Native Glutathione S-transferase Research Articles

Functional significance of asymmetrical retention of parental alleles in a hybrid pine species complex

AbstractHybrid genomes usually harbor asymmetrical parental contributions. However, it is challenging to infer the functional significance of asymmetrical retention of parental alleles in hybrid populations of conifer trees. Here we investigated the diversity in the glutathione S‐transferase (GST) gene family in a hybrid pine Pinus densata and its parents (Pinus tabuliformis and Pinus yunnanensis). Plant GSTs play major roles in protecting plants against biotic and abiotic stresses. In this study, 19 orthologous groups of GST genes were identified and cloned from these three species. We examined their expression in different tissues, and then purified the corresponding proteins to characterize their enzymatic activities and specificities toward different substrates. We found that among the 19 GST orthologous groups, divergence in gene expression and in enzymatic activities toward different substrates was prevalent. P. densata preferentially retained P. yunnanensis‐like GSTs for 17 out of the 19 gene loci. We determined the first GST crystal structure from conifer species at a resolution of 2.19 Å. Based on this structure, we performed site‐directed mutagenesis to replace amino acid residuals in different wild‐types of GSTs to understand their functional impacts. Reciprocal replacement of amino acid residuals in native GSTs of P. densata and P. tabuliformis demonstrated significant changes in enzyme functions and identified key sites controlling GSTs activities. This study illustrates an approach to evaluating the functional significance of sequence variations in conifer genomes. Our study also sheds light on plausible mechanisms for controlling the selective retention of parental alleles in the P. densata genome.

Glutathione-S-transferase: an important diagnostic antigen of liver amphistome Gigantocotyle explanatum, infecting the Indian water buffalo

The foodborne trematodiases pose a significant health problem to the animals as well as the human population living in close proximities with the livestock and are still considered as the neglected tropical diseases by the World Health Organisation. The digenetic trematode, Gigantocotyle explanatum infecting the liver of Indian water buffalo, Bubalus bubalis, has been identified as one of the most common helminth parasite responsible for the disease, amphistomosis, in livestock. Despite huge abattoir prevalence, the epidemiological data and the actual economic losses incurred due to this parasite alone are yet to be established probably due to the limitations of routinely used diagnostic tests. The gold standard for the confirmation of such infections under field conditions is still the fecal egg count (FEC). However, the poor sensitivity and cumbersome nature of these tests necessitates the development of a more sensitive, reliable and easy to perform workflow/method. Immunological diagnosis of helminthic infections is still considered as an alternative to the FEC. Therefore, efforts have been made to utilize glutathione-S-transferase (GST), a vitally significant molecule of the adult G. explanatum, for the serodiagnosis of amphistomosis under both laboratory and field conditions.The GST antigen was first affinity purified from the somatic extract of the adult worms since its highest level was recorded in the somatic extracts followed by eggs and the excretory/secretory products. A five-fold affinity purified native GST antigen of about 25 kDa was found to be highly immunogenic as evident from high titre (1:25,600) of the polyclonal antibodies raised in the rabbits. The immunoblotting results revealed differential presence of GST in the adult worms, their eggs and excretory/secretory products. The immunolocalization studies revealed that the vitelline glands are the major source of GST in liver amphistome. Further, we were able to successfully screen animals naturally infected with G. explanatum using anti GST polyclonal antibodies in dot blot assay. High levels of both circulating GST antigen and anti GST antibodies were detected in the serum of the animals naturally infected with G. explanatum, while no cross reactivity was observed with the tropical liver fluke, F. gigantica which often infects the buffalo liver concurrently. The findings of the present study indicate that GST could be used as an important antigen for the diagnosis of G. explanatum infection in Indian water buffaloes.

