Specific effects of potassium ion binding on wild-type and L358P cytochrome P450cam

The camphor monoxygenase cytochrome P450cam (CYP101) requires potassium ion (K+) to drive formation of the characteristic high-spin state of the heme Fe+3 upon substrate binding. Amide 1H, 15N correlations in perdeuterated [U-15N] CYP101 were monitored as a function of K+ concentration by 2D-TROSY-HSQC in both camphor-bound oxidized (CYP-S) and camphor- and CO-bound reduced CYP101 (CYP-S-CO). In both forms, K+-induced spectral perturbations are detected in the vicinity of the K+ binding site proposed from crystallographic structures, but are larger and more widespread structurally in CYP-S than in CYP-S-CO. In CYP-S-CO, K+-induced perturbations occur primarily near the proposed K+ binding site in the B-B' loop and B' helix, which are also perturbed by binding of effector, putidaredoxin (Pdx). The spectral effects of K+ binding in CYP-S-CO oppose those observed upon Pdxr titration. However, Pdxr titration of CYP-S-CO in the absence of K+ results in multiple conformations. The spin-state equilibrium in the L358P mutant of CYP101 is more sensitive to K+ concentration than WT CYP101, consistent with a hypothesis that L358P preferentially populates conformations enforced by Pdx binding in WT CYP101. Thallium(I), a K+ mimic, minimizes the effects of Pdx titration on the NMR spectrum of CYP-S-CO, but is competent to replace K+ in driving the formation of high-spin CYP-S. These observations suggest that the role of K+ is to stabilize conformers of CYP-S that drive the spin-state change prior to the first electron transfer, and that K+ stabilizes the CYP-S-CO conformer that interacts with Pdx. However, upon binding of Pdx, further conformational changes occur that disfavor K+ binding.     

Comparison of the complexes formed by cytochrome P450cam with cytochrome b5 and putidaredoxin, two effectors of camphor hydroxylase activity

Structural perturbations in cytochrome P450cam (CYP101) induced by the soluble fragment of cytochrome b5, a nonphysiological effector of CYP101, were investigated by NMR spectroscopy and compared with the perturbations induced by the physiological reductant and effector putidaredoxin (Pdx). Chemical shifts of perdeuterated [U-15N]CYP101 backbone amide (NH) resonances were monitored as a function of cytochrome b5 concentration by 1H-15N TROSY-HSQC experiments. The association of cytochrome b5 with the reduced CYP101-camphor-carbon monoxide complex (CYP-S-CO) perturbs many of the same resonances that Pdx does, including regions of the CYP101 molecule implicated in substrate access and orientation. The perturbations are smaller in magnitude than those observed with Pdx(r) due to a lower binding affinity (a Kd of 13 +/- 3 mM, for the reduced cytochrome b5-CYP-S-CO complex compared to a Kd of 26 +/- 12 microM for the Pdx-CYP-S-CO complex). The results are in accord with our previous suggestion that the observed perturbations are related to effector activity and support the proposal that the primary role of the effector is to populate the active conformation of CYP101 to prevent uncoupling [Pochapsky, S. S., et al. (2003) Biochemistry 42, 5649-5656]. A titratable perturbation is observed at the 1H resonance of the 8-CH3 group of CYP101-bound camphor upon addition of cytochrome b5, a phenomenon also associated with the formation of the CYP101 x Pdx complex, albeit with larger perturbations [Wei, J. Y., et al. (2005) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 127, 6974-6976]. The effector activity of the particular rat cytochrome b5 construct used for NMR studies was confirmed by monitoring the enzymatic turnover that yielded 5-exo-hydroxycamphor using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Finally, the common features of the perturbations observed in the NMR spectra of the two complexes are discussed, and their relevance to effector activity is considered.     

Structural and Dynamic Implications of an Effector-induced Backbone Amide cis-trans Isomerization in Cytochrome P450cam

Experimental evidence has been provided for a functionally relevant cis-trans isomerization of the Ile88-Pro89 peptide bond in cytochrome P450_cam (CYP101). The isomerization is proposed to be a key element of the structural reorganization leading to the catalytically competent form of CYP101 upon binding of the effector protein putidaredoxin (Pdx). A detailed comparison of the results of molecular dynamics simulations on the cis and trans conformations of substrate- and carbonmonoxy-bound ferrous CYP101 with sequence-specific Pdx-induced structural perturbations identified by nuclear magnetic resonance is presented, providing insight into the structural and dynamic consequences of the isomerization. The mechanical coupling between the Pdx binding site on the proximal face of CYP101 and the site of isomerization is described.     

