Glutathione S-transferase Subunits Research Articles

Increase in the amount of glutathione transferase 4-4 in the rat adrenal gland after hypophysectomy and down-regulation by subsequent treatment with adrenocorticotrophic hormone

The effect of hypophysectomy and subsequent treatment with adrenocorticotropic hormone (adrenocorticotropin, ACTH) on the isoenzymes of glutathione transferase in the rat adrenal gland was investigated. A large increase (approx. 11-fold) in the level of transferase subunit 4 was observed in hypophysectomized animals by immunoblotting. When the activity of glutathione transferase 4-4 was measured in adrenal cytosol using trans-stilbene oxide as a selective substrate, a 15-fold increase was noted. Lack of the pituitary hormone ACTH is apparently related to this increase, since treatment of hypophysectomized animals with ACTH for 2 weeks partially down-regulated subunit 4. Glutathione transferase subunits 3 and 8 in the adrenal were also increased in amount by hypophysectomy, but not at all to the same extent. The activity of glutathione transferase 4-4 was elevated also in the liver and ovary (5 and 1.5 times respectively) after hypophysectomy. These elevated enzyme levels were, however, not affected by ACTH treatment. This down-regulation of glutathione transferases in the rat adrenal by ACTH may be related to the fact that, under normal conditions, this organ is highly susceptible to the toxic effects of various polycyclic hydrocarbons, whereas under circumstances where there is no ACTH production, as in hypophysectomized rats, the adrenal is resistant to these same hydrocarbons.

Glutathione S-transferase and glutathione peroxidase expression in normal and tumour human tissues

Glutathione S-transferases play a central role in drug detoxification and have been implicated in the sensitivity of tumour cells to anticancer drugs. In this study, glutathione S-transferase (GST) isozyme expression in normal and tumour tissue from human lung, colon, stomach, breast, kidney and liver tissue has been quantified using sensitive and subunit specific radioimmunoassays (RIA), together with Western blot analysis and measurement of substrate metabolism. Glutathione S-transferase pi was the predominant GST in the majority of the tumours examined. The concentration of this enzyme was increased significantly in tumour tissue relative to normal lung, colon, and stomach tissue. A strong correlation was observed (r = 0.77, P less than 0.01) between GST activity and GST pi levels in those tumour samples. The concentrations of the alpha class GST, the predominant isoenzymes in normal stomach, kidney and liver, decreased dramatically in tumour tissue from these organs. Western blot analysis revealed the presence of novel polypeptides that cross-reacted with antisera raised against alpha and mu class GST. Our data demonstrates that although GST pi is the predominant GST isoenzyme in many tumours, significant levels of the other GST subunits are also present and collectively can represent a significant proportion of the GST content. Therefore the properties of all the GST isoenzymes need consideration when assessing the role of these proteins in drug resistance. Selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase, an enzyme activity also implicated in the mode of action of certain antitumour agents, was also studied and shown to be the predominant glutathione-dependent peroxidase in all tumours except the hepatoma.

Expression of glutathione S-transferases and cytochrome P450 in normal and tumor breast tissue

The level of expression of glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) and cytochrome P450s in breast tissue are potentially important determinants in both the susceptibility of this tissue to the mutagenic effects of chemical carcinogens and in the response of breast tumors to chemotherapy. In this study we have investigated the expression of these proteins in 41 tumor and surrounding normal breast tissue samples by measurement of substrate metabolism. Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. In addition, we have quantitated the concentration of alpha, mu and pi class GST subunits using radioimmunoassay. All three classes of GST were expressed in breast tissue. The pi and mu class enzymes preponderate. Both the polymorphic mu class GST as well as a further form, present in all individuals, were found in high concentration. The polymorphic mu class GST was expressed in approximately 50% of the samples, which is consistent with the frequency of this polymorphism in the population and therefore does not appear to be a factor in susceptibility to this disease. Interestingly, although levels of the alpha class GST were very low, in two tumor samples extremely high levels of the B1B1 subunit were detected. Immunohistochemical studies showed significant variability in the localization of the pi class of GST between normal epithelial cells, infiltrating plasma cells and tumor cells, and in some samples GST pi appeared to be almost absent from the tumor tissue. No direct, or inverse correlation was found between GST pi concentration determined by radioimmunoassay and estrogen receptor levels. However, when studied by immunohistochemistry estrogen receptor negative tumors did tend to have higher GST pi content. The only cytochrome P450 detectable by Western blot analysis was a member of the P450IIC gene family. This was apparently distinct from the P450IIC proteins expressed in the liver and was detected in normal and tumor tissues to a similar extent.

