Spectrophotometric measurement of flavin-containing monooxygenase activity in freshly isolated rat hepatocytes and their cultures.

The determination of the mixed function flavin-containing monooxygenase activity in rat liver and in hepatocytes and their cultures by spectrophotometric measurement of the oxygenation of methimazole is complicated by an inhibition caused by some of the reagents used during this method. Optimal conditions were determined for measuring this enzyme activity in microsomal preparations of rat liver and its hepatocytes. Optimal flavin-containing monooxygenase activities were obtained for measurements performed in a 0.25 M N-[2-hydroxy-1,1-bis(hydroxymethyl)ethyl]glycine-EDTA buffer at pH 8.7 and at a methimazole concentration of 2 mM. Data are also presented which show that no interferences caused by either cytochrome P450-dependent enzymes or by the reduction of methimazole disulfide by glutathione have to be taken into account when determining methimazole oxygenation. Finally, the above assay was also used to study flavin-containing monooxygenase activity in primary monolayer cultures of hepatocytes for 6 days.     

Catalytic activity and substrate specificity of the flavin-containing monooxygenase in microsomal systems: characterization of the hepatic, pulmonary and renal enzymes of the mouse, rabbit, and rat

Inhibitory antibodies against NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase, detergent solubilization to dissociate functional interaction between the reductase and cytochrome P-450, and selective trypsin degradation have been used to characterize flavin-containing monooxygenase activity in microsomes from different tissues and species. A comparison of assay methods is reported. The native microsome-bound flavin-containing monooxygenase of mouse, rabbit, and rat liver, lung, and kidney can metabolize compounds containing thiol, sulfide, thioamide, secondary and tertiary amine, hydrazine, and phosphine substituents. Therefore, this enzyme from these common experimental animals has catalytic capabilities similar to those of the well-characterized porcine liver enzyme. True allosteric activation by n-octylamine does not appear to be a property of either the mouse, rabbit, or rat liver enzymes, but is a property of the pig liver and mouse lung enzymes. The microsomal pulmonary flavin-containing monooxygenase of the rabbit has some unique substrate preferences which differ from the mouse lung enzyme. Both the rabbit and mouse pulmonary enzymes have recently been shown to be distinct enzyme forms. However, the rat pulmonary flavin-containing monooxygenase appears to be catalytically identical to the rat liver enzyme, and does not have any of the unusual catalytic properties of either the rabbit or mouse lung enzymes. Enzyme activity of mouse, rabbit, and rat kidney microsomes is qualitatively similar to the hepatic activities. Substrates which saturate the microsome-bound flavin-containing monooxygenase at 1.0 mM, including thiourea, thioacetamide, methimazole, cysteamine, and thiobenzamide, are metabolized at common maximal velocities. This suggests that the kinetic mechanism of the native enzyme is similar to that established for the isolated porcine liver enzyme in that the rate-limiting step of catalysis occurs after substrate binding, and that all substrates capable of saturating the microsomal enzyme should be metabolized at a common maximal velocity.     

Microsomal Flavin-Containing Monooxygenase Activity in Rat Corpus Striatum

Microsomal fractions isolated from rat corpus striatum catalyze the oxidation of thiobenzamide to the sulfoxide. The rate of thiobenzamide sulfoxidation is 6.9 +/- 4.8 nmol(min)-1 (mg microsomal protein)-1. The reaction is inhibited by an excess of sulfur- and nitrogen-containing substrates for the microsomal flavin-containing monooxygenase. These inhibitors of thiobenzamide sulfoxidation include methimazole, cysteamine, and trimethylamine. Enzyme activity is also destroyed by treatment of the microsomal preparation at 60 degrees for 1 min. In parallel experiments, rat liver microsomes exhibit similar inhibition characteristics. The data indicate the presence in corpus striatum of a microsomal monooxygenase with catalytic properties of the hepatic microsomal flavin-containing monooxygenase.     

