Porcine glutathione transferase Alpha 2-2 is a human GST A3-3 analogue that catalyses steroid double-bond isomerization

Biochem J. 2010 Oct 1;431(1):159-67. doi: 10.1042/BJ20100839.

Abstract

A primary role of GSTs (glutathione transferases) is detoxication of electrophilic compounds. In addition to this protective function, hGST (human GST) A3-3, a member of the Alpha class of soluble GSTs, has prominent steroid double-bond isomerase activity. The isomerase reaction is an obligatory step in the biosynthesis of steroid hormones, indicating a special role of hGST A3-3 in steroidogenic tissues. An analogous GST with high steroid isomerase activity has so far not been found in any other biological species. In the present study, we characterized a Sus scrofa (pig) enzyme, pGST A2-2, displaying high steroid isomerase activity. High levels of pGST A2-2 expression were found in ovary, testis and liver. In its functional properties, other than steroid isomerization, pGST A2-2 was most similar to hGST A3-3. The properties of the novel porcine enzyme lend support to the notion that particular GSTs play an important role in steroidogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Catalysis
  • Female
  • Glutathione Transferase / chemistry*
  • Glutathione Transferase / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Isoenzymes / chemistry*
  • Isoenzymes / metabolism
  • Kinetics
  • Male
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Ovary / metabolism
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Steroid Isomerases / chemistry*
  • Steroid Isomerases / metabolism
  • Swine
  • Testis / metabolism

Substances

  • Isoenzymes
  • Glutathione Transferase
  • glutathione S-transferase A3-3, human
  • glutathione S-transferase alpha
  • Steroid Isomerases