Binding and kinetic mechanisms of the Zeta class glutathione transferase

Giorgio Ricci, Paola Turella, Francesca De Maria, Giovanni Antonini, Luisa Nardocci, Philip G. Board, Michael W. Parker, Maria Grazia Carbonelli, Giorgio Federici, Anna Maria Caccuri*

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    15 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    The Zeta class of glutathione transferases (GSTs) has only recently been discovered and hence has been poorly characterized. Here we investigate the substrate binding and kinetic mechanisms of the human Zeta class GSTZ1c-1c by means of pre-steady state and steady-state experiments and site-directed mutagenesis. Binding of GSH occurs at a very low rate compared with that observed for the more recently evolved GSTs (Alpha, Mu, and Pi classes). Moreover, the single step binding mechanism observed in this enzyme is reminiscent of that found for the Theta class enzyme, whereas the Alpha, Mu, and Pi classes have adopted a multistep binding mechanism. Replacement of Cys 16 with Ala increases the rate of GSH release from the active site causing a 10-fold decrease of affinity toward GSH. Cys16 also plays a crucial role in co-substrate binding; the mutant enzyme is unable to bind the carcinogenic substrate dichloroacetic acid in the absence of GSH. However, both substrate binding and GSH activation are not rate-limiting in catalysis. A peculiarity of the hGSTZ1c-1c is the half-site activation of bound GSH. This suggests a primitive monomer-monomer interaction that, in the recently diverged GSTP1-1, gives rise to a sophisticated cooperative mechanism that preserves the catalytic efficiency of this GST under stress conditions.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)33336-33342
    Number of pages7
    JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry
    Volume279
    Issue number32
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 6 Aug 2004

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