Increased uridine diphosphate-glucuronyltransferase activity in preneoplastic liver nodules and Morris hepatomas

In preneoplastic rat liver nodules produced by 2-acetylaminofluorene, certain uridine diphosphate-glucuronyltransferase (UDP-GT) activities, which are ascribed to a distinct enzyme form, were selectively increased (5-fold). This enzyme form, operationally termed UDP-GT1, accepts 1-naphthol,4-methylumbelliferone, and 3-hydroxybenzo(a)pyrene as substrates and is chiefly inducible in liver by 3-methylcholanthrene-type inducers. Glucuronidation of other substrates (morphine, 4-hydroxybiphenyl, chloramphenicol, bilirubin, and estrone) was only slightly enhanced or decreased in nodular tissue. Differentially increased UDP-GT1 activities were also found in Morris hepatomas 9121 and 7777. Rabbit antibodies to rat liver UDP-GT1, purified from 3-methylcholanthrene-treated rats, demonstrated immunological similarity between the enzymes from liver, nodular tissue, and Morris hepatoma 9121. Rocket immunoelectrophoresis ascertained that enhanced enzyme activity in nodular tissue reflected an increased level of enzyme protein. Increased activity of UDP-GT1 together with decreased cytochrome P-450-dependent monooxygenase may contribute to the resistance of preneoplastic hepatocytes to the cytotoxic actions of chemical carcinogens.