Metabolism of 19-methyl substituted steroids and a proposal for the third aromatase monooxygenation

The article summarizes the results of recent studies on the metabolism of 10-ethylestr-4-ene-3,17-dione, 10-[(1R)-1-hydroxyethyl]-,and 10-[(1S)-1-hydroxyethyl]estr-4-ene-3, 17-dione, in placenta. These compounds are the 19-methyl analogs of androstenedione, 19-hydroxyandrostenedione, and 19-oxoandrostenedione, respectively. No conversion of 10-ethylestr-4-ene-3,17-dione to either estrogens or oxygenated metabolites was detected. Both 10-[(1R)-1-hydroxyethyl]- and 10-[(1S)-1-hydroxyethyl]estr-4-ene-3, 17-dione were oxygenated to 10-(1,1-dihydroxyethyl)estr-4-ene-3,17-dione and isolated following in situ dehydration as 10-acetylestr-4-ene-3,17-dione. Evidence for the involvement of aromatase in these conversions is discussed. No conversion of 10-acetylestr-4-ene-3,17-dione to either estrogens or other oxygenated products was detected. These results lead us to propose a new mechanism for the third aromatase monooxygenation. We propose that the third oxygenation is initiated by 1β-hydrogen abstraction at C₁ of 19,19-dihydroxyandrostenedione, followed by homolytic cleavage of the C₁₀−C₁₉ bond with concurrent formation of a Δ^1(10),4−3-ketosteroid and a C₁₉ carbon radical, and terminated by oxygen rebound at C₁₉.     

3-Methylene-substituted androgens as novel aromatization inhibitors. Evidence of a requirement for C-3 oxygen in C-19 hydroxylations

Substitution of a methylene group for the C-3 oxygen in androstenedione, testosterone, and the corresponding 19-hydroxy and 19-oxo derivatives results in a new category of inhibitors of estrogen biosynthesis by human placental microsomes. The inhibition is of the competitive type with the most effective inhibitors being the 17-ketonic compounds, 3-methyleneandrost-4-en-17-one, 19-hydroxy-3-methyleneandrost-4-en-17-one, and 3-methylene-19-oxoandrost-4-en-17-one with apparent Ki values of 4.7, 13, and 24 nM, respectively. The 3-methylene derivatives of androstenedione and 19-hydroxyandrostenedione were effective substrates for the placental microsomal 17 beta-hydroxy-steroid oxidoreductase but were only marginally hydroxylated at the C-19 position to the respective 19-hydroxy and 19-oxo derivatives. The 3-methylene analogs are thus competitive inhibitors of aromatization but are not substrates for this enzyme complex. Time-dependent inhibition of aromatization by 10 beta-difluoromethylestr-4-ene-3,17-dione and 10 beta-(2-propynyl)estr-4-ene,3,17-dione was abolished by substitution of a methylene function for the C-3 oxygen, suggesting that the presence of an oxygen at C-3 is required for an oxidative transformation at C-19, an initial step in aromatization. The essential role of the C-19 hydroxylation in aromatization is supported by the observation that the 3-methylene derivatives of 19-hydroxy- and 19-oxoandrostenedione showed time-dependent inhibition, but the corresponding 19-methyl compound did not. The 3-methylene androgens are potent inhibitors of placental aromatization but are themselves only marginal substrates for the enzyme. Their high affinity for and inertness to the placental aromatase complex makes them valuable probes of the aromatization process.     