Caracterization of glutathione S-transferase of Dermacantor marginatus and effect of the recombinant antigen as a potential anti-tick vaccine

Dermacentor marginatus is one of the main tick species in northwestern China, and is a vector of various tick-borne pathogens. Tick control method largely depends on chemical agents, but the disadvantages of using such approach would cause environmental damage and the risk of developing tick resistance to acaricides. Vaccination of tick protective antigen is an eco-friendly approach which is an alternative and promising method to mitigate tick infestation in livestock. In the study, a mu-class glutathione S-transferase (GST) sequence of D. marginatus was cloned and the recombinant protein (rDmGST) was expressed. Transcriptional level of the GST was measured together with native GST activity of the tick. Finally, A vaccine trial on rabbits against D. marginatus was proceeded to evaluate the anti-tick effect of rDmGST. Results reveled that the CDs of the D. margiantus glutathione S-transferase mu 1 gene has 669 base pair nucleotide sequence encoding a 223 amino acid. The deduced GST protein sequence had over 95 % similarity with that of D. variabilis. The rDmGST was efficiently expressed soluble and purified by His trap affinity chromatography. Enzyme activity of native GST and transcriptional profiles of the GST showed up-regulation in different stages and organs of D. marginaus during blood feeding. Polyclonal antibody reacted with rDmGST in Western blotting. Tick challenge on rDmGST inoculated rabbits showed reductions in adult female engorgement rate, total egg mass and egg hatching rate with an overall vaccine efficacy of 43.69 %. The results of the experiment indicated the GST has potential value to be an effective protective antigen of D. marginatus.

Glutathione S-transferase (GST) of American Cockroach, Periplaneta americana: Classes, Isoforms, and Allergenicity

Insect glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) play important roles in insecticide/drug resistance and stress response. Medically, GSTs of house dust mites (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Blomia tropicalis) and German cockroach (Blattella germanica) are human allergens. In this study, classes, isoforms and B-cell and allergenic epitopes of GST of American cockroach, Periplaneta americana, the predominant species in the tropics and subtropics were investigated for the first time. Enzymatically active native and recombinant P. americana-GSTs bound to IgE in sera of all P. americana allergic patients that were tested. By gel-based proteomics and multiple sequence alignments, the native GST comprises three isoforms of delta and sigma classes. All isoforms interacted with serum IgE of the cockroach allergic subjects. Molecularly, the protein contains six B-cell epitopes; two epitopes located at β1-α1 and β4-α3 regions bound to patients’ serum IgE, indicating that they are allergenic. P. americana are ubiquitous and their GST can sensitize humans to allergic diseases; thus, the protein should be included in the allergen array for component resolved diagnosis (CRD) of allergic patients, either by skin prick test or specific IgE determination. The GST is suitable also as a target of environmental allergen detection and quantification for intervention of cockroach sensitization and allergic morbidity.

Proanthocyanidins inhibit Ascaris suum glutathione-S-transferase activity and increase susceptibility of larvae to levamisole in vitro

Proanthocyanidins (PAC) are a class of plant secondary metabolites commonly found in the diet that have shown potential to control gastrointestinal nematode infections. The anti-parasitic mechanism(s) of PAC remain obscure, however the protein-binding properties of PAC suggest that disturbance of key enzyme functions may be a potential mode of action. Glutathione-S-transferases (GSTs) are essential for parasite detoxification and have been investigated as drug and vaccine targets. Here, we show that purified PAC strongly inhibit the activity of both recombinant and native GSTs from the parasitic nematode Ascaris suum. As GSTs are involved in detoxifying xenobiotic substances within the parasite, we hypothesised that this inhibition may render parasites hyper-susceptible to anthelmintic drugs. Migration inhibition assays with A. suum larvae demonstrated that the potency of levamisole (LEV) and ivermectin (IVM) were significantly increased in the presence of PAC purified from pine bark (4.6-fold and 3.2-fold reduction in IC50 value for LEV and IVM, respectively). Synergy analysis revealed that the relationship between PAC and LEV appeared to be synergistic in nature, suggesting a specific enhancement of LEV activity, whilst the relationship between PAC and IVM was additive rather than synergistic, suggesting independent actions. Our results demonstrate that these common dietary compounds may increase the efficacy of synthetic anthelmintic drugs in vitro, and also suggest one possible mechanism for their well-known anti-parasitic activity.

Substrate profiling of glutathione S-transferase with engineered enzymes and matched glutathione analogues.

The identification of specific substrates of glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) is important for understanding drug metabolism. A method termed bioorthogonal identification of GST substrates (BIGS) was developed, in which a reduced glutathione (GSH) analogue was developed for recognition by a rationally engineered GST to label the substrates of the corresponding native GST. A K44G-W40A-R41A mutant (GST-KWR) of the mu-class glutathione S-transferases GSTM1 was shown to be active with a clickable GSH analogue (GSH-R1) as the cosubstrate. The GSH-R1 conjugation products can react with an azido-based biotin probe for ready enrichment and MS identification. Proof-of-principle studies were carried to detect the products of GSH-R1 conjugation to 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) and dopamine quinone. The BIGS technology was then used to identify GSTM1 substrates in the Chinese herbal medicine Ganmaocongji.