Expression of immunoreactive glutathione S-transferases in hepatic neoplasms induced by aflatoxin B1 or 1,2-dimethylbenzanthracene in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

The expression of immunoreactive glutathione S-transferase (GST) was examined in hepatic neoplasms induced in rainbow trout by aflatoxin B1 (AFB) or 1,2-dimethylbenzanthracene (DMBA). Tumors were induced in adult trout by continuous dietary exposure to 8 p.p.b. AFB1 for 12 months or embryo bath exposure to DMBA (5 p.p.m. for 24 h, 3 times with 12 h intervals between exposures). Polyclonal antiserum specific for the two major trout hepatic GST subunits in trout liver was produced by immunizing rabbits with affinity-purified trout GST. Hepatocellular, cholangiolar and mixed neoplasms as well as foci of hepatocellular alteration were examined for GST immunoreactivity by the PAP technique. The majority of lesions were GST-deficient (AFB treated, 67%; DMBA treated, 54%), whereas GST expression was induced in 21% (AFB treated) and 31% (DMBA treated) of altered hepatic foci. The GST-induced foci were consistently small (AFB treated, 0.07 +/- 0.05 mm2; DMBA treated, 0.02 +/- 0.01 mm2) and none had progressed beyond the altered focus stage. The majority of larger advanced lesions (adenomas and carcinomas) were GST deficient (AFB treated, 2.33 +/- 0.35 mm2; DMBA treated, 2.95 +/- 0.59 mm2). These studies demonstrate that induced GST expression occurs in some small populations of hepatocytes, but not in larger advanced stages of malignant progression of aflatoxin- or PAH-induced hepatic neoplasms in rainbow trout.

Regulation of glutathione S-transferase subunits 3 and 4 in cultured rat hepatocytes

mRNA levels of glutathione S-transferase (GST) subunits 3 and 4 were measured with a specific cDNA probe in adult rat hepatocytes maintained either in conventional culture or in coculture with rat liver epithelial cells. Four media conditions were used, i.e. with or without fetal calf serum (FCS) and with nicotinamide or dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). When FCS was present in the culture medium, GST subunit 3 and 4 mRNAs were expressed at a level close to that found in freshly isolated hepatocytes during the whole culture period both in conventional culture and in coculture. All other culture conditions resulted in an increase of GST 3 and 4 mRNA levels. After exposure to phenobarbital an increase in GST 3 and 4 mRNA levels was demonstrated in both culture systems. Comparison with previous findings on the expression of GST subunits 1, 2 and 7 in the same culture conditions indicates that the different classes of GST are regulated independently.

The major source of endogenous prostaglandin D2 production is likely antigen-presenting cells. Localization of glutathione-requiring prostaglandin D synthetase in histiocytes, dendritic, and Kupffer cells in various rat tissues.

The cellular localization of glutathione-requiring PGD synthetase, which catalyzes the predominant formation of PGD2 in various peripheral tissues, was investigated in adult rats by immunoperoxidase-staining with a polyclonal antibody specific for this enzyme. Although the 25 N-terminal amino acid residues of synthetase are 56% identical and 76% similar to those of several rat glutathione S-transferase subunits, the antibody cross-reacted only with synthetase in dot blotting and was nearly completely inactive with all transferase isozymes thus far purified. In Western blotting after SDS-PAGE of crude extracts of rat spleen, the antibody showed a single positive band at the same position as that of the purified enzyme (Mr = 26,000). The positive immunocytochemical stain was found in a number of histiocytes and/or dendritic cells in spleen, thymus, and Peyer's patch of intestine. The immunostain was also observed in such cells in lamina propria of the villus in small intestine and colon, in submucosal layer of stomach, and in Kupffer cells in liver. Immunoelectron microscopy confirmed that immunoreactivity of this enzyme was distributed in cytoplasm of those cells. Such immunoreactive cells were not observed in brain, spinal cord, kidney, heart, testis, and skeletal muscle. These observations suggest that PGD2 is produced by glutathione-requiring PGD synthetase localized in these types of APC in various tissues and may play a critical role in dictating the progression of immune responses.