The constitutive 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase activity of human placental microsomes: relationship to aromatase

The constitutive 7-ethoxycoumarin deethylase activity of human placental microsomes from non-smokers was acutely inhibited by a number of androgens which serve as substrates for and/or competitive inhibitors of estrogen synthesis by the aromatase activity of these preparations. 10 beta-(2-Propynyl)estr-4-ene-3,17-dione and 4-hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione, androgen derivatives which produce a mechanism-based, time-dependent inactivation of placental aromatase caused a cofactor-dependent decay in deethylase activity which paralleled the loss of aromatase activity caused by these agents and which was antagonized by aromatase substrates. Conversely, 7-ethoxycoumarin antagonized the time-dependent action of 10 beta-(2-propynyl)estr-4-ene-3,17-dione and 4-hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione on aromatase and inhibited competitively the aromatization of 4-androstene-3,17-dione. The Ki for 7-ethoxycoumarin was equivalent to its Km as substrate for deethylation. It is concluded that a common oxidase species is responsible for both the aromatase and constitutive 7-ethoxycoumarin deethylase activities of human placental microsomes.     

The constitutive 7-ethoxycoumarin 0-deethylase of human placental microsomes: relationship to the intermediary steps in steroid aromatization

All oxidative functions of aromatase, i.e., estrogen production, 19-oxygenated androgen production and 7-ethoxycoumarin deethylation, were inhibited in parallel in placental microsomes from non-smokers by the mechanism-based, time-dependent inactivators (suicide substrates) 10 beta-(2-propynyl)estr-4-ene-3,17-dione and 4-hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione. In contrast, the aromatase suicide substrate androst-4-ene-3,6,17-trione had little or no effect on the conversion of androst-4-ene-3,17-dione to 19-hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione or on the conversion of the latter to 3,17-dioxoandrost-4-en-19-al while severely limiting the capacity for estrogen production from androst-4-ene-3,17-dione and 19-hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione in such microsomal preparations. Androst-4-ene-3,6,17-trione, therefore, appears to uncouple the 19-hydroxylation of androgens from estrogen synthesis. This agent also produced only a minimal inhibition of 7-ethoxycoumarin deethylation, indicating that this major constitutive transformation of a xenobiotic chemical is associated with the steroid 19-hydroxylating function of the aromatase system.     

Dissociation of 19-hydroxy- 19-oxo-, and aromatizing-activities in human placental microsomes through the use of suicide substrates to aromatase

Suicide substrates of aromatase were used as chemical probes to determine if free 19-hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione (19-OHA) and 19-oxoandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione (19-oxoA) are obligatory intermediates in the aromatization of androst-4-ene-3,17-dione (androstenedione) to oestrone by human placental aromatase. A radiometric-HPLC assay was used to monitor 19-hydroxy, 19-oxo-, and aromatized products formed in incubations of [14C]androstenedione and human placental microsomes. When microsomes were preincubated with the suicide substrates 10 beta-mercapto-estr-4-ene-3,17-dione (10 beta-SHnorA), or 17 beta-hydroxy-10 beta-mercaptoestr-4-ene-3-one (10 beta-SHnorT), it was found that 19-hydroxy-, 19-oxo- and aromatase activities were inhibited in parallel. However, when the suicide substrates 4-hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione (4-OHA) and 19-mercaptoandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione (19-SHA) were preincubated with placental microsomes, significantly greater inhibition of formation of oestrogens was observed in comparison to the inhibition of formation of 19-hydroxy- and 19-oxo-metabolites. Furthermore, significantly more time-dependent inhibition of 19-oxoA formation was observed in comparison to inhibition of 19-OHA formation with these same inhibitors. These results suggest that 19-hydroxy- and 19-oxo-androstenediones are not free, obligatory intermediates in the aromatization of androstenedione by human placental aromatase, but rather are products of their own autonomous cytochrome P-450-dependent, microsomal enzymatic activities.     