Cysteine conjugate S-oxidase. Characterization of a novel enzymatic activity in rat hepatic and renal microsomes

Cysteine conjugate S-oxidase activity, with S-benzyl-L-cysteine as substrate, was found mostly in the microsomal fractions of rat liver and kidney. In the presence of oxygen and NADPH, S-benzyl-L-cysteine is converted to S-benzyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide; no S-benzyl-L-cysteine sulfone was detected. The Vmax for S-benzyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide formation by kidney microsomes was nearly 3-fold greater than the rate measured with liver microsomes. Inclusion of catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione, butylated hydroxyanisole, the peroxidase inhibitor, potassium cyanide, the cytochrome P-450 inhibitors, 1-benzylimidazole and metyrapone, or a monoclonal antibody to cytochrome P-450 reductase did not inhibit the metabolic reaction. Flavin-containing monooxygenase alternate substrates, N,N-dimethylaniline, n-octylamine, and methimazole inhibited the S-oxidase activities. Analogues of S-benzyl-L-cysteine, S-methyl-L-cysteine, and S-(1,2-dichlorovinyl)-L-cysteine inhibited the S-benzyl-L-cysteine S-oxidase activities, whereas S-carboxymethyl-L-cysteine and S-benzyl-L-cysteine methyl ester had no effect. These results provide clear evidence against the involvement of reactive oxygen intermediates or cytochrome P-450 in the sulfoxidation of S-benzyl-L-cysteine and indicate that the S-oxidase activities may be associated with flavin-containing monooxygenases which exhibit selectivity in the interaction with cysteine S-conjugates.     

Unique properties of NADPH- and NADH-dependent metabolism of p-nitroanisole catalyzed by cytochrome P-450 isozyme 2 in pulmonary and hepatic microsomal preparations from rabbits

Approximately 90% of the NADPH- and NADH-dependent O-demethylation of p-nitroanisole (PNA) in the hepatic microsomal fraction from phenobarbital (PB)-treated rabbits and in the pulmonary microsomal fraction from untreated rabbits is catalyzed by the same isozyme of cytochrome P-450. This isozyme of cytochrome P-450 catalyzes less than 60% of this reaction in the hepatic microsomal fraction from untreated rabbits. Antibodies to NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase inhibit NADPH-dependent metabolism of p-nitroanisole by about 90% but have no effect on NADH-dependent metabolism. Hepatic NADPH-dependent metabolism of pNA and reduction of cytochrome c are inhibited to the same extent with varying amounts of antibodies to NADPH cytochrome P-450 reductase. The same relationship between inhibition of monooxygenase and reductase activities is observed for the hepatic and pulmonary metabolism of benzphetamine and 7-ethoxycoumarin. In contrast, the relationship between inhibition of the pulmonary NADPH-dependent metabolism of pNA and reductase activity is biphasic; at 75% inhibition of reductase activity, metabolism of pNA is inhibited by less than 25%. For NADH-dependent metabolism of pNA, our results indicate that both electrons are transferred to cytochrome P-450 from cytochrome b5.     

Target inactivation analysis applied to determination of molecular weights of rat liver proteins in the purified state and in microsomal membranes

In principle, target inactivation analysis provides a means of determining the molecular weights (Mr) and states of aggregation of proteins in native environments where they are functionally active. We applied this irradiation technique to the rat liver microsomal membrane proteins: cytochrome b5, epoxide hydrolase, flavin-containing monooxygenase, NADH-ferricyanide reductase, NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase, and seven different forms of cytochrome P-450. Catalytic activities, spectral analysis of prosthetic groups, and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide electrophoresis/peroxidase-coupled immunoblotting were used to estimate apparent Mr values in rat liver microsomal membranes. Except in one case (cytochrome P-450PCN-E), the estimated Mr corresponded most closely to that of a monomer. Purified cytochrome P-450PB-B, NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase and epoxide hydrolase were also subjected to target inactivation analysis, and the results also suggested monomeric structures for all three proteins under these conditions. However, previous hydrodynamic and gel-exclusion results clearly indicate that all three of these proteins are oligomeric under these conditions. The discrepancy between target inactivation Mr estimates and hydrodynamic results is attributed to a lack of energy transfer between monomeric units. Thus, while P-450PCN-E may be oligomeric in microsomal membranes, target inactivation analysis does not appear to give conclusive results regarding the states of aggregation of these microsomal proteins.     