Glutathione S-transferase in cestodes

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are multifunctional proteins widely distributed as isomeric forms in both the plant and animal kingdom [ 11. They can function as enzymes, using the glutathione thiolate anion as co-substrate to interact with a multitude of electrophilic second substrates; a number of GST isoenzymes may also be intracellular binding proteins for hydrophobic ligands [2,3]. A major advance in the understanding of GST biology was the division of mammalian cytosolic isoenzymes into three species-independent families, Alpha, Mu and Pi, using differences in biochemical and physical properties 141. GSTs arc associated with Phase I1 detoxification of exogenously derived (xenobiotics) and endogenously derived toxic compounds including secondary products of lipid peroxidation [ 11. A number of GST isoenzymes may have more specific functions with physiological substrates, including a role in leukotriene synthesis 151 and as intracellular transport proteins for haem 161. The GSTs have been implicated in the development of drug resistance in mammalian tumours [7], insects 181, fungi 191 and plants [ 101. This report summarizes our investigations into the possible roles of GSTs in cestodes. The majority of the GST activity was detected in the cytosolic fraction of the cestode cell. The cytosolic GST activity in Motiieziu expunsu and Schistocephulus solidus (plerocercoid) was purified by glutathione-affinity chromatography 11 I I and apparent isoenzymes were resolved by chromatofocusing. The cytosolic GST activity in Hymenolepsis diminutu did not bind to the glutathione-affinity column until a high molecular mass factor was removed from the sample preparation by hydroxyapatite chromatography or by chromatofocusing. Four apparent near neutral/acidic GST isoenzymes were resolved from the three cestodes by chromatofocusing and purity was confirmed by SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis and analytical isoelectric focusing. The major GSTs of M . expansa and S. solidus (plerocercoid) cytosol showed a relationship to the Mu group of mammalian GSTs in terms of substrate specificity and inhibitor sensitivity, including sensitivity to the Mu inhibitor markers Cibacron Blue and triphenyltin chloride and significant catalytic activity with a Mu marker substrate trans-4phenyl-3-buten-2-one. The N-terminal of the major M . expansa and S . solidus (plerocercoid) GST subunits had sequence homology with Mu group enzymcs. The major GST of H . dimitiirru cytosol showed no clear biochemical relationship to any one mammalian GST family. The standard conjugation assay for the major GST in the three cestodes was inhibited by a number of commercially available anthelmintics, including members of the substituted phenyl and benzimidaiole group o f compounds with I,,, (50% inhibition of standard y) values in the micromolar range. Binding of the anthel ics to the major GST in M . expunsa was confirmed by competitive fluorescence spectroscopy [ 121. There was n o evidence, using a thiol utilization method [ 131, that the major GST of M. expurisu could conjugate the anthelmintics with glutathione. Free radicals that arise from host immuno-effector cells may have a role in the immune rejection of a number of parasites 141. Lipid peroxidation can result from free-radicalinitiated chain reactions [ 151 and mammalian GSTs can conjugate 4-hydroxyalkenals 161, established secondary products of lipid peroxidation [ 171. The major GSTs of the cestodes M. expansa, S. solidus (plerocercoid) and H. diminutu conjugated members of the alk-2-enal and alka2,4-dienal reactive carbonyl series [ 181, also known secondary products of lipid peroxidation [ 171. The cestode GSTs may help provide a ‘final line of defence’ against host immune and/or chemotherapeutic attack by conjugating toxic secondary products of lipid peroxidation or by passively detoxifying anthelmintics. Selective inhibition of the cestode enzymes could tip the molecular balance in favour of the host. A potential chemotherapeutic platform may exist as cestodc GSTs do not show a strong biochemical relationship to the Pi family GSTs, which, at least in humans, are the most abundant GST type in extrahepatic tissues [ 191. The mechanisms for the intracellular regulation of cestode and other helminth GSTs is currently under investigation.

The development of glutathione S-transferase subunits in rat liver. Sensitive detection of the major subunit forms of rat glutathione S-transferase by using an e.l.i.s.a. method.

The development of the subunits of glutathione S-transferase in rat liver shows that there is a co-ordinated development of the Ya, Yb1, Yb2 and Yc subunits but that the Yf and Yk subunits show unique patterns of development. The Yk subunit is the only form that is expressed at relatively high levels during the foetal period as well as during the adult period. In contrast with all other forms, the Yf subunit in the rat declines rapidly during the last few days before parturition and is virtually undetectable in hepatocytes of adult animals. The expression of the Yf subunit in foetal liver presents a 'patchy' appearance that is similar to that induced by the administration of lead acetate and may reflect cell-cycle-associated regulation of expression.