Tritium release from [19-3H]-19,19-difluoroandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione during inactivation of aromatase

Aromatase is a cytochrome P-450 enzyme involved in the conversion of androst-4-ene-3,17-dione to estrogen via sequential oxidations at the 19-methyl group. Previous studies from this laboratory showed that 19,19-difluoroandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione (5) is a mechanism-based inactivator of aromatase. The mechanism of inactivation was postulated to involve enzymic oxidation at, and hydrogen loss from, the 19-carbon. The deuteriated analogue 5b has now been synthesized and shown to inactivate aromatase at the same rate as the nondeuteriated parent (5). We conclude that C19-H bond cleavage is not the rate-limiting step in the overall inactivation process caused by 5. [19-3H]-19,19-Difluoroandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione (5b) with specific activity of 31 mCi/mmol was also synthesized to study the release of tritium into solution during the enzyme inactivation process. Incubation of [19-3H]19,19-difluoroandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione with human placental microsomal aromatase at differing protein concentrations resulted in time-dependent NADPH-dependent, and protein-dependent release of tritium. This tritium release is not observed in the presence of (19R)-10 beta-oxiranylestr-4-ene-3,17-dione, a powerful competitive inhibitor of aromatase. We conclude that aromatase attacks the 19-carbon of 19,19-difluoroandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione, as originally postulated.     

Aromatization of 16alpha-hydroxyandrostenedione by human placental microsomes: effect of preincubation with suicide substrates of androstenedione aromatization

Estrogen synthase (aromatase) catalyzes the aromatization of androstenedione (AD) as well as 16alpha-hydroxyandrostenedione (16alpha-OHAD) leading to estrone and estriol, respectively. We found that several steroid analogs including 4-hydroxyandrostenedione (1), 6-oxoandrostenedione (6-oxoAD, 2) and its 19-hydroxy analog (3), 10beta-acetoxyestr-5-ene-7,17-dione (4), androst-5-ene-4,7,17-trione (5), and 17alpha-ethynyl-19-norteststerone (6), which are known suicide inactivators of AD aromatization, are not effective in inactivating 16alpha-OHAD aromatization in a time-dependent manner. The compounds were tested with the use of human placental microsomes and 1beta-tritiated-16alpha-OHAD as the substrate. The results of the tritium water method of 16alpha-OHAD aromatization was confirmed by the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method of estriol formation. The 1beta-tritiated-AD was used to measure AD aromatization as a positive control for these experiments. The compounds were tested at concentrations up to 40-fold higher than the K(i)'s determined for inhibition of AD aromatization. These studies suggest that differences exist in the binding site structures responsible for aromatization of 16alpha-OHAD and AD.     

Novel silylated steroids as aromatase inhibitors

Androst-4-en-3-one analogs incorporating a trimethylsilyl or a trimethylsilylmethyl group at C-1, C-2 or C-19 were prepared and evaluated as inhibitors of aromatase. Only 10-[1-hydroxy-2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl]estr-4-ene-3,17-dione inhibited human placental aromatase. Enzyme kinetic analysis revealed competitive inhibition [apparent dissociation constant (Ki) of 562 +/- 12 nM] associated with marginal time-dependent inhibition.     

Steroidal Metabolites Transformed by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Marchantia polymorpha</Emphasis> Cultures Block Breast Cancer Estrogen Biosynthesis

Suspension of cultured cells of Marchantia polymorpha have the potential to hydrogenate the olefinic bonds present in androst-1,4-dien-3,17-dione (boldione, 1) to afford dihydroandrost-3,17-dione derivatives including: androst-4-ene-3,17-dione (androstenedione, 4-AD, 2), 5α-androstane-3,17-dione (androstenedione, AD, 4), and the less abundant metabolite 5α-androst-1-ene-3,17-dione (1-androstenedione, 1-AD, 3). After isolation and purification, these metabolites were characterized on the basis of spectroscopic analyses using 1D and 2D NMR as well as mass spectrometry. Cytotoxicity of the biotransformation products against breast adenocarcinoma cells (MCF-7) was assessed by a 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide assay and cell death (apoptosis or necrosis) was assayed by acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining. Aromatase (cytochrome P450 19 enzyme, CYP19) inhibitory activity was measured by a tritiated water release assay and by direct measurement of bio-transformed steroids using the tritium labeled substrate ³H-androst-4-ene-3,17-dione. CYP19 mRNA expression in MCF-7 cells was analyzed by real-time PCR. Steroidal products 3 and 4 revealed a highly significant inhibition of MCF-7 cell growth that was predominantly due to apoptosis not necrosis. Steroidal products 3 and 4 are both potent inhibitors of aromatase activity and CYP19 mRNA expression, while 2 is a known substrate for aromatase. These data establish that metabolites 3 and 4 are potent chemical agents against breast cancer via aromatase inhibitory mechanism. Results were interpreted via virtual docking of the biotransformation products to the human placental aromatase active site.     

