Identification of epoxide hydrase as the preneoplastic antigen in rat liver hyperplastic nodules.

A liver microsomal protein, previously referred to as preneoplastic antigen, from hyperplastic nodules of rats fed a diet containing 2-acetylaminofluorene has been identified as the enzyme epoxide hydrase [glycol hydro-lyase (epoxideforming), EC 4.2.1.63]. Purified preneoplastic antigen from hyperplastic nodules and purified rat liver microsomal epoxide hydrase are immunochemically identical on the basis of Ouchterlony double-diffusion analysis. In addition, the purified proteins have identical minimum molecular weights in sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gels, and both proteins catalyze the hydration of arene oxides to dihydrodiols. Chronic feeding of 2-acetylaminofluorene to rats results in a 5- to 7-fold increase in epoxide hydrase activity in rat liver. The induced level of the enzyme is maintained in developing hyperplastic nodules and hepatomas but not in the nontumor tissue after removal of the carcinogen from the diet.