Active site-directed irreversible inhibition of glutathione S-transferases by the glutathione conjugate of tetrachloro-1,4-benzoquinone.

Purified glutathione S-transferase from rat liver cytosol are irreversibly inhibited by the glutathione conjugate of tetrachloro-1,4-benzoquinone, 2-S-glutathionyl-3,5,6-trichloro-1,4-benzoquinone. The inhibition is due to covalent binding in or near the active site, resulting in modification of a single amino acid residue/subunit, presumably a cysteine residue. The amount of inhibition is related to the molar ratio of the inhibitor and the enzyme and is independent of the enzyme concentration. A 70-80% inhibition is obtained on incubating the enzyme with a 5-fold molar excess of the conjugate. Complete 100% inhibition is never reached. The derivative bound to the enzyme still possesses a quinone structure and is able to react with thiol-containing compounds. Reduction of the enzyme-bound quinone abolishes its reactivity but does not decrease the inhibition. At 0 degrees C, the glutathione conjugate of tetrachloro-1,4-benzoquinone inhibits the glutathione S-transferases at a much higher rate than the corresponding beta-mercaptoethanol conjugate, indicating a distinct targetting effect of the glutathione moiety. However, the parent compound, tetrachloro-1,4-benzoquinone, also has a considerable affinity for the enzymes. Although it does not react as fast as the glutathione conjugate, it reacts with the same amino acid residue. Protection from inhibition by the substrate analog S-hexylglutathione also indicates an active site-directed modification. Small but significant differences exist between the different rat liver transferase isoenzymes; using a 20-fold molar excess the inhibition ranges from 78 to 98% for the conjugate, and from 72 to 93% for the quinone, with isoenzyme 1-1 being the most and isoenzyme 2-2 the least inhibited forms.