Glutathione S-transferase isoenzymes in human tumours and tumour derived cell lines.

An increasing body of evidence indicates that glutathione S-transferases play a role in the intrinsic and acquired resistance of tumours to anticancer drugs. In view of the wide use of tumour cell lines to understand the factors which confer either sensitivity or resistance to chemotherapeutic agents we have determined glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity and isozyme composition in nine human cell lines. These data have been compared with the values obtained in solid tumours. In most cases overall GST activity was higher in the tumours than in the cell lines. This was most pronounced for the breast tumour samples relative to MCF7 cell line. The pi class GST subunit was present at similar concentration in the cell lines and the tumours, and in most cases was the most abundant subunit present. The alpha and mu class GST were expressed in most of the cell lines but at much lower concentration than the pi class subunit. Also considerable variability particularly in the expression of the mu subunits was observed. This was also the case for the expression of these subunits in the solid tumour samples. The levels of these GSTs (when expressed) in the solid tumours was invariably higher than that observed in the cell lines. There are therefore several similarities but also some significant differences in GST expression in solid tumours and cell lines. Whether the differences are because expression is lost during the generation of the cell lines or whether it reflects the individuality of human tumours remains to be clearly established.

Control of expression of the human glutathione S-transferase π gene differs from its rat orthologue

We have examined regulation of the glutathione S-transferase pi gene by transient expression assay, and find that a fragment from 8 to 99 bp upstream of the cap site promotes transcription, but there is no evidence for any enhancer activity in a further 6 kb of flanking sequence. Analysis of this sequence by reference to a primate sequence database and Southern blotting revealed that as much as 5 kb of this flanking DNA were composed of repetitive insertion elements including an Alu and a LINE 1 repeat. The promoter fragment has been sequenced (Cowell et al (1988) Biochem. J. 255, 79-83) and contains a consensus AP1 binding site; in some cases, these have been associated with transcriptional induction by phorbol esters and ras oncogenes. We measured the steady state levels of glutathione S-transferase pi mRNA in human cell lines which were known to express ras oncogenes and compared them to human cell lines which have not been identified with ras activation. There was no correlation between expression of activated ras and expression of glutathione S-transferase pi mRNA. Treatment of HeLa cells, HepG2 cells and a small cell lung carcinoma line, GLC 8, with the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate failed to alter the steady state levels of endogenous glutathione S-transferase pi mRNA. The differences between these results and those of similar studies on rat glutathione S-transferase subunit 7, a structural orthologue of glutathione S-transferase pi, are discussed.

Induction of rat liver glutathione transferase subunit 7 by lead nitrate.

The effect of a single dose of lead nitrate (10 microM/100 g body wt), a hepatic mitogen, on rat liver glutathione transferase (GST) subunit expression was investigated. Using SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blot technique evidence for the induction of GST 7-7 is shown. This occurrence is identical to that observed in preneoplastic nodules generated in rat liver by different models of chemical carcinogenesis, suggesting that lead nitrate may be a very simple model for investigation of the mechanism of glutathione transferase 7-7 gene expression in chemical hepatocarcinogenesis.

Effect of phenobarbital on the expression of glutathione S-transferase isoenzymes in cultured rat hepatocytes

Cultured adult rat hepatocytes were treated daily with 3.2 mM phenobarbital (PB) in order to study its effect on the expression of cytosolic glutathione S-transferase isoenzymes. Glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities, using 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene and 1,2-dichloro-4-nitrobenzene as substrates, were increased when PB was present in the culture medium. After purification and separation of GST on glutathione Sepharose 6 B and reversed-phase HPLC, respectively, it was observed in vitro that PB caused an increase in the relative amounts of subunits 1, 3 and 7 compared to subunits 2 and 4. Using Northern blot technique, elevated levels of GST subunit 1/2 and 7 mRNA were measured, after addition of PB to the cultures.

