Identification of seven proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum as targets for reactive metabolites of bromobenzene

The hepatotoxicity of bromobenzene is strongly correlated with the covalent binding of chemically reactive metabolites to cellular proteins, but up to now relatively few hepatic protein targets of these reactive metabolites have been identified. To identify additional hepatic protein targets we injected an hepatotoxic dose of [C-14]bromobenzene to phenobarbital-pretreated male Sprague-Dawley rats ip. After 4 h, their livers were removed and homogenized, and the homogenates fractionated by differential ultracentrifagation. The highest specific radiolabeling (6.1 nmol equiv C-14/mg of protein) was observed in a particulate fraction (P25) sedimented at 25000g from a 6000g supernatant fraction. Proteins in this fraction were separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis and, after transblotting, analyzed for radioactivity by phosphor-imaging. More than 20 radiolabeled protein spots were observed in the blots. For 17 of these spots, peptide mass maps were obtained using in-gel digestion with trypsin, followed by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometric analysis of the resulting peptide mixtures. By searching genomic databases, the 17 sets of MS-derived peptide masses were found to match predicted tryptic fragments of just 7 proteins. Spots 1-4 matched with 78 kDa glucose regulated protein (GRP78), protein disulfide isomerase isozyme A1 (PDIA1), endoplasmic reticulum protein ERp29, and PDIA6, respectively. Spots 5 and 6, 7-11, and 12-17 presented as apparent "charge trains" of spots, each of which gave peptide mixtures closely similar to those of other spots within the train. The proteins present in these sets of spots were identified as transthyretin, serum albumin precursor and PDIA3, respectively. The possible relationship of the adduction of these proteins to the toxicological outcome is discussed.