3 beta-hydroxyandrost-4-en-6-one derivatives as aromatase inhibitors

The 3-formate (II), 3-acetate (III), 3-bromoacetate (IV), 3-propionate (V), 3-methyl ether (VI), and 3-deoxy-derivative (VII) of 3 beta-hydroxyandrost-4-ene-6,17-dione (I) were synthesized and tested in human placental microsomes for their ability to inhibit aromatase. II, III, and VII of this series were potent inhibitors of aromatase with the IC50's (1.7 and 3.3 microM) of the latter two comparable to that (1.2 microM) of 4-hydroxyandrostenedione. Kinetic studies showed that the three steroids are competitive inhibitors of the enzyme with Ki's of 16.0, 5.5, and 0.61 microM for II, III, and VII. Furthermore, II showed a time-dependent, pseudo-first order rate of inactivation of aromatase with Ki of 20.5 microM and kinact of 1.54 x 10(-2) min-1, while III gave a time-dependent, biphasic loss of the enzyme activity. NADPH and oxygen were required for the time-dependent inactivation and the substrate, androstenedione, prevented it.     

Purification and reconstitution properties of human placental aromatase. A cytochrome P-450-type monooxygenase

The hemoprotein component of human placental aromatase (estrogen synthetase) has been purified to a high degree of homogeneity by a combination of affinity and adsorption chromatography on aminohexyl-Sepharose, concanavalin-A-Sepharose, and hydroxyapatite. The monomeric form of the enzyme has an Mr of 55000 +/- 1000 as estimated by sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis. Its absolute spectrum shows a high-spin Soret band at 394 nm while its reduced, CO-difference spectrum has a maximum at 447 +/- 1 nm. Full reconstitution of aromatase activity was obtained when it was recombined with a homogeneous preparation of the higher-Mr form of either human placental, or bovine hepatic NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase. Critical factors for purification of the very unstable, membrane-bound hemoprotein with good retention of activity were, besides the chromatographic sequence, the use of the zwitterionic detergent 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate (Chaps) during the solubilization, and the stabilizing effect of the aromatase substrate, 4-androstene-3,17-dione, throughout the procedure. In the presence of NADPH, the reconstituted enzyme system smoothly aromatizes 19-oxoandrostenedione, 19-hydroxyandrostenedione and androstenedione in this order of reactivity. The same reconstituted system also aromatized testosterone, but it was inactive towards 19-norandrostenedione. Known cytochrome P-450 inhibitors decreased its activity. We conclude: (a) the terminal oxidase of human placental aromatase is indeed a cytochrome P-450-type monooxygenase; (b) the multistep aromatization reaction of C19 androstenes is catalyzed by a single enzyme; (c) aromatization of 19-norsteroids reported by other authors must be due to a different aromatase. Experimental data obtained with the reconstituted enzyme are fully compatible with the concept of a reaction mechanism for the aromatization sequence involving an all-trans, antiparallel elimination of the 19-methyl group, the 2 beta proton and the 1 alpha proton, rather than the 1 beta proton, as generally assumed.     

