Multiplicity of cytosolic glutathione S-transferases in several animal species

Abstract

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are one of the important enzymes in terms of not only drug metabolism but also physiological functions. The marked sex difference in GST activity has been found in rat liver cytosol, and such differences are suggested to be primarily due to the differences in the subunit composition of GSTs in both sexes. GSTs are widely distributed in mammalian species, and can be grouped into three distinct species-independent classes named alpha, mu and pi. The pi class GST 7-7 as a new mark er for preneoplasia is almost undetectable in normal rat liver. Normal dog liver cytosol has, however, possessed abundantly GST isozymes which are immunologically identical to GST 7-7. The present review also describes multiple forms of several animal species.