A functional proline switch in cytochrome P450cam

The two-protein complex between putidaredoxin (Pdx) and cytochrome P450(cam) (CYP101) is the catalytically competent species for camphor hydroxylation by CYP101. We detected a conformational change in CYP101 upon binding of Pdx that reorients bound camphor appropriately for hydroxylation. Experimental evidence shows that binding of Pdx converts a single X-proline amide bond in CYP101 from trans or distorted trans to cis. Mutation of proline 89 to isoleucine yields a mixture of both bound camphor orientations, that seen in Pdx-free and that seen in Pdx-bound CYP101. A mutation in CYP101 that destabilizes the cis conformer of the Ile 88-Pro 89 amide bond results in weaker binding of Pdx. This work provides direct experimental evidence for involvement of X-proline isomerization in enzyme function.     

Solution NMR structure of putidaredoxin-cytochrome P450cam complex via a combined residual dipolar coupling-spin labeling approach suggests a role for Trp106 of putidaredoxin in complex formation

The 58-kDa complex formed between the [2Fe-2S] ferredoxin, putidaredoxin (Pdx), and cytochrome P450cam (CYP101) from the bacterium Pseudomonas putida has been investigated by high-resolution solution NMR spectroscopy. Pdx serves as both the physiological reductant and effector for CYP101 in the enzymatic reaction involving conversion of substrate camphor to 5-exo-hydroxycamphor. In order to obtain an experimental structure for the oxidized Pdx-CYP101 complex, a combined approach using orientational data on the two proteins derived from residual dipolar couplings and distance restraints from site-specific spin labeling of Pdx has been applied. Spectral changes for residues in and near the paramagnetic metal cluster region of Pdx in complex with CYP101 have also been mapped for the first time using ¹⁵N and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, leading to direct identification of the residues strongly affected by CYP101 binding. The new NMR structure of the Pdx-CYP101 complex agrees well with results from previous mutagenesis and biophysical studies involving residues at the binding interface such as formation of a salt bridge between Asp38 of Pdx and Arg112 of CYP101, while at the same time identifying key features different from those of earlier modeling studies. Analysis of the binding interface of the complex reveals that the side chain of Trp106, the C-terminal residue of Pdx and critical for binding to CYP101, is located across from the heme-binding loop of CYP101 and forms non-polar contacts with several residues in the vicinity of the heme group on CYP101, pointing to a potentially important role in complex formation.     

Crystal structure of the cytochrome p450cam mutant that exhibits the same spectral perturbations induced by putidaredoxin binding

The cytochrome P450cam active site is known to be perturbed by binding to its redox partner, putidaredoxin (Pdx). Pdx binding also enhances the camphor monooxygenation reaction (Nagano, S., Shimada, H., Tarumi, A., Hishiki, T., Kimata-Ariga, Y., Egawa, T., Suematsu, M., Park, S.-Y., Adachi, S., Shiro, Y., and Ishimura, Y. (2003) Biochemistry 42, 14507-14514). These effects are unique to Pdx because nonphysiological electron donors are unable to support camphor monooxygenation. The accompanying 1H NMR paper (Tosha, T., Yoshioka, S., Ishimori, K., and Morishima, I. (2004) J. Biol. Chem. 279, 42836-42843) shows that the conformation of active site residues, Thr-252 and Cys-357, and the substrate in the ferrous (Fe(II)) CO complex of the L358P mutant mimics that of the wild-type enzyme complexed to Pdx. To explore how these changes are transmitted from the Pdx-binding site to the active site, we have solved the crystal structures of the ferrous and ferrous-CO complex of wild-type and the L358P mutant. Comparison of these structures shows that the L358P mutation results in the movement of Arg-112, a residue known to be important for putidaredoxin binding, toward the heme. This change could optimize the Pdx-binding site leading to a higher affinity for Pdx. The mutation also pushes the heme toward the substrate and ligand binding pocket, which relocates the substrate to a position favorable for regio-selective hydroxylation. The camphor is held more firmly in place as indicated by a lower average temperature factor. Residues involved in the catalytically important proton shuttle system in the I helix are also altered by the mutation. Such conformational alterations and the enhanced reactivity of the mutant oxy complex with non-physiological electron donors suggest that Pdx binding optimizes the distal pocket for monooxygenation of camphor.     