Synthesis of 5 beta,17 alpha-19-norpregn-20-yne-3 beta,17-diol and of 5 beta,17 alpha-19-norpregn-20-yne-3 alpha,17-diol, human metabolites of norethindrone

A convenient synthesis of both 5 beta,17 alpha-19-norpregn-20-yne-3 beta,17-diol (1) and 5 beta,17 alpha-19-norpregn-20-yne-3 alpha,17-diol (2) in multigram quantities from estr-4-ene-3,17-dione is reported. Full characterization of these often-cited human metabolites of norethindrone is presented for the first time.     

Equine testicular aromatase: substrates specificity and kinetic characteristics.

1. In the stallion, estrogens were synthesized and sulfated in vivo by the testis. 2. The equine testicular enzyme aromatized androgens and 19-norandrogens with similar velocity, but not 16 alpha-hydroxytestosterone or epitestosterone in contrast to the human placental aromatase. 3. One single enzyme was implicated in the aromatization of androstenedione, testosterone, 19-norandrostenedione and 19-nortestosterone by ETMES. 4. During the process of androstenedione aromatization by ETMES, 19-hydroxyandrostenedione and 19-oxoandrostenedione were released and 4-hydroxyandrostenedione was a competitive inhibitor causing an additional irreversible enzyme inactivation which is what occurs with HPMES. 5. Dihydrotestosterone was a potent competitive inhibitor of aromatase activity.     

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometric analysis of oxidative reactions of [19,19-(2)H(2)]19-hydroxy-3-deoxy androgens by placental aromatase. bsence of a deuterium-isotope effect

Aromatase is a cytochrome P-450 enzyme complex that catalyzes the conversion of androst-4-ene-3,17-dione (AD) to estrone through three sequential oxidations of the 19-methyl group. 3-DeoxyAD (1) and its 5-ene isomer 4 are potent and good competitive aromatase inhibitors, which are converted by aromatase to the aldehyde derivatives 3 and 6, respectively, through 19-hydroxy intermediates 2 and 5, respectively. To study the deuterium isotope effect on the conversions of 19-ols 2 and 5 into the corresponding 19-als 3 and 6, we initially synthesized [19,19-(2)H(2)]19-ols 2 and 5 starting from the corresponding non-labeled 19-als 3 and 6 through NaB(2)H(4) reduction of the 19-aldehyde group, followed by oxidation with pyridinium dichromate, and a subsequent NaB(2)H(4) reduction. Approximately 1:1 mixtures of non-labeled (d(0)) and deuterated (d(2)) 19-ols 2 and 5 were separately incubated with human placental microsomes in the presence of NADPH under an air atmosphere, and deuterium contents of the recovered substrates and the 19-aldehyde products were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. In each experiment, the ratio of d(0) to d(2) of the recovered substrate along with that of d(0) to d(1) of the product were identical to the d(0) to d(2) ratio of the employed substrate irrespective of the incubation time, indicating that the 19-oxygenations of the 3-deoxy steroids 2 and 5 proceeded without a detectable isotope effect, as seen in the aromatization sequence of the natural substrate AD.     

Selective 19-hydroxylase inhibition by an aromatase inhibitor, 4-hydroxyandrostenedione

19-Nor-deoxycorticosterone is a newly recognized mineralocorticoid which has been associated with some forms of genetic, experimental, and human hypertension. To further examine this relationship, specific inhibitors of 19-nor-deoxycorticosterone biosynthesis must be developed. Since 19-hydroxylation is the pivotal step in both 19-nor-deoxycorticosterone biosynthesis and aromatization of androgens to estrogens, we evaluated an aromatase inhibitor, 4-hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione on the inhibition of 19-hydroxylation in both rat and human adrenal mitochondria in vitro and 19-nor-deoxycorticosterone production and blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats in vivo. Adrenal mitochondria from 48 male Sprague-Dawley rats and 1 patient with an aldosterone-producing adenoma were incubated in the presence of deoxycorticosterone substrate both with and without 4-hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione. 4-Hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione produced significant inhibition of 19-hydroxy-deoxycorticosterone production in both rat and human adrenal mitochondria, with a smaller and not significant inhibition of corticosterone and 18-hydroxy-corticosterone. 4-Hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione given subcutaneously to spontaneously hypertensive rats lowered 19-nor-deoxycorticosterone by 69% and completely abolished hypertension compared to Wistar-Kyoto controls. These data demonstrate that 4-hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione is a specific inhibitor of 19-hydroxylase, that it lowers 19-nor-deoxycorticosterone production and prevents hypertension in the spontaneously hypertensive rat. These studies reinforce the possible pathogenic significance of 19-nor-deoxycorticosterone in hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats.     

