Interaction of ligandin with radiographic contrast media

Ligandin (Y protein) is an abundant cytoplasmic glutathione transferase present in liver, kidney and gut in various animals and man. Its interaction with four radiologic contrast media (Telepaque, 3-(3 amino-2,4,6, triiodophenyl -2 ethylpropanoic acid, sodium salt; Hypaque, sodium -3, 5-diacetamido-2,4,6,-triiodobenzoate; Cholografin, N,N'adipyl-bis-(3-amino-2,4,6-triiodobenzoic acid) N-methyl-glucosamine; Diodrast, 3,5-Diiodo-4-pyridone-N-acetic acid, Diethanolamine Salt was investigated by observing inhibitory effects on the enzyme-catalyzed conjugation of glutathione with 1-chloro-2, 4-dinitrobenzene. Lineweaver-Burk plots of reciprocal initial velocity versus reciprocal inhibitor concentrations at fixed glutathione and chlorodinitrobenzene concentrations demonstrate non-competitive inhibition by all contrast media except Diodrast. No conjugates of contrast media with glutathione were formed. It is postulated that intracellular accumulation of contrast media is aided by intracellular binding with ligandin. Inhibition of the GSH transferase activity of ligandin can disrupt the mercapturate formation, an important detoxification process.