Substrate Profiling of Glutathione S‐transferase with Engineered Enzymes and Matched Glutathione Analogues

AbstractThe identification of specific substrates of glutathione S‐transferases (GSTs) is important for understanding drug metabolism. A method termed bioorthogonal identification of GST substrates (BIGS) was developed, in which a reduced glutathione (GSH) analogue was developed for recognition by a rationally engineered GST to label the substrates of the corresponding native GST. A K44G‐W40A‐R41A mutant (GST‐KWR) of the mu‐class glutathione S‐transferases GSTM1 was shown to be active with a clickable GSH analogue (GSH‐R1) as the cosubstrate. The GSH‐R1 conjugation products can react with an azido‐based biotin probe for ready enrichment and MS identification. Proof‐of‐principle studies were carried to detect the products of GSH‐R1 conjugation to 1‐chloro‐2,4‐dinitrobenzene (CDNB) and dopamine quinone. The BIGS technology was then used to identify GSTM1 substrates in the Chinese herbal medicine Ganmaocongji.

SELECTION OF SPECIFIC SINGLE CHAIN VARIABLE FRAGMENTS (SCFV) AGAINST POLYMYXA BETAE FROM PHAGE DISPLAY LIBRARIES

Abstract Sugar beet is one of the most important industrial crops in Iran. For the last two decades it has been mainly affected by a destructive virus, beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV). The Polymyxa betae is the only natural transmitting agent of the disease among the plants. Developing accurate diagnostic methods may have a major impact on the rising of resistant germplasms. In the present study, specific monoclonal recombinant antibodies in the form of single chain variable fragments (scFv) were obtained from naïve phage display libraries. The fungus specific glutathione-S-transferase (GST) protein was chosen as an antigen for developing antibodies and diagnostic purposes. To generate specific scFv, screening of Tomlinson phage display libraries was performed by applying both recombinant and native fungal GST. Using the recombinant GST in the panning process resulted in the isolation of an antibody only bound to recombinant GST but it failed to detect native GST in the infected plants. Alternatively, the process of panning was carried out by applying native fungal GST trapped to immunotubes through specific polyclonal antibody intermediate. The recent approach resulted in the selection of a specific scFv binding to native GST which was able to detect the presence of the fungi within infected plants. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the generation of recombinant antibodies against Polymyxa betae, fungal vector of sugar beet rhizomania disease.

Salt-Assisted Religation of Proteolyzed Glutathione-S-Transferase Follows Hofmeister Series

Proteases have been used not only for proteolysis but also in organic solvent-assisted religation processes. Here, we demonstrated the effect of salts on peptide bond resynthesis in Glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and have found it to be in the purview of the Hofmeister phenomena. Our results show that the efficiency and ease of religation increases with an increase in the surface charge densities of the cations used in the study. Thus, the yield of religated GST follows the order: Mg2(+)>Li(+)>Na(+)>K(+). Characteristics of the salt-religated GST were studied using size exclusion chromatography, CD spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and CDNB activity assay. Results show that the properties of salt-religated GST are in close agreement with those of the native GST. Additionally, we also assessed the specific activity of the protease, Subtilisin Carlsberg, used in this study. Contrary, to aqueous-organic systems, wherein there is a remarkable decrease in the proteolytic activity, the activity in the presence of salts is only minimally changed. Our studies suggest that salt-assisted peptide bond formation is favoured primarily due to changes in the ionic environment of the nicked termini of GST, and that there is no role played by the protease.