Synthesis and evaluation of analogues of 4-androstene-3,17-dione as aromatase inhibitors

Twenty-three synthetic analogues of 4-androstene-3,17-dione (androstenedione) have been evaluated as inhibitors of human placental microsomal aromatase enzyme. Among the most potent of these compounds were the 4-hydroxy, 6 alpha-fluoro, 6 beta-fluoro, and 4-fluoroandrostenediones and 4-fluoro-19-nor-4-androstene-3,17-dione. 4-Hydroxy-4-androstene-3,17-dione (4HAD) is an irreversible inhibitor of aromatase in vitro, whereas the four fluoro analogues are reversible inhibitors. 4HAD and 4-fluoro-4-androstene-3,17-dione caused significant regression of the nitrosomethylurea-induced mammary tumor in rats, but the other fluoro derivatives were inactive.     

Metabolism of 4-hydroxyandrostenedione and 4-hydroxytestosterone: Mass spectrometric identification of urinary metabolites

4-Hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione is a second generation, irreversible aromatase inhibitor and commonly used as anti breast cancer medication for postmenopausal women. 4-Hydroxytestosterone is advertised as anabolic steroid and does not have any therapeutic indication. Both substances are prohibited in sports by the World Anti-Doping Agency, and, due to a considerable increase of structurally related steroids with anabolic effects offered via the internet, the metabolism of two representative candidates was investigated. Excretion studies were conducted with oral applications of 100mg of 4-hydroxyandrostenedione or 200mg of 4-hydroxytestosterone to healthy male volunteers. Urine samples were analyzed for metabolic products using conventional gas chromatography-mass spectrometry approaches, and the identification of urinary metabolites was based on reference substances, which were synthesized and structurally characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and high resolution/high accuracy mass spectrometry. Identified phase-I as well as phase-II metabolites were identical for both substances. Regarding phase-I metabolism 4-hydroxyandrostenedione (1) and its reduction products 3beta-hydroxy-5alpha-androstane-4,17-dione (2) and 3alpha-hydroxy-5beta-androstane-4,17-dione (3) were detected. Further reductive conversion led to all possible isomers of 3xi,4xi-dihydroxy-5xi-androstan-17-one (4, 6-11) except 3alpha,4alpha-dihydroxy-5beta-androstan-17-one (5). Out of the 17beta-hydroxylated analogs 4-hydroxytestosterone (18), 3beta,17beta-dihydroxy-5alpha-androstan-4-one (19), 3alpha,17beta-dihydroxy-5beta-androstan-4-one (20), 5alpha-androstane-3beta,4beta,17beta-triol (21), 5alpha-androstane-3alpha,4beta,17beta-triol (26) and 5alpha-androstane-3alpha,4alpha,17beta-triol (28) were identified in the post administration urine specimens. Furthermore 4-hydroxyandrosta-4,6-diene-3,17-dione (29) and 4-hydroxyandrosta-1,4-diene-3,17-dione (30) were determined as oxidation products. Conjugation was diverse and included glucuronidation and sulfatation.     