Identification of a glutathione S-transferase associated with microsomes of tumor cells resistant to nitrogen mustards

Walker 256 rat mammary carcinoma cells resistant to chlorambucil (WR) exhibited an approximate 4-fold increase in glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity using 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene as compared to the sensitive parent cell line (WS). WR cells maintained without biannual exposure to chlorambucil (WR r) reverted to the sensitive phenotype and possessed GST levels equivalent to WS. Mitochondria, microsomes and cytosol were isolated from WS, WR and WR r cell lines and analyzed for their GST composition. GST activity in each subcellular compartment of resistant cells was increased over the sensitive cells. Antibodies raised against total rat liver cytosolic GST crossreacted in resistant cells with two microsomal proteins (25.7 kD and 29 kD). The 29 kD protein was not detected in microsomal fractions from either WS or WR r and this protein was found to be dissimilar from cytosolic GST subunits in its isoelectric point (pI 6.7) and migration on two-dimensional polyacrylamide gels. In addition, the 29 kD microsome-associated GST from WR cells was immunologically distinct from a 14 kD GST subunit previously identified in rat liver microsomes. These data implicate the induction of a specific microsomal GST subunit in WR cells following drug selection and suggest its potential involvement in the establishment of cellular resistance to chlorambucil.

Formula omitted] photoaffinity labeling of rat liver plasma membrane-associated proteins

A method for the synthesis of the glutathione conjugate S-(4- azidophenacyl)[ 35 S]glutathione is desribed. The compound was used for photoaffinity labeling of proteins present in canalicular membrane vesicles (CMV), sinusoidal membrane vesicles (SMV), mitochondria and microsomes from rat liver. Most of the radioactivity introduced by photoaffinity labeling of CMV appeared in the 25–29 kDa range. Further labeled proteins were observed in bands at 37, 105 and about 120 kDa. 79% of the 25–29 kDa associated radioactivity was recovered in the supernatant after extensive revesiculation (washing) of the vesicles, together with the 37 kDa protein. CMV and SMV contained glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity which in CMV was decreased by 75% by washing. Photolabeling of a mixture of purified basic GST subunits from rat liver resulted in a band pattern at 25–29 kDa similar to that in the membrane preparations. Isoelectric focusing of the CMV indicated the presence of basic soluble GST subunits. S-Hexylglutathione-Sepharose affinity chromatography showed reversible binding of photolabeled proteins at 25–29 kDa. Difference photoaffinity bound by GST, but not that introduced into the 105 kDa protein band present in CMV. It is concluded that membrane-associated basic GST isoenzymes are present in standard membrane vesicle preparations. In the cell, the function may be transport of GST-bound compounds across the membrane and protection of the membranes against electrophiles.

Use of monolayers of primary rat kidney cortex cells for nephrotoxicity studies

Kidney cells were isolated from rat kidney cortex and maintained in short-term monolayer cultures. A number of important parameters were studied in order to establish the usefulness of these cells for toxicity studies. Despite morphological differences between the cultured cells and similar cells in vivo, many relevant enzyme systems remained present and functional. Intracellular glutathione levels were stable up to 5 days in culture. The glutathione S-transferase activity during culture remained stable although at a lower level than in freshly isolated cells. Whereas rat kidney cytosol contained subunits 4, 7, 2 and 1, 3- and 5-day-old cultures contained glutathione transferase subunits 7, 2 and a small amount of subunit 1. Cytochrome P-450, although measurable in microsomes from freshly isolated cells, could not be determined after 1 day in culture. Organic anion transporters on the basolateral side and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase on the apical side were present. Through cytotoxicity studies, β-lyase activity could be demonstrated in the culture. Hence this monolayer culture system, which can be used in combination with filters, seems to be suitable for studying various mechanisms of nephrotoxicity.

Perfluorodecanoic acid decreases the enzyme activity and the amount of glutathione S-transferases proteins and mRNAs in vivo

The effects of the anti-wetting agent perfluoro- n-decanoic acid (PFDA) on various glutathione S-transferase (GST) enzyme activities were studied in vitro and in vivo. In addition the effects of PFDA treatment on the amount of some glutathione S-transferase subunits and their corresponding translatable mRNA were studied in vivo. PFDA like some other peroxisome proliferators was a non-competitive inhibitor of several GST enzyme activities in vitro. In vivo PFDA reduced the enzyme activity towards substrates which are indicative for the Ya, Yb 1 and Yb 2 subunits of GSTs to a larger extent than the enzyme activity towards the substrate indicative for the Yc subunit. Whereas the reduction of GST enzyme activities by other peroxisome proliferators was shown to be caused by an inhibition of the relevant enzymes in vivo, PFDA was found to decrease the GST enzyme activities at least in part by lowering the amount of the various GST subunits in vivo due to a lowered concentration of translatable mRNA coding for these enzymes. In addition PFDA abolished the inducibility of GST mRNAs by phenobarbital. Thus PFDA might be an interesting tool for mechanistic studies of the control of GST expression in the liver.