Xenobiotic biotransformation in the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas)

1. Oyster visceral mass and gill tissues possessed measurable flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO) activity. 2. FMO activity was confirmed in visceral mass microsomes by oxygen uptake experiments utilizing various nitrogen and sulfur-containing chemicals along with measurement of N,N-dimethylaniline (DMA) N-oxidase and methimazole oxidation activities. DMA N-oxidase and methimazole oxidation activities also were present in gill microsomes. 3. Excluding oyster gill methimazole oxidation, there were no consistent seasonal differences in FMO activity in oyster gill or visceral mass microsomes. 4. Although lacking spectral evidence for cytochrome P-450, a peak at 418 nm was observed along with NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activity in visceral mass and gill microsomes suggesting the presence of a denatured cytochrome P-450 system. 5. NADPH-independent benzo(a)pyrene hydroxylase (BPH) activity was observed in both oyster visceral mass and gill microsomes suggesting a co-oxidation pathway possibly involving a one electron transfer of oxygen from a lipid hydroperoxide.     

Oxidation of deuterated compounds by high specific activity methane monooxygenase from Methylosinus trichosporium. Mechanistic implications

Hydrocarbon oxidations catalyzed by methane monooxygenase purified to high specific activity from the type II methanotroph Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b were compared to the same reactions catalyzed by methane monooxygenase from the type I methanotroph Methylococcus capsulatus Bath and liver microsomal cytochrome P-450. The two methane monooxygenases produced nearly identical product distributions, in accord with physical studies of the enzymes which have shown them to be very similar. The products obtained from the oxidation of a series of deuterated substrates by the M. trichosporium methane monooxygenase were very similar to those reported for the same reaction catalyzed by liver microsomal cytochrome P-450, suggesting that the enzymes use similar mechanisms. However, differences in the product distributions and other aspects of the reactions indicated the mechanisms are not identical. Methane monooxygenase epoxidized propene in D2O and d6-propene in H2O without exchange of substrate protons or deuterons with solvent, in contrast to cytochrome P-450 (Groves, J. T., Avaria-Neisser, G. E., Fish, K. M., Imachi, M., and Kuczkowski, R. L. (1986) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 108, 3837-3838), suggesting that the mechanism of epoxidation of olefins by methane monooxygenase differs at least in part from that of cytochrome P-450. Hydroxylation of alkanes by methane monooxygenase revealed close similarities to hydroxylations by cytochrome P-450. Allylic hydroxylation of 3,3,6,6-d4-cyclohexene occurred with approximately 20% allylic rearrangement in the case of methane monooxygenase, whereas 33% was reported for this reaction catalyzed by cytochrome P-450 (Groves, J. T., and Subramanian, D. V. (1984) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 106, 2177-2181). Similarly, hydroxylation of exo,exo,exo,exo-2,3,5,6-d4-norbornane by methane monooxygenase occurred with epimerization, but to a lesser extent than reported for cytochrome P-450 (Groves, J. T., McClusky, G. A., White, R. E., and Coon, M. J. (1978) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 81, 154-160). A large intramolecular isotope effect, kH,exo/kD,exo greater than or equal to 5.5, was calculated for this reaction. However, the intermolecular kinetic isotope effect on Vm for methane oxidation was small, suggesting that steps other than C-H bond breakage were rate limiting in the overall enzymatic reaction. Similar isotope effects have been observed for cytochrome P-450. These observations indicate a stepwise mechanism of hydroxylation for methane monooxygenase analogous to that proposed for cytochrome P-450.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Effect of monooxygenase reactions catalyzed by cytochrome P-450 on the microsomal membrane

Hydroxylation of dimethylaniline in rabbit liver microsomes is accompanied by inactivation of cytochrome P-450 and the formation of products inhibiting the catalytic activity of non-inactivated cytochrome P-450. Other enzymes and electron carriers of microsomal membrane (cytochrome b5, NADH-ferricyanide reductase, NADPH-cytochrome c and NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductases) as well as glucose-6-phosphatase were not inactivated in the course of the monooxygenase reactions. Phospholipids and microsomal membrane proteins were also unaffected thereby. Consequently, the changes in the microsomal membrane during cytochrome P-450 dependent monooxygenase system functioning are confined to the inactivation of cytochrome P-450.     