Redox-dependent structural differences in putidaredoxin derived from homologous structure refinement via residual dipolar couplings

Structural differences in the [2Fe-2S] ferredoxin, putidaredoxin (Pdx), from the camphor hydroxylation pathway of Pseudomonas putida have been investigated as a function of oxidation state of the iron cluster. Pdx is involved in biological electron transfer to cytochrome P450(cam) (CYP101). Redox-dependent differences have been observed previously for Pdx in terms of binding affinities to CYP101, NMR spectral differences, and dynamic properties. To further characterize these differences, structure refinement of both oxidized and reduced Pdx has been carried out using a hybrid approach utilizing paramagnetic distance restraints and NMR orientational restraints in the form of backbone (15)N residual dipolar couplings. Use of these new restraints has improved the structure of oxidized Pdx considerably over the earlier solution NMR structure without RDC restraints, with the new structure now much closer in overall fold to the recently published X-ray crystal structures. We now observe better defined relative orientations of the major secondary structure elements as also of the conformation of the metal binding loop region. Extension of this approach to structure calculation of reduced Pdx has identified structural differences that are primarily localized for residues in the C-terminal interaction domain consisting of the functionally important residue Trp 106 and regions near the metal binding loop in Pdx. These redox-dependent structural differences in Pdx correlate to dynamic changes observed before and may be linked to differences in binding and electron transfer properties between oxidized and reduced Pdx.     

The dynamics of camphor in the cytochrome P450 CYP101D2

The recent crystal structures of CYP101D2, a cytochrome P450 protein from the oligotrophic bacterium Novosphingobium aromaticivorans DSM12444 revealed that both the native (substrate‐free) and camphor‐soaked forms have open conformations. Furthermore, two other potential camphor‐binding sites were also identified from electron densities in the camphor‐soaked structure, one being located in the access channel and the other in a cavity on the surface near the F‐helix side of the F‐G loop termed the substrate recognition site. These latter sites may be key intermediate positions on the pathway for substrate access to or product egress from the active site. Here, we show via the use of unbiased atomistic molecular dynamics simulations that despite the open conformation of the native and camphor‐bound crystal structures, the underlying dynamics of CYP101D2 appear to be very similar to other CYP proteins. Simulations of the native structure demonstrated that the protein is capable of sampling many different conformational substates. At the same time, simulations with the camphor positioned at various locations within the access channel or recognition site show that movement towards the active site or towards bulk solvent can readily occur on a short timescale, thus confirming many previously reported in silico studies using steered molecular dynamics. The simulations also demonstrate how the fluctuations of an aromatic gate appear to control access to the active site. Finally, comparison of camphor‐bound simulations with the native simulations suggests that the fluctuations can be of similar level and thus are more representative of the conformational selection model rather than induced fit.     

Direct observation of a novel perturbed oxyferrous catalytic intermediate during reduced putidaredoxin-initiated turnover of cytochrome P-450-CAM: probing the effector role of putidaredoxin in catalysis

The single turnover of (1R)(+)-camphor-bound oxyferrous cytochrome P450-CAM with one equivalent of dithionite-reduced putidaredoxin (Pdx) was monitored for the appearance of transient intermediates at 3 degrees C by double mixing rapid scanning stopped-flow spectroscopy. With excess camphor, three successive species were observed after generating oxyferrous P450-CAM and reacting versus reduced Pdx: a perturbed oxyferrous derivative, a species that was a mixture of high and low spin Fe(III), and high spin ferric camphor-bound enzyme. The rates of the first two steps, approximately 140 and approximately 85 s(-1), were assigned to formation of the perturbed oxyferrous intermediate and to electron transfer from reduced Pdx, respectively. In the presence of stoichiometric substrate, three phases with similar rates were seen even though the final state is low spin ferric P450-CAM. This is consistent with substrate being hydroxylated during the reaction. The single turnover reaction initiated by adding dioxygen to a preformed reduced P450-CAM.Pdx complex with excess camphor also led to phases with similar rates. It is proposed that formation of the perturbed oxyferrous intermediate reflects alteration of H-bonding to the proximal Cys, increasing the reduction potential of the oxyferrous state and triggering electron transfer from reduced Pdx. This species may be a direct spectral signature of the effector role of Pdx on P450-CAM reactivity (i.e. during catalysis). The substrate-free oxyferrous enzyme also reacted readily with reduced Pdx, showing that the inability of substrate-free P450-CAM to accept electrons from reduced Pdx and function as an NADH oxidase is completely due to the incapacity of reduced Pdx to deliver the first but not the second electron.     

Hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry for investigation of backbone dynamics of oxidized and reduced cytochrome P450cam

Backbone dynamics of the camphor monoxygenase cytochrome P450(cam) (CYP101) as a function of oxidation/ligation state of the heme iron were investigated via hydrogen/deuterium exchange (H/D exchange) as monitored by mass spectrometry. Main chain amide NH hydrogens can exchange readily with solvent and the rate of this exchange depends upon, among other things, dynamic fluctuations in local structural elements. A fluxional region of the polypeptide will exchange more quickly with solvent than one that is more constrained. In most regions of the enzyme, exchange rates were similar between oxidized high-spin camphor-bound and reduced camphor- and CO-bound CYP101 (CYP-S and CYP-S-CO, respectively). However, in regions of the protein that have previously been implicated in substrate access by structural and molecular dynamics investigations, the reduced enzyme shows significantly slower exchange rates than the oxidized CYP-S. This observation corresponds to increased flexibility of the oxidized enzyme relative to the reduced form. Structural features previously found to be perturbed in CYP-S-CO upon binding of the biologically relevant effector and reductant putidaredoxin (Pdx) as determined by nuclear magnetic resonance are also more protected from exchange in the reduced state. To our knowledge, this study represents the first experimental investigation of backbone dynamics within the P450 family using this methodology.     

Redox-dependent dynamics of putidaredoxin characterized by amide proton exchange.

Multidimensional NMR methods were used to obtain 1H-15N correlations and 15N resonance assignments for amide and side-chain nitrogens of oxidized and reduced putidaredoxin (Pdx), the Fe2S2 ferredoxin, which acts as the physiological reductant of cytochrome P-450cam (CYP101). A model for the solution structure of oxidized Pdx has been determined recently using NMR methods (Pochapsky TC, Ye XM, Ratnaswamy G, Lyons TA, 1994, Biochemistry 33:6424-6432) and redox-dependent 1H NMR spectral features have been described (Pochapsky TC, Ratnaswamy G, Patera A, 1994, Biochemistry 33:6433-6441). 15N assignments were made with NOESY-(1H/15N) HMQC and TOCSY-(1H/15N) HSQC spectra obtained using samples of Pdx uniformly labeled with 15N. Local dynamics in both oxidation states of Pdx were then characterized by comparison of residue-specific amide proton exchange rates, which were measured by a combination of saturation transfer and H2O/D2O exchange methods at pH 6.4 and 7.4 (uncorrected for isotope effects). In general, where exchange rates for a given site exhibit significant oxidation-state dependence, the oxidized protein exchanges more rapidly than the reduced protein. The largest dependence of exchange rate upon oxidation state is found for residues near the metal center and in a region of compact structure that includes the loop-turn Val 74-Ser 82 and the C-terminal residues (Pro 102-Trp 106). The significance of these findings is discussed in light of the considerable dependence of the binding interaction between Pdx and CYP101 upon the oxidation state of Pdx.     

Mutations of glutamate-84 at the putative potassium-binding site affect camphor binding and oxidation by cytochrome p450cam.