Single Chain Antibody Displays Glutathione S-Transferase Activity

Substrate binding and the subsequent reaction are the two principal phenomena that underlie the activity of enzymes, and many enzyme-like catalysts were generated based on the phenomena. The single chain variable region fragment of antibody 2F3 (scFv2F3) was elicited against hapten GSH-S-DN2phBu, a conjugate of glutathione (GSH), butyl alcohol, and 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB); it can therefore bind both GSH and CDNB, the substrates of native glutathione S-transferases (GSTs). It was shown previously that there is a serine residue that is the catalytic group of GST in the CDR regions of scFv2F3 close to the sulfhydryl of GSH. Thus, we anticipated that scFv2F3 will display GST activity. The experimental results showed that scFv2F3 indeed displayed GST activity that is equivalent to the rat-class GST T-2-2 and exhibited pH- and temperature-dependent catalytic activity. Steady-state kinetic studies showed that the Km values for the substrates are close to those of native GSTs, indicating that scFv2F3 has strong affinities for the substrates. Compared with some other GSTs, its kcat value was found to be low, which could be caused by the similarity between the GSH-S-DN2phBu and the reaction product of GSH and CDNB. These results showed that our approach to imitating enzymes is correct, which is that an active site may catalyze a chemical reaction when a catalytic group locates beside a substrate-binding site of a receptor. It is important to consider product inhibition in hapten design in order to obtain a mimic with a high catalytic efficiency.

Recombinant glutathione- S-transferase a major allergen from Alternaria alternata for clinical use in allergy patients

Recombinant proteins are used for vaccines, therapy and diagnosis of many diseases. Biological activity of these may differ from native counterpart and needs investigation. The present study aimed to compare recombinant (r) and native (n) glutathione- S-transferase (GST) from Alternaria alternata. Glutathione- S-transferase sequence showed an ORF of 696 bp encoding 26-kDa protein with N-terminus conserved domain. Secondary structure of both forms was comparable with melting temperature of 57 and 59 °C, respectively. rGST and nGST showed similar enzymatic activity, allergenicity and potency by ELISA inhibition. Histamine release was comparable in 14/17 patients for both the GSTs. rGST and nGST induced proliferation in PBMC at different concentration. Cell supernatant revealed higher IL-4 and IL-5 levels with low levels of IFN-γ. In summary, recombinant and native GST demonstrated similar physio-chemical, biological and immunological properties and induced comparable cell mediated and humoral response to be used for diagnosis and specific immunotherapy for the fungal allergy cases.

Setaria cervi: immunoprophylactic potential of glutathione- S-transferase against filarial parasite Brugia malayi

Glutathione- S-transferase (GST) has been detected in the adult female Setaria cervi, a bovine filarial parasite. The role of S. cervi GST antigen in inducing immunity in the host against Brugia malayi microfilariae and infective larvae was studied by in vitro antibody dependent cell mediated reaction as well as in situ inoculation of filarial parasites within a microchamber in Mastomys. The immune sera from glutathione- S-transferase immunized Mastomys promoted the adherence of peritoneal exudate cells to B. malayi microfilariae and infective larvae in vitro inducing 80.7 and 77.6% cytotoxicity, respectively in 72 h. In the microchambers implanted in the immunized Mastomys host cells could migrate and adhere to the microfilariae and infective larvae and induced 77.8 and 75% cytotoxicity to B. malayi microfilariae and infective larvae in 72 h, respectively. These results suggest that native GST from S. cervi is effective in inducing protection against heterologous B. malayi filarial parasite and thus has potential in immunoprophylaxis.

Identification and localization of glutathione S-transferase as a potential target enzyme in Brugia species.

Brugia filarial nematodes are pathogenic lymphatic-dwelling parasites that, like other helminths, may modify the host's defense mechanisms by a major detoxification process involving glutathione-binding proteins such as glutathione S-transferases (GSTs). In the present study, soluble extracts of third-stage larvae, adult male and female worms, microfilariae of either B. pahangi or B. malayi or the adult worm excretory-secretory products of B. malayi were used to determine GST activity. These extracts and affinity-purified fractions of B. pahangi adult worms had a specific enzymatic activity when 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene was used as a substrate. The observance of this enzyme in all life cycle stages of Brugia spp. demonstrates its ubiquitous nature. Lavage of intraperitoneally infected jirds, but not that of uninfected jirds, also showed increased enzymatic activity, suggesting that GST is secreted in vivo. Soluble proteins of both Brugia spp. were strongly recognized by antibodies in sera from rabbits immunized with affinity-purified native GST of Onchocerca volvulus. Immunohistochemical studies localized these proteins in adult worms, demonstrating cross-reactivity between the GST of these two filarial nematodes. The effect of this enzyme on the motility and viability of adult worms, microfilariae, and larvae was tested in vitro using a battery of known GST inhibitors. Of all those tested, ethacrynic acid, N-ethylmalemide, 4-nitropyridine-oxide, or 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene at micromolar concentrations reduced the viability and motility of microfilariae, third-stage larvae, and adult worms. These results suggest that Brugia GSTs are major metabolic enzymes and may play an important role in the parasite's survival.