Neonatal imprinting and hepatic cytochrome P-450 II. Partial purification of a sex-dependent and neonatally imprinted form(s) of cytochrome P-450

A new form of cytochrome P-450 was partially purified from hepatic microsomes of neonatally imprinted rats (adult male and adult male castrated at four weeks of age). This new form of cytochrome P-450 appears to have an apparent molecular weight of approximately 50,000 daltons as judged by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. It appears that this form of cytochrome P-450 is either absent or present in low concentrations in cytochrome P-450 preparations isolated from neonatally nonimprinted rats (adult female and adult male castrated at birth). Reconstitution of testosterone hydroxylase and benzphetamine N-demethylase activities of this partially purified cytochrome P-450 revealed that the presence of testosterone 16α-hydroxylase activity, an imprintable microsomal enzyme, was in parallel with the imprinting status of the animals; a significantly higher activity was detected in the neonatally imprinted than that of the nonimprinted animals. This was in contrast to the nonimprintable benzphetamine N-demethylase, testosterone 7α-and 6β-hydroxylase activities which exhibited no correlation with the imprinting status of the animals. We have prepared antisera from rabbits using the partially purified cytochrome P-450 preparations from adult male rats as antigens. These antisera inhibited microsomal testosterone 16α- and 7α-hydroxylase activities in a concentration-dependent manner, without impairing 6β-hydroxylase activity. These data suggest that the partially purified cytochrome P-450 from adult male rats consists of both imprintable (16α-) and nonimprintable (7α-) testosterone hydroxylase activities. The antisera formed immunoprecipitant lines in the Ouchterlony double diffusion plates with partially purified cytochrome P-450 from both neonatally imprinted and nonimprinted adult rats. The immunoprecipitant lines, as stained by coomassie blue, suggest the homology of the cytochrome P-450 preparations from neonatally imprinted and nonimprinted rats. Immunoabsorption of the antisera against neonatally nonimprinted, partially purified cytochrome P-450 completely removed the immunoprecipitant lines without appreciably impairing the inhibitory effects of antisera on the microsomal testosterone 16α-and 7α-hydroxylase activities. In contrast, immunoabsorption of the antisera against partially purified cytochrome P-450 from adult male rats (imprinted) abolished completely both the immunoprecipitant lines and the inhibition on microsomal testosterone hydroxylation reaction (16α and 7α). The inhibitory actin of antisera on testosterone hydroxyulation was also abolished upon boiling the antisera at 100°C for 5 minutes. The biochemical and immunochemical data in this study suggest that the neonatally imprintable form or forms of hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450 accounts for a small fraction of the bulk of total cytochrome P-450. However, the existence of this form of cytochrome P-450 is regulated by gonadal hormones during the neonatal period and accounts for the major imprintable sex difference in drug and steroid metabolism in adulthood.     

Interaction between cytochrome P-448 and NADP-cytochrome P-450 reductase in reconstituted microsomal membranes

The regularities of changes in the functional activity of the microsomal monooxygenase system reconstituted by self-assembly from intact rat liver microsomes solubilized with 4% sodium cholate were studied at variable levels of NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase and the 3-methylcholanthrene-induced form of cytochrome P-450. Using antibodies against cytochrome P-448, the role of cytochrome P-448 in the overall reaction of benzopyrene hydroxylation induced in the microsomal membrane by a set of molecular forms of cytochrome P-450 was investigated. The effect of NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase and cytochrome P-448 incorporation into reconstituted microsomal membranes on benzpyrene metabolism suggests that in intact microsomal membranes benzopyrene metabolism induced by different forms of cytochrome P-450, with the exception of P-448, is limited by reductase is not the limiting component; however, cytochrome P-448 reveals its maximum activity at the cytochrome to reductase optimal molar ratio of 5:1; above this level, the catalytic activity of cytochrome P-448 is lowered.     

