Induction and development of mouse liver glutathione S-transferase activity.

Mouse liver glutathione S-transferase activity at birth was 1/10 that of adults, and increased steadily with each successive week of age until adult values were reached at 8 weeks. Activity was inducible with phenobarbital; however, the percentage increase in activity was dependent upon substrate. 2 distinct peaks of transferase activity were obtained on CM-cellulose chromatography. The ratios of transferase activity observed for each peak demonstrated that glutathione S-transferase activity in mouse liver is associated with at least 2 distinct proteins with differing substrate specificities.