Evaluation of antigens of Fasciola gigantica as vaccines against tropical fasciolosis in cattle

Vaccine trials were conducted in Brahman cross cattle evaluating the efficacy of 4 native antigens purified from adult Fasciola gigantica flukes, and 1 recombinant F. gigantica antigen, as vaccines against tropical fasciolosis. The antigens tested were native glutathione S-transferase, cathepsin L, paramyosin, fatty acid binding protein (FABP), and a recombinant FABP expressed in E. coli, and were formulated in 1 or more of several adjuvants (Quil A, Squalene Montanide 80 ®, MF59-100, Auspharm ®, NAGO, polylactoglycolide microspheres, Algammulin, DEAE, Freund's). Vaccination induced low, moderate or high antibody titres to the various antigens which were dependent on the adjuvant. Low but significant reductions in fluke burdens (31%, P < 0.026) and fluke wet weight (36%, P < 0.041) were only observed in cattle vaccinated with the native FABP in Freund's adjuvant. There was no correlation between total antibody titres to FABP and protection. The protection observed in cattle vaccinated with native FABP of F. gigantica supports the notion that this class of proteins is a useful target for protection of animals against Fasciola and extends the efficacy of FABPs to the tropical liver fluke. This is the first report of vaccination of cattle against F. gigantica with a purified protein.

Imaging ROMK1 inwardly rectifying ATP-sensitive K+ channel protein using atomic force microscopy.

The inwardly rectifying K+ channel ROMK1 has been implicated as being significant in K+ secretion in the distal nephron. ROMK1 has been shown by immunocytochemistry to be expressed in relevant nephron segments. The development of the atomic force microscope has made possible the production of high resolution images of small particles, including a variety of biological macromolecules. Recently, a fusion protein of glutathione S-transferase (GST) and ROMK1 (ROMK1-GST) has been used to produce a polyclonal antibody for immunolocalization of ROMK1. We have used atomic force microscopy to examine ROMK1-GST and the native ROMK1 polypeptide cleaved from GST. Imaging was conducted with the proteins in physiological solutions attached to mica. ROMK1-GST appears in images as a particle composed of two units of similar size. Analyses of images indicate that the two units have volumes of approximately 118 nm3, which is close to the theoretical volume of a globular protein of approximately 65 kDa (the molecular mass of ROMK1-GST). Native GST exists as a dimer, and the images obtained here are consistent with the ROMK1-GST fusion protein's existence as a heterodimer. In experiments on ROMK1 in aqueous solution, single molecules appear to aggregate, but contact to the mica was maintained. Addition of ATP to the solution produced a change in height of the aggregates. This change (which was reversible) suggests that ATP induces a structural change in the ROMK1 protein. The data show that atomic force microscopy is a useful tool for examination of purified protein molecules under near-physiological conditions, and furthermore, that structural alterations in the proteins may be continuously investigated.

Haloenol lactone is a new isozyme-selective and active site-directed inactivator of glutathione S-transferase.

A haloenol lactone derivative has been synthesized and found to be an isozyme-selective and active site-directed inactivator of glutathione S-transferase (GST). Preincubation of the haloenol lactone (100 microM) with murine Alpha, Mu, or Pi GST isozyme (1.0 microM) at pH 6.5, 37 degrees C resulted in time-dependent loss of enzyme activity with highly selective inhibition of the Pi isozyme (t1/2, approximately 2 min). In a separate experiment, a 10-fold excess of the lactone was incubated with GST-Pi isozyme at 37 degrees C for 3 h, followed by dialysis against Nanopure water. GST activity lost upon incubation with the lactone could not be restored by exhaustive dialysis, and only 8% of enzyme activity for the modified GST remained relative to the control that was treated identically except the lactone was omitted from the incubation. Both control and modified GST were characterized using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. No native GST (23,478 Da) was observed in the spectrum of modified GST. Instead, protein incubated with the lactone exhibited an increase in molecular mass of 230 Da relative to control GST. The lactone (100 microM) was incubated with GST Pi isozyme (1.0 microM) in the presence of the competitive inhibitor S-hexylglutathione (10 microM), which suppressed time-dependent inhibition of GST by the lactone. The results suggest that this haloenol lactone is an irreversible and active site-directed inhibitor of GST that appears to inhibit the enzyme through two consecutive steps of nucleophilic attack.