Inhibition of cytochrome P-450-linked monooxygenase systems by naphthoquinones

Several naphthoquinones, except 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone, were found to inhibit microsomal cytochrome P-450-linked monooxygenase activities in rabbit liver and human placenta. In particular, 5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone inhibited placental estrogen biosynthesis more effectively than it did hepatic drug oxidation reactions. There was little contribution by superoxide radicals to these enzyme inhibitions by naphthoquinones. Spectrophotometric studies revealed that naphthoquinones bind to the cytochrome P-450 component of the monooxygenase complex in both microsomal systems, suggesting that the inhibition is caused by direct interaction of these compounds with the heme.     

Relation between the 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase activity of the liver microsomal monooxygenase system and the level of methylcholanthrene-induced form of cytochrome P-450

Changes in the metabolic activity of 7-ethoxyresorufin in rat liver microsomes containing different amounts of cytochrome P-450 induced by 3-methylcholanthrene and other polycyclic hydrocarbons (P-450c) were studied. Using antibodies to cytochrome P-450c for the determination of the cytochrome P-450c content and its metabolic role, it was demonstrated that 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation by the liver microsomal monooxygenase system is catalyzed exclusively by cytochrome P-450c. The rate of the substrate metabolism is correlated with the cytochrome P-450c content in microsomal membranes; the cytochrome P-450c activity does not depend on the cytochrome P-450c/NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase ratio. The experimental results suggest that the level of 7-ethoxyresorufin metabolism in liver microsomes can be regarded as a measure of the cytochrome P-450c content, whose function is associated with the stimulation of potential carcinogenic and toxic substances.     

Role of superoxide in the N-oxidation of N-(2-methyl-1-phenyl-2-propyl)hydroxylamine by the rat liver cytochrome P-450 system

The N-oxidation of N-(2-methyl-1-phenyl-2-propyl)hydroxylamine (N-hydroxyphentermine, MPPNHOH) and the N-hydroxylation of 2-methyl-1-phenyl-2-propylamine (phentermine) by reconstituted systems that contained cytochromes P-450 purified from rat liver microsomes were demonstrated. The oxidation of MPPNHOH, but not of phentermine, could also be mediated by a superoxide and hydrogen peroxide generating system that contained xanthine and xanthine oxidase. Superoxide dismutase completely inhibited the oxidation of MPPNHOH by the xanthine/xanthine oxidase system and inhibited by 70% the oxidation mediated by a reconstituted cytochrome P-450 oxidase system. The majority of the microsomal oxidation was inhibited by an antibody raised against the major isozyme of cytochrome P-450 purified from livers of phenobarbital-pretreated rats. 2-Methyl-2-nitroso-1-phenylpropane (MPPNO) was found to be an intermediate in the overall oxidation of MPPNHOH to 2-methyl-2-nitro-1-phenylpropane (MPPNO2). Superoxide dismutase appeared to inhibit the first step, the conversion of MPPNHOH to MPPNO. These observations are accounted for by a sequence of two mechanistically distinct P-450-mediated oxidations. In the first reaction, N-hydroxylation of phentermine occurs by a normal cytochrome P-450 pathway. The formed hydroxylamine then uncouples the cytochrome P-450 system to generate superoxide and hydrogen peroxide. The superoxide oxidizes MPPNHOH to MPPNO which is then oxidized to MPPNO2, the ultimate product. This superoxide-mediated oxidation represents another pathway for N-oxidation by cytochrome P-450.     

