsomal glutathione S-transferase. In puromycin- or actinomycin D-treated rats, an increase in the transferase activity caused by cobalt chloride treatment was depressed. Thus it was suggested that liver microsomal glutathione S-transferase is induced by cobalt chloride treatment, but not activated by limited proteolysis via microsomal protease.