Glutathione and glutathione S‐transferases in clones of cultured rat liver epithelial cells that express varying activity of γ‐glutamyl transpeptidase

In rat chemical hepatocarcinogenesis models, the hepatocytes in the preneoplastic/neoplastic nodules characteristically demonstrate common biochemical changes including significant and often marked elevation in the cellular glutathione (GSH) content and in the activities of the enzymes gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and glutathione S-transferase (GST). Such consistent and concomitant biochemical changes may signify a common regulatory mechanism in the expression of these enzymes. We have utilized a panel of clonally derived rat liver epithelial cell lines that express varying activities of GGT to study the quantitative correlation between these three cellular components of the phase II drug metabolizing enzyme system. The results indicate that in confluent cultures, cells with high GGT activities have significantly higher cellular GSH content, and a linear correlation exists between the glutathione content and the logarithm of the GGT activity. In contrast, the basal activities of GST and GGT were not coordinately regulated. However, most of the chemical carcinogen-treated cell lines, regardless of their GGT activity, expressed higher GST activity than the normal parental rat liver epithelial cells. The basal expressions of both the Yb and Yp subunits of GST were also not correlated with the relative expression of GGT. Since GGT may play an important role in supplying the cells with the basic constituents for the synthesis of GSH and since GSH is an important cellular molecule in the protection of cells from toxic electrophiles, enhancement of GGT activity in preneoplastic/neoplastic nodules of chemical carcinogen-treated rats may represent a necessary biochemical adaptation for the induction of the "resistant" phenotype of these hepatocytes.

Fish and mammalian liver cytosolic glutathione S-transferases: Substrate specificities and immunological comparison

The substrate specificities of cytosolic glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity were compared in several common marine fish, anadromous and freshwater salmonids. Polyclonal antisera raised against purified rat and plaice GST subunits were used to investigate phylogenetic relationships between the mammalian and fish enzymes. Flatfish contained two major isoforms, one of which is related to the mammalian group 1 family. The major GST of salmonids and the cod was related to the mammalian group 3 transferase used as a preneoplastic marker.

An improved method for the separation and quantification of glutathione S-transferase subunits in rat tissue using high-performance liquid chromatography

An improved method for the separation and quantification of glutathione S-transferase subunits in rat tissue using high-performance liquid chromatography

Dog liver glutathione s-transferase and its strong immunoreactivity with rat transferase-p(7-7)

Dog liver cytosolic glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) were investigated to characterize their properties in comparison with rat liver transferases. Dog liver GSTs after the glutathione affinity column chromatography showed three subunit bands on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. These three subunits, designated as Yd1 (mol.wt 26,000), Yd2 (mol.wt 27,000) and Yd3 (mol.wt 28,000), were distinctly different from rat liver GST subunits, i.e. Ya(l) (mol.wt 26,500), Yb1(3)/Yb2(4) (mol.wt 27,500) and Yc(2) (mol.wt 28,500). Western blot analysis revealed that Yd1, Yd2 and Yd3 were immunoreacted with anti-rat GST 7−7, 1−1 and 3−3 antibodies, respectively. Four transferase activity fractions, I (pH > 7.63), II (pH 6.92), III (pH 5.80) and IV (pH 5.65), were obtained from affinity purified GSTs by chromatofoeusing. Each fraction exhibited a characteristic substrate specificity. GST-II, III and IV were all strongly immunoreacted with anti-rat GST 7−7 antibody by immunoblotting, thus suggesting the occurrence of the heterogeneity of transferases immunologically related to rat GST subunit 7 in dog liver. Immunohistochemical examination showed that transferases immunoreacted with anti-GST 7−7 antibody have diffusely distributed throughout the lobule, while enzymes related to subunit 3 have been localized in a narrow range of cells around the central vein. These data suggest that GSTs immunologically associated with rat transferase subunit 7 may be major forms in dog liver.