GLUTATHIONE METABOLISM IN PRIMATE LENSES - A PHYLOGENETIC STUDY OF GLUTATHIONE SYNTHESIS AND GLUTATHIONE REDOX CYCLE ENZYME-ACTIVITIES

Lens wet weights, soluble protein, and activities of gamma-glutamylcys teine synthetase, glutathione synthetase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase were determined in primate lenses. The primary s ources of lenses were middle-aged adult animals. The primates, from 23 genera, were categorized into six superfamilies: hominoids (five spec ies), Old World monkeys (seven species), New World monkeys (five speci es), tarsiers (two species), lemurs (six species), and lorisids (three species). Significant differences between various groups or combinati ons of groups were noted for gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase, glutat hione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase activities. Lenticular gam ma-glutamylcysteine synthetase activity was very low in the Old World simian lenses and highest in the prosimians. Glutathione peroxidase ac tivity was extraordinarily high in lenses of Old World monkeys. Glutat hione reductase activity was low in all the prosimians but tenfold hig her in hominoid lenses with intermediate values in monkeys of both the Old World and New World. Glutathione synthetase activity was variable , and no clear pattern which might be useful for primate classificatio n was noted. Lenticular activity ratios of glutathione synthetase:gamm a-glutamylcysteine synthetase were highest in the Old World simians an d lowest in the prosimians. These data with emphasis upon Aotus and th e tarsiers were examined with regard to phylogenetic relationships. (C ) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.