Cytochrome P450cam (CYP101) from Pseudomonas putida is unusual among P450 enzymes in that it exhibits co-operative binding between the substrate camphor and a potassium ion. This behaviour has been investigated by mutagenesis of Glu84, a surface residue which forms part of the cation-binding site. Substitutions that neutralize or reverse the charge of this side chain are shown to disrupt the co-operativity of potassium and camphor binding by P450cam, and also to influence the catalytic activity. In particular, replacement of Glu84 by positively charged residues such as lysine results in increased high-spin haem fractions and camphor turnover activities in the absence of potassium, along with decreased camphor dissociation constants. However, in the presence of potassium the camphor dissociation constants of these mutants are significantly increased compared with the wild-type, although the camphor turnover activities remain marginally higher. In contrast, substitution by aspartate results in tighter binding of both potassium and camphor, but has little effect on the enzymatic activity. In all cases the reaction remains essentially 100% coupled and gives 5-exo-hydroxycamphor as the only product. These results suggest that an anionic side chain at the 84 position is crucial for the co-operativity of camphor and cation binding, and that the physiological role for potassium binding by cytochrome P450cam is to promote camphor binding even at the expense of turnover rate, thus allowing the organism to utilize low environmental concentrations of this substrate for growth.     

Spring-loading the active site of cytochrome P450cam

A hydrogen bond network has been identified that adjusts protein-substrate contacts in cytochrome P450(cam) (CYP101A1). Replacing the native substrate camphor with adamantanone or norcamphor causes perturbations in NMR-detected NH correlations assigned to the network, which includes portions of a β sheet and an adjacent helix that is remote from the active site. A mutation in this helix reduces enzyme efficiency and perturbs the extent of substrate-induced spin state changes at the haem iron that accompany substrate binding. In turn, the magnitude of the spin state changes induced by alternate substrate binding parallel the NMR-detected perturbations observed near the haem in the enzyme active site.     

Molecular Characterization of a Class I P450 Electron Transfer System from Novosphingobium aromaticivorans DSM12444

Cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes of the CYP101 and CYP111 families from the oligotrophic bacterium Novosphingobium aromaticivorans DSM12444 are heme monooxygenases that receive electrons from NADH via Arx, a [2Fe-2S] ferredoxin, and ArR, a ferredoxin reductase. These systems show fast NADH turnovers (k_cat = 39–91 s⁻¹) that are efficiently coupled to product formation. The three-dimensional structures of ArR, Arx, and CYP101D1, which form a physiological class I P450 electron transfer chain, have been resolved by x-ray crystallography. The general structural features of these proteins are similar to their counterparts in other class I systems such as putidaredoxin reductase (PdR), putidaredoxin (Pdx), and CYP101A1 of the camphor hydroxylase system from Pseudomonas putida, and adrenodoxin (Adx) of the mitochondrial steroidogenic CYP11 and CYP24A1 systems. However, significant differences in the proposed protein-protein interaction surfaces of the ferredoxin reductase, ferredoxin, and P450 enzyme are found. There are regions of positive charge on the likely interaction face of ArR and CYP101D1 and a corresponding negatively charged area on the surface of Arx. The [2Fe-2S] cluster binding loop in Arx also has a neutral, hydrophobic patch on the surface. These surface characteristics are more in common with those of Adx than Pdx. The observed structural features are consistent with the ionic strength dependence of the activity.     

Reactivities of organic phase biosensors: 6. Square-wave and differential pulse studies of genetically engineered cytochrome P450(cam) (CYP101) bioelectrodes in selected solvents

Cytochrome P450(cam) (CYP101) bioelectrodes suitable for application in organic phases were prepared from genetically engineered CYP101 and vesicular dispersions of didodecyldimethylammonium bromide. The amperometric biosensor system was characterised under anaerobic conditions by cyclic and square-wave voltammetric methods. Cyclic- and square-wave-voltammetry studies showed that the biosensors exhibited direct reversible electron transfer between the haem iron atom and the glassy carbon electrode surface. The formal redox potential estimated for the electrode in acetonitrile was -380 mV/Ag-AgCl. The formal potential shifted anodically as the organic phase biosensor responded irreversibly to substrate (camphor) under anaerobic and aerobic conditions in acetonitrile. Differential pulse analysis of the reactivities of the CYP101 enzyme electrode confirmed the square-wave voltammetry result, which showed that the binding of substrate decreased the redox potential necessary for initiating the monooxygenation reaction of cytochrome P450(cam).     