The characteristics of the microsomal hydroxylation of tolbutamide

The in vitro metabolism of tolbutamide to the hydroxymethyl derivative was studied using hepatic microsomal homogenates. The hydroxymethyl metabolite was quantitated by HPLC. The hepatic microsomal hydroxylase was completely inhibited by carbon monoxide and was NADPH dependent. Metyrapone, alpha-naphthoflavone, phenelzine, mercuric chloride, and nitrogen significantly inhibited the reaction indicating the involvement of the cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase. Species variation showed that the order of hepatic microsomal activity was rat greater than rabbit much greater than guinea pig much greater than mouse and hamster. The reaction increased with time up to 40 min and followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics in rat liver microsomes with apparent Km and Vmax values of 224.4 microM and 359.9 pmol.mg-1.min-1, respectively. The reaction was induced by phenobarbital but was depressed after pretreatment with 3-methylcholanthrene and isosafrole. However, expression of the hydroxylase activity per nanomoles of cytochrome P-450 showed that the activity was much higher in liver microsomes of isosafrole pretreated rats. These results indicate the involvement of different isozymes of cytochrome P-450 in the microsomal hydroxylation of tolbutamide.     

Effect of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on the microsomal monooxygenase system of rat liver

The effect of acetylsalicylic acid, ibuprofen, indomethacin, ketoprofen, naproxen, phenylbutazone, and salicylic acid on the microsomal oxidative drug metabolism of rat liver was studied. Pretreatment of the rats with pharmacologic doses of acetylsalicylic acid, indomethacin, and ketoprofen decreased both the demethylase and hydroxylase activities of rat liver microsomes. These effects were paralleled by decreases in microsomal cytochrome P-450 content. The rate of the microsomal reactions was increased after pretreatment with ibuprofen and naproxen but only the former increased the concentration of cytochrome P-450. Phenylbutazone and salicylic acid had no in vivo effect on the hepatic monooxygenase. The addition of 1 mM of ibuprofen, indomethacin, ketoprofen, naproxen, and phenylbutazone to rat liver microsomes inhibit both the aminopyrine N-demethylase and p-nitro-anisole O-demethylase activities. The extent of the inhibition varied between 21 and 73% of the control incubation. Indomethacin, naproxen, and phenylbutazone also decreased the aniline hydroxylase activity to roughly 60% of the control value. Acetylsalicylic acid and salicylic acid had no in vitro effect on the microsomal monooxygenase. The nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs produced a reverse type I binding spectrum with oxidized cytochrome P-450; indomethacin and phenylbutazone were the strongest ligands. There is no correlation between the effect of addition of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to the hepatic microsomal homogenate and their in vivo effect on the monooxygenase activity.     

Identification of distinct hepatic and pulmonary forms of microsomal flavin-containing monooxygenase in the mouse and rabbit

The flavin-containing monooxygenase has been purified from mouse and rabbit lung microsomes and shown to be distinct from the flavin-containing monooxygenase found in the liver of the same species. The mouse and rabbit lung monooxygenases have a unique ability to N-oxidize the primary aliphatic amine, n-octylamine, commonly included in microsomal incubations to inhibit cytochrome P-450. In the mouse lung, this compound not only serves as a substrate but is also a positive effector of metabolism. The mouse and rabbit lung enzymes have unusual pH optimum, near 9.8, compared to the liver enzymes which have peaks near pH 8.8. Using antibodies raised in goats, Ouchterlony immunodiffusion analysis indicates that the liver and lung proteins are immunochemically dissimilar.     

A convenient assay for mephenytoin 4-hydroxylase activity of human liver microsomal cytochrome P-450

A simple and rapid method for the determination of (S)-mephenytoin 4-hydroxylase activity by human liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 has been developed. [Methyl-14C] mephenytoin was synthesized by alkylation of S-nirvanol with 14CH3I and used as a substrate. After incubation of [methyl-14C]mephenytoin with human liver microsomes or a reconstituted monooxygenase system containing partially purified human liver cytochrome P-450, the 4-hydroxylated metabolite of mephenytoin was separated by thin-layer chromatography and quantified. The formation of the metabolite depended on the incubation time, substrate concentration, and cytochrome P-450 concentration and was found to be optimal at pH 7.4. The Km and Vmax rates obtained with a human liver microsomal preparation were 0.1 mM and 0.23 nmol 4-hydroxymephenytoin formed/min/nmol cytochrome P-450, respectively. The hydroxylation activity showed absolute requirements for cytochrome P-450, NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase, and NADPH in a reconstituted monooxygenase system. Activities varied from 5.6 to 156 pmol 4-hydroxymephenytoin formed/min/nmol cytochrome P-450 in 11 human liver microsomal preparations. The basic system utilized for the analysis of mephenytoin 4-hydroxylation can also be applied to the estimation of other enzyme activities in which phenol formation occurs.     

