THE 8S BENZO(A)PYRENE-BINDING PROTEIN IS AN ALDEHYDE DEHYDROGENASE REGULATED BY THE AH RECEPTOR

8S Benzo(a)pyrene-binding proteins from liver cytosol of mouse and rab bit have been partially purified by gel permeation chromatography and affinity chromatography on 1-aminopyrene-Sepharose columns, These prot eins, which bind polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and daunorubicine, h ave been identified, by microsequencing, as aldehyde dehydrogenases co mposed of polypeptides of 54 kDa. Using Ah receptor-deficient (AHR-/-) transgenic mice it has been shown that the amount as well as the bind ing capabilities of 8S protein was strongly altered in these mice, sug gesting that its expression was partially under the control of the Ah receptor, The function of these proteins is currently unknown. (C) 199 8 Academic Press.