Purification and characterization of human placental aromatase cytochrome P-450

Aromatase cytochrome P-450, which catalyzes the conversion of androgens to estrogens, was purified from human placental microsomes. The enzyme was extracted with sodium cholate, fractionated by ammonium sulfate precipitation, and subjected to column chromatography in the presence of its substrate, androstenedione, and the nonionic detergent, Nonidet P-40. The preparation exhibits a single major band when analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and has a specific content of 11.5 nmol of P-450/mg of protein. The purified enzyme displays spectroscopic properties typical of the ferric and ferrous forms of cytochrome P-450. Full enzymatic activity can be reconstituted with rabbit liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 reductase and Nonidet P-40. Purified aromatase cytochrome P-450 displays catalytic characteristics similar to the enzyme in intact microsomes in the aromatization of androstenedione, 19-hydroxyandrostenedione and 19-oxoandrostenedione. Testosterone and 16 alpha-hydroxytestosterone are aromatized at maximal rates similar to androstenedione, and all substrates exhibit relative affinities corresponding to those observed in microsomes. We have raised rabbit antibodies to the purified enzyme which show considerable specificity and sensitivity on immunoblots.     

Radiometric analysis of oxidative reactions in aromatization by placental microsomes. Presence of differential isotope effects

In order to study the initial as well as the final steps in the aromatization of androgens to estrogens, high-specific activity [19-C3H3]androstenedione and testosterone were synthesized. Incubations of [19-C3H3]androstenedione with human placental microsomes resulted in the generation of [3H]water, as a result of the dual hydroxylation at C-19, and [3H]formic acid reflecting final aromatization. After an initial lag in the production of [3H]formic acid, the two radiolabeled products were formed linearly with time at a ratio of 2 to 1 under subsaturating conditions and 2.2 to 1 when saturating levels of substrate were present. Incubation of a mixture of [19-C3H3]- and [4-14C]androstenedione with human placental microsomes yielded 19-hydroxy- and 19-oxoandrostenedione, respectively, products of one and two hydroxylations at C-19. The isotope ratios of these derivatives revealed the presence of a tritium isotope effect in the first but not in the second hydroxylation at that site. When [19-C3H2]- and [4-14C]19-hydroxyandrostenedione were used as the substrate, the isotope ratio of the isolated 19-oxoandrostenedione showed no evidence of any isotope effect in its formation. Thus, the second hydroxylation at C-19 exhibits no isotope effect irrespective of whether androstenedione or 19-hydroxyandrostenedione are the substrates, and therefore, a concerted process and catalytic commitment are not responsible for the difference in isotope effects between the first and second C-19 hydroxylation by the placental aromatase complex. Radiometric kinetic analysis employing [19-C3H3]- and [1 beta,2 beta-3H]androstenedione as the comparative substrates provided evidence that the isotope effect is exerted solely through the Vmax component of the reaction. The distinction between the successive hydroxylations at C-19 in the aromatization sequence suggests, but does not prove, that different mechanisms, and hence different catalytic sites, may be involved in these steps.     

A site-directed mutagenesis study of human placental aromatase.

Aromatase, a cytochrome P-450, catalyzes the formation of aromatic C18 estrogenic steroids from C19 androgens. Using the x-ray structure of cytochrome P-450cam as the model, seven mutants of human aromatase were designed and expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells by a stable expression method. They are His-128----Gln, His-128----Ala, Cys-299----Ala, Glu-302----Leu, Asp-309----Asn, Asp-309----Ala, and Ser-312----Cys. The presence of the aromatase mutants in the transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells were confirmed by immunoprecipitation analysis. The kinetic parameters of these mutants using [1 beta,2 beta-3H] androstenedione (or [1 beta-3H]androstenedione), and [1 beta,2 beta-3H]testosterone as substrates were determined. In addition, inhibition profiles for these mutants with two aromatase inhibitors, 4-hydroxyandrostenedione and aminoglutethimide were obtained. Furthermore, the reactions catalyzed by these mutants were examined by evaluating the levels of the product estrone, and two intermediates, 19-hydroxyandrostenedione and 19-oxoandrostenedione by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography using [7-3H]androstenedione as the substrate. Our results indicate that among the positions we modified, Asp-309 appears to be very important for the enzyme catalysis.