Induction and Characterization of a Cytochrome P-450-Dependent Camphor Hydroxylase in Tissue Cultures of Common Sage (Salvia officinalis)

(+)-Camphor, a major monoterpene of the essential oil of common sage (Salvia officinalis), is catabolized in senescent tissue, and the pathway for the breakdown of this bicyclic ketone has been previously elucidated in sage cell-suspension cultures. In the initial step of catabolism, camphor is oxidized to 6-exo-hydroxycamphor, and the corresponding NADPH- and O2-dependent hydroxylase activity was demonstrated in microsomal preparations of sage cells. Several well-established inhibitors of cytochrome P-450-dependent reactions, including cytochrome c, clotrimazole, and CO, inhibited the hydroxylation of camphor, and CO-dependent inhibition was partially reversed by blue light. Upon treatment of sage suspension cultures with 30 mM MnCl2, camphor-6-hydroxylase activity was induced up to 7-fold. A polypeptide with estimated molecular mass of 58 kD from sage microsomal membranes exhibited antigenic cross-reactivity in western blot experiments with two heterologous polyclonal antibodies raised against cytochrome P-450 camphor-5-exo-hydroxylase from Pseudomonas putida and cytochrome P-450 limonene-6S-hydroxylase from spearmint (Mentha spicata). Dot blotting indicated that the concentration of this polypeptide increased with camphor hydroxylase activity in microsomes of Mn2+-induced sage cells. These results suggest that camphor-6-exo-hydroxylase from sage is a microsomal cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase that may share common properties and epitopes with bacterial and other plant monoterpene hydroxylases.     

Hepatic mitochondrial cytochrome P-450 system. Distinctive features of cytochrome P-450 involved in the activation of aflatoxin B1 and benzo(a)pyrene

Rat liver mitoplasts containing less than 1% microsomal contamination contain cytochrome P-450 at 25% of the microsomal level and retain the capacity for monooxygenase activation of structurally different carcinogens such as aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), and dimethylnitrosamine. Both phenobarbital (PB) and 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC) induce the level of mitochondrial cytochrome P-450 by 2.0- to 2.5-fold above the level of control mitoplasts. The enzyme activities for AFB1 (3-fold) and BaP (16-fold) metabolism were selectively induced by PB and 3-MC, respectively. Furthermore, the metabolism of AFB1 and BaP by intact mitochondria was supported by Krebs cycle substrates but not by NADPH. Both PB and 3-MC administration cause a shift in the CO difference spectrum of mitoplasts (control, 448 nm; PB, 451 nm; and 3-MC, 446 nm) suggesting that they induce two different forms of mitochondrial cytochromes P-450. Mitoplasts solubilized with cholate and fractionated with polyethylene glycol exhibit only marginal monooxygenase activities. The activity, however, was restored to preparations from both PB-induced and 3-MC-induced mitochondrial enzymes (AFB1 activation, ethylmorphine, and benzphetamine deamination and BaP metabolism) by addition of purified rat liver cytochrome P-450 reductase, and beef adrenodoxin and adrenodoxin reductase. The latter proteins failed to reconstitute activity to purified microsomal cytochromes P-450b and P-450c that were fully active with P-450 reductase. Monospecific rabbit antibodies against cytochrome P-450b and P-450c inhibited both P-450 reductase and adrenodoxin-supported activities to similar extents. Anti-P-450b and anti-P-450c provided Ouchterlony precipitin bands against PB- and 3-MC induced mitoplasts, respectively. We conclude that liver mitoplasts contain cytochrome P-450 that is closely similar to the corresponding microsomal cytochrome P-450 but can be distinguished by a capacity to interact with adrenodoxin. These inducible cytochromes P-450 are of mitochondrial origin since their levels in purified mitoplasts are over 10 times greater than can arise from the highest possible microsomal contamination.