Differential behavior of the sub-sites of cytochrome 450 active site in binding of substrates, and products (implications for coupling/uncoupling)

The cytochrome P450 catalyzes hydroxylation of many substrates in the presence of O(2) and specific electron transport system. The ternary complex S-Fe(+)O(2) with substrate and O(2) bound to their respective sites on the reduced enzyme is an important intermediate in the formation of the hydroxylating species. Then the active site may be considered as having two sub-sites geared for entirely different types of functionally relevant interactions. The two sites are the substrate binding site, the specific protein residues (Site I), and the L(6) position of the iron (Site II) to which O(2) binds upon reduction. In the ferric enzyme, when substrate binds to Site I, the low spin six-coordinated P450 is converted to the readily reducible high spin five coordinated state. Certain amines and OH compounds, such as products of P450-catalyzed reactions, can bind to Site II resulting in six coordinated inhibited complexes. Then the substrate and product interactions with the two sub-sites can regulate the functional state of the enzyme during catalysis. Product interactions have received very little attention. CYP101 is the only P450 in which X-ray and spectroscopic data on all three structures, the substrate-free, camphor-bound and the 5-exo-OHcamphor-bound are available. The substrate-free CYP101 is low spin and six-coordinated with a water molecule ligated at the L(6) position of the iron. The substrate camphor binds to Site I, and releases the L(6) water despite its inability to bind to this site, indicating that Site I binding can inhibit Site II ligation. The product 5-exo-OHcamphor in addition to binding to Site I, binds to Site II through its -OH group forming Fe-O bond, resulting in the low spin six-coordinated complex. New temperature-jump relaxation kinetic data indicating that Site II ligation inhibits Site I binding are presented. It appears that the Site I and Site II function as interacting sub-sites. The inhibitory allosteric interactions between the two sub-sites are also reflected in the data on binding of the substrate camphor (S) in the presence of the product 5-exo-OH camphor (P) to CYP101 (E). The data are in accordance with the two-site model involving the ternary complex ESP. The affinity of the substrate to the product-bound enzyme as well as the affinity of the product to the substrate-bound enzyme decreased with increase in product concentration, which is consistent with mixed inhibition indicative of inhibitory allosteric interactions between the two sub-sites. Implications of these observations for coupling/uncoupling mechanisms are discussed in the light of the published findings consistent with the two-site behavior of the P450 active site. In addition, kinetic data indicating that the transient high spin intermediate may have to be taken into account for understanding how some P450s have been able to express appreciable hydroxylation activities in the absence of substrate-induced low to high spin transition, observable by the traditional static spectroscopy, are presented.     

Structural biology of redox partner interactions in P450cam monooxygenase: A fresh look at an old system

The P450cam monooxygenase system consists of three separate proteins: the FAD-containing, NADH-dependent oxidoreductase (putidaredoxin reductase or Pdr), cytochrome P450cam and the 2Fe2S ferredoxin (putidaredoxin or Pdx), which transfers electrons from Pdr to P450cam. Over the past few years our lab has focused on the interaction between these redox components. It has been known for some time that Pdx can serve as an effector in addition to its electron shuttle role. The binding of Pdx to P450cam is thought to induce structural changes in the P450cam active site that couple electron transfer to substrate hydroxylation. The nature of these structural changes has remained unclear until a particular mutant of P450cam (Leu358Pro) was found to exhibit spectral perturbations similar to those observed in wild type P450cam bound to Pdx. The crystal structure of the L358P variant has provided some important insights on what might be happening when Pdx docks. In addition to these studies, many Pdx mutants have been analyzed to identify regions important for electron transfer. Somewhat surprisingly, we found that Pdx residues predicted to be at the P450cam–Pdx interface play different roles in the reduction of ferric P450cam and the ferrous P450–O₂ complex. More recently we have succeeded in obtaining the structure of a chemically cross-linked Pdr–Pdx complex. This fusion protein represents a valid model for the noncovalent Pdr–Pdx complex as it retains the redox activities of native Pdr and Pdx and supports monooxygenase reactions catalyzed by P450cam. The insights gained from these studies will be summarized in this review.     

