Comparison of renal and hepatic glutathione S-transferases in the rat

Renal and hepatic GSH (reduced glutathione) S-transferase were compared with respect to substrate and inhibitory kinetics and hormonal influences in vivo. An example of each of five classes of substrates (aryl, aralkyl, epoxide, alkyl and alkene) was used. In the gel filtration of renal or hepatic cytosol, an identical elution volume was found for all the transferase activities. Close correspondence in Km values was found for aryl, epoxide- and alkyl-transferase activities, with only the aralkyl activity significantly lower in kidney. Probenecid and p-aminohippurate were competitive inhibitors of renal aryl-, aralkyl-, epoxide- and alkyl-transferase activities and inhibited renal alkene activity. Close correspondence in Ki values for inhibition by probenecid of these activities in kidney and liver was found. In addition, furosemide was a potent competitive inhibitor of renal alkyl-transferase activity. Hypophysectomy resulted in significant increases in aryl-, araklyl-, and expoxide-transferase activities in liver and kidney. The hypophysectomy-induced increases in renal aryl- and aralkyl-transferase activities (approx. 100%) were more than twofold greater than increases in hepatic activities (approx. 40%). Administration of thyroxine prevented the hypophysectomy-induced increase in aryltransferase activity in both kidney and liver. The renal GSH S-transferases, in view of similarities to the hepatic activities, may play a role as cytoplasmic organic-anion receptors, as previously proposed for the hepatic enzymes.