A low protein diet increases 4-nitrophenol-UDPglucuronosyltransferase but decreases chloramphenicol-UDPglucuronosyltransferase activity and mRNA level in livers of rats treated with polychorinated biphenyls.

We have examined the effects of dietary level of protein (5% or 30% in casein) on enzyme activities and mRNA levels of two xenobiotic-inducible UDPglucuronosyltransferase (UDPGT) enzymes, such as chloramphenicol-UDPGT (CP-UDPGT) and 4-nitrophenol-UDPGT (4NP-UDPGT), in the livers of rats treated or not treated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB). In animals fed 5% casein and not treated with PCB, CP-UDPGT activity tended to be lower than in rats fed 30% casein. In contrast, 4NP-UDPGT activity was higher in rats fed 5% casein. In rats treated with PCB, the activities of both enzymes were increased. CP-UDPGT mRNA level was higher (1.4-fold) in rats fed 30% dietary casein than in those fed 5% casein. In contrast, 4NP-UDPGT mRNA level was higher (2.8-fold) in rats fed 5% casein than in those fed 30% casein. These changes in mRNA levels paralleled those in the activities of the two enzymes. The data indicate that the dietary protein is an important factor controlling the expression of hepatic xenobiotic-inducible UDPGT genes and modulates the capacity of the liver to metabolize foreign compounds.