Suppression of Schistosoma bovis egg production in cattle by vaccination with either glutathione S‐transferase or keyhole limpet haemocyanin

Two of the antigens which have shown vaccine potential in animal experiments against Schistosoma mansoni are glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and GP38, protective epitopes of which are shared with keyhole limpet haemocyanin (KLH). We therefore tested S. bovis GST and KLH for vaccine efficacy against S. bovis in the natural Zebu cattle host. In a preliminary experiment three vaccinations with a total of 1.39 mg of native GSTs of S. bovis induced specific antibody at the time of challenge as detected by Western blotting and ELISA and mean faecal egg counts between weeks 6-10 post-challenge were reduced by 56.4 to 82.5% compared to non-vaccinated controls. Mean adult worm recoveries and tissue egg densities in large intestine and liver samples were also reduced in the vaccinated group, but these differences were not statistically significant. In a subsequent experiment one group of calves was vaccinated with a similar schedule to that used above; a second group of calves was given only two injections of GST (total 0.48 mg protein); a third group of calves was vaccinated twice with a total of 2.0 mg KLH in PBS. All three vaccination schedules induced specific antibody. Both GST vaccination schedules induced significant reductions in faecal egg counts compared to non-vaccinated controls and in this experiment tissue egg densities were also significantly reduced. A striking finding, however, was that adult worm counts were not reduced by vaccination. An essentially similar outcome resulted from KLH vaccination, since there were significant reductions in faecal and tissue egg counts in the absence of a reduction in adult worm numbers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Primary sequence heterogeneity and tissue expression of glutathione S-transferases of Fasciola hepatica

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) from Fasciola hepatica have been purified by glutathione affinity chromatography. Two closely migrating species of M r 26,000 and 26,500 were identified by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and several species resolved by two-dimensional gel analysis, indicating substantial heterogeneity among the GSTs. N-terminal amino acid sequencing revealed one core sequence containing three polymorphisms, whereas the sequence of GST peptides implied a minimum of three different GSTs. The amino acid sequence data assigned the F. hepatica GSTs to the mu class of GSTs with high similarities to these proteins in other helminths and mammals. The native GSTs of F. hepatica appeared to behave as dimers as determined by molecular sieving chromatography. The observation that the GSTs of F. hepatica are heterogeneous in sequence and behave as dimers in the native state suggest that these isoenzymes may exhibit considerable functional heterogeneity which may be of importance to the parasite. Immunocytochemical studies suggest that the main source of GST in F. hepatica are the parenchymal cells and peripheral tissues of the parasite. Some extracellular GST is associated with the lamellae of the intestinal epithelium. The identification of an intestinal GST is unique among trematodes studied to date.

Studies on the subunit composition of rat liver glutathione S-transferases.

Native glutathione S-transferases are composed of subunits with apparent molecular weights of 25,000, 23,500, or 22,000 which form either homo- or heterodimers. Glutathione S-transferases A, C, and X which contain two subunits with molecular weights of 23,500 yielded similar but nonidentical proteolytic fragmentation patterns. Fragments unique to the subunits of the homodimers A and X were present in decreased intensities in the patterns of form C. Two-dimensional electrophoresis under denaturing conditions showed single nonoverlapping spots for transferases A and X, while form C yielded two spots corresponding in position to those obtained from forms A and X. Renaturation of dissociated glutathione S-transferase C yielded enzymatically active transferases A, C, and X. These results indicate that form C is a heterodimer composed of one subunit from the homodimeric transferases A and X. This was substantiated by NH2-terminal sequence analysis showing extensive NH2-terminal homology amongst all three forms. However, in the positions where forms A and X yielded different residues, both amino acids were detected in the sequence of form C, indicating that the two subunits of Mr = 23,500 are the products of two different genes. NH2-terminal sequence analysis of the heterodimeric glutathione S-transferase B which is composed of subunits with molecular weights of 22,000 and 25,000 revealed a single unique sequence which bore no resemblance to the sequences of either forms A or X. Despite the identical NH2-terminal sequences, proteolytic fragmentation of the separated subunits showed markedly different fragmentation patterns. This indicates that two different mRNAs code for these two subunits.