Improving the affinity and activity of CYP101D2 for hydrophobic substrates

CYP101D2 is a cytochrome P450 monooxygenase from Novosphingobium aromaticivorans which is closely related to CYP101A1 (P450cam) from Pseudomonas putida. Both enzymes selectively hydroxylate camphor to 5-exo-hydroxycamphor, and the residues that line the active sites of both enzymes are similar including the pre-eminent Tyr96 residue. However, Met98 and Leu253 in CYP101D2 replace Phe98 and Val247 in CYP101A1, and camphor binding only results in a maximal change in the spin state to 40 % high-spin. Substitutions at Tyr96, Met98 and Leu253 in CYP101D2 reduced both the spin state shift on camphor binding and the camphor oxidation activity. The Tyr96Ala mutant increased the affinity of CYP101D2 for hydrocarbon substrates including adamantane, cyclooctane, hexane and 2-methylpentane. The monooxygenase activity of the Tyr96Ala variant towards alkane substrates was also enhanced compared with the wild-type enzyme. The crystal structure of the substrate-free form of this variant shows the enzyme in an open conformation (PDB: 4DXY), similar to that observed with the wild-type enzyme (PDB: 3NV5), with the side chain of Ala96 pointing away from the heme. Despite this, the binding and activity data suggest that this residue plays an important role in substrate binding, evidencing that the enzyme probably undergoes catalysis in a more closed conformation, similar to those observed in the crystal structures of CYP101A1 (PDB: 2CPP) and CYP101D1 (PDB: 3LXI).     

Engineering the CYP101 system for in vivo oxidation of unnatural substrates.

The protein engineering of CYP enzymes for structure-activity studies and the oxidation of unnatural substrates for biotechnological applications will be greatly facilitated by the availability of functional, whole-cell systems for substrate oxidation. We report the construction of a tricistronic plasmid that expresses the CYP101 monooxygenase from Pseudomonas putida, and its physiological electron transfer co-factor proteins putidaredoxin reductase and putidaredoxin in Escherichia coli, giving a functional in vivo catalytic system. Wild-type CYP101 expressed in this system efficiently transforms camphor to 5-exo-hydroxycamphor without further oxidation to 5-oxo-camphor until >95% of camphor has been consumed. CYP101 mutants with increased activity for the oxidation of diphenylmethane (the Y96F-I395G mutant), styrene and ethylbenzene (the Y96F-V247L mutant) have been engineered. In particular, the Y96F-V247L mutant shows coupling efficiency of approximately 60% for styrene and ethylbenzene oxidation, with substrate oxidation rates of approximately 100/min. Escherichia coli cells transformed with tricistronic plasmids expressing these mutants readily gave 100-mg quantities of 4-hydroxydiphenylmethane and 1-phenylethanol in 24-72 h. This new in vivo system can be used for preparative scale reactions for product characterization, and will greatly facilitate directed evolution of the CYP101 enzyme for enhanced activity and selectivity of substrate oxidation.     

Time-resolved fluorescence studies of heterotropic ligand binding to cytochrome P450 3A4

Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) is a major enzymatic determinant of drug and xenobiotic metabolism that demonstrates remarkable substrate diversity and complex kinetic properties. The complex kinetics may result, in some cases, from multiple binding of ligands within the large active site or from an effector molecule acting at a distal allosteric site. Here, the fluorescent probe TNS (2-p-toluidinylnaphthalene-6-sulfonic acid) was characterized as an active site fluorescent ligand. UV-vis difference spectroscopy revealed a TNS-induced low-spin heme absorbance spectrum with an apparent K(d) of 25.4 +/- 2 microM. Catalytic turnover using 7-benzyloxyquinoline (7-BQ) as a substrate demonstrated TNS-dependent inhibition with an IC(50) of 9.9 +/- 0.1 microM. These results suggest that TNS binds in the CYP3A4 active site. The steady-state fluorescence of TNS increased upon binding to CYP3A4, and fluorescence titrations yielded a K(d) of 22.8 +/- 1 microM. Time-resolved frequency-domain measurement of TNS fluorescence lifetimes indicates a testosterone (TST)-dependent decrease in the excited-state lifetime of TNS, concomitant with a decrease in the steady-state fluorescence intensity. In contrast, the substrate erythromycin (ERY) had no effect on TNS lifetime, while it decreased the steady-state fluorescence intensity. Together, the results suggest that TNS binds in the active site of CYP3A4, while the first equivalent of TST binds at a distant allosteric effector site. Furthermore, the results are the first to indicate that TST bound to the effector site can modulate the environment of the heterotropic ligand.