The membrane associated proteins in eicosanoid and glutathione metabolism (MAPEG) superfamily includes structurally related membrane proteins with diverse functions of widespread origin. A total of 136 proteins belonging to the MAPEG superfamily were found in database and genome screenings. The members were found in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, but not in any archaeal organism. Multiple sequence alignments and calculations of evolutionary trees revealed a clear subdivision of the eukaryotic MAPEG members, corresponding to the six families of microsomal glutathione transferases (MGST) 1, 2 and 3, leukotriene C 4 synthase (LTC 4 ), 5-lipoxygenase activating protein (FLAP), and prostaglandin E synthase. Prokaryotes contain at least two distinct potential ancestral subfamilies, of which one is unique, whereas the other most closely resembles enzymes that belong to the MGST2 ⁄ FLAP ⁄ LTC 4 synthase families. The insect members are most similar to MGST1 ⁄ prostaglandin E synthase. With the new data available, we observe that fish enzymes are present in all six families, showing an early origin for MAPEG family differentiation. Thus, the evolutionary origins and relationships of the MAPEG superfamily can be defined, including distinct sequence patterns characteristic for each of the subfamilies. We have further investigated and functionally characterized representative gene products from Escherichia coli, Synechocystis sp., Arabidopsis thaliana and Drosophila melanogaster, and the fish liver enzyme, purified from pike (Esox lucius). Protein overexpression and enzyme activity analysis demonstrated that all proteins catalyzed the conjugation of 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene with reduced glutathione. The E. coli protein displayed glutathione transferase activity of 0.11 lmolAEmin )1 AEmg)1 in the membrane fraction from bacteria overexpressing the protein. Partial purification of the Synechocystis sp. protein yielded an enzyme of the expected molecular mass and an N-terminal amino acid sequence that was at least 50% pure, with a specific activity towards 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene of 11 lmolAEmin )1 AEmg )1 . Yeast microsomes expressing the Arabidopsis enzyme Abbreviations BSA, bovine serum albumin;

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Microsomal glutathione transferase-1 (MGST-1) is an abundant protein that catalyzes the conjugation of electrophilic compounds with glutathione, as well as the reduction of lipid hydroperoxides. Here we report that leukotriene C 4 is a potent inhibitor of MGST-1. Leukotriene C 4 was found to be a tight-binding inhibitor, with a K i of 5.4 nM for the unactivated enzyme, and 9.2 nM for the N-ethylmaleimide activated enzyme. This is the first tight-binding inhibitor characterized for this enzyme. Leukotriene C 4 was competitive with respect to glutathione and non-competitive toward the second substrate, CDNB. Analysis of stoichiometry supports binding of one molecule of inhibitor per homotrimer. Leukotrienes A 4 , D 4 , and E 4 were much weaker inhibitors of the purified enzyme (by at least 3 orders of magnitude). Leukotriene C 4 analogues, which have been developed as antagonists of leukotriene receptors, were found to display varying degrees of inhibition of MGST-1. In particular, the cysteinyl-leukotriene analogues SKF 104,353, ONO-1078, and BAYu9773 were strong inhibitors (IC 50 values: 0.13, 3.7, and 7.6 M, respectively). In view of the partial structural similarity between MGST-1, leukotriene C 4 synthase, and 5-lipoxygenase activating protein (FLAP), it was of interest that leukotriene C 4 synthesis inhibitors (which antagonize FLAP) also displayed significant inhibition (e.g. IC 50 for BAYx1005 was 58 M). In contrast, selective 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors such as zileuton only marginally inhibited activity at high concentrations (500 M). Our discovery that leukotriene C 4 and drugs developed based on its structure are potent inhibitors of MGST-1 raises the possibility that MGST-1 influences the cellular processing of leukotrienes. These findings may also have implications for the effects and side-effects of drugs developed to manipulate leukotrienes.

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