Glutathione S-transferase of bovine iris and ciliary body: characterization of isoenzymes.

Five forms of glutathione (GSH) S-transferase (GST) having catalytic activities towards a variety of xenobiotics were present in bovine iris-ciliary body. In contrast to that in lens, cornea, and retina, GST isoenzymes belonging to all the three classes (alpha, mu and pi) were present in iris as well as in the ciliary body. GST isoenzymes of iris-ciliary body had pI values of 8.7, 7.4, 7.0, 6.6, and 6.0. GST 8.7 and GST 7.4 were apparent homodimers of 27,000 and 22,500 Mr subunits, respectively. GST 8.7 cross-reacted only with antibodies raised against the alpha class GST of human liver and GST 7.4 cross-reacted with the antibodies raised against GST pi of human placenta. GST 7.0 and 6.6 were heterodimers of Mr 26,500 and 25,000 subunits and both these subunits cross-reacted with the antibodies raised against the mu class human GST. Iris-ciliary body contained both, GSH peroxidase I and GSH peroxidase II activities and in this respect also, they differ from lens, cornea, and retina each of which have only one of these two activities. The presence of several GST isoenzymes belonging to all the three major classes and both GSH peroxidase I and II activities in iris-ciliary body may be important for the detoxification of oxidants and xenobiotics in order to prevent their infiltration in aqueous humor.