Mouse steroid 15 alpha-hydroxylase gene family: identification of type II P-450(15)alpha as coumarin 7-hydroxylase

We identified type II P-450(15)alpha as mouse coumarin 7-hydroxylase (P-450coh). Unlike type I P-450(15)alpha, the other member within the mouse steroid 15 alpha-hydroxylase gene family, type II catalyzed little steroid 15 alpha-hydroxylase activity, yet structurally there were only 11 substitutions between type I and type II P-450(15)alphaS within their 494 amino acid residues (Lindberg et al., 1989), and the N-terminal sequence (21 residues) of P-450coh was identical with that of both P-450(15)alphaS. Induction by pyrazole of coumarin 7-hydroxylase activity correlated well with the increase of type II P-450(15)alpha mRNA in 129/J male and female mice. Pyrazole, on the other hand, was less in males or not effective in females in inducing the 15 alpha-hydroxylase activity and type I P-450(15)alpha mRNA. Expression of type I and II in COS-1 cells revealed that the latter catalyzed coumarin 7-hydroxylase activity at 10 to approximately 14 pmol min-1 (mg of cellular protein)-1. The former, on the other hand, had a high testosterone 15 alpha-hydroxylase but little coumarin 7-hydroxylase activity. It was concluded, therefore, that type II P-450(15)alpha is the mouse coumarin 7-hydroxylase. Identification of type II as the P-450 specific to coumarin 7-hydroxylase activity and characterization of its cDNA and gene, therefore, were significant advances toward understanding the basis of genetic regulation of this activity in mice (known as Coh locus).     

Exon 7 Ncol restriction site within CYP21B (steroid 21-hydroxylase) is a normal polymorphism

A point mutation within exon 7 producing an amino acid coding change and a recognition site for the endonuclease Ncol has been reported in the HLA-Bw47-linked CYP21A pseudogene and some mutant CYP21B (steroid 21-hydroxylase) genes of patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). Whether this mutation is deleterious was not demonstrated. We analyzed DNA from various subjects for the presence of the exon 7 Ncol site: group 1, 10 normal subjects; group 2, 11 patients with salt-losing CAH; and group 3, 18 members of an Amish pedigree in which 10 expressed HLA-Bw47 not linked to CAH. Southern blots of Ncol-digested genomic DNA which were hybridized with CYP21 cDNA showed that four subjects of group 1 had a heterozygous Ncol pattern. In group 2, seven patients had the Ncol site; two of them were homozygous for the site and had deletions of both CYP21B genes. The other five were heterozygous for the Ncol site, which was linked to a CYP21B deletion and a HLA-Bw47 haplotype. In group 3, no one exhibited the exon 7 Ncol site. To map the Ncol sites to CYP21A or CYP21B in the normal subjects, DNA from the four Ncol heterozygous subjects was double digested with Ncol and Mbol and hybridized with CYP21 cDNA. Ncol-Mbol fragments unique to CYP21A were identified in all four, but the smaller CYP21B-specific fragments were not detected. Their genomic DNA in the region of exon 7 (bases +1167 to +2058) was then amplified, cloned, and sequenced.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Close linkage of the cytochrome P450IIA gene subfamily (Cyp2a) to Cyp2b and Coh on mouse chromosome 7

The cytochrome P450IIB gene subfamily (Cyp2b) has previously been mapped close to the Coh locus encoding a cytochrome P450 with coumarin 7-hydroxylase (COH) activity on mouse chromosome 7. Given this observation, it had been considered that COH was a member of the P450IIB subfamily. However, recent biochemical and cDNA expression experiments indicate that a member of the P450IIA subfamily, rather than of the P450IIB subfamily, encodes COH. We have resolved this apparent anomaly between the genetic and biochemical data by showing that genes from the P450IIA subfamily (Cyp2a) are closely linked to Coh and to Cyp2b on mouse chromosome 7.     

Transcobalamin II expression is regulated by transcription factor(s) binding to a hexameric sequence (TGGTCC) in the promoter region of the gene

An isoenzyme of glutathione S-transferase (adGST) was purified from liver intestine of the seashell (Asaphis dichotoma) by GST-Sepharose 4B affinity chromatography followed by reverse-phase HPLC. The enzyme has a pI value of 4.6 and is composed of two subunits each with a molecular weight of 23kDa. It exhibits different catalytic activities toward the substrates 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene, 7-chloro-4-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole, ethacrynic acid, and p-nitrophenyl acetate and, fascinatingly, shows high activity toward CDNB. The amino acid composition of adGST was determined and found to be very similar to the Sloane squid GSTs. N-terminal analysis of the first 15 residues of adGST revealed that it has 73% sequence identity with the pig roundworm GSTs. The adGST shows characteristics similar to those of class sigma GSTs, as was indicated by its substrate specificity, N-terminal amino acid sequence, and amino acid composition.     

Tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 (TNFR2) signaling is negatively regulated by a novel, carboxyl-terminal TNFR-associated factor 2 (TRAF2)-binding site

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily receptors typically induce both NF-kappaB and JNK activation by recruiting the TRAF2 signal transduction protein to their cytoplasmic domain. The type 2 TNF receptor (TNFR2), however, is a poor activator of these signaling pathways despite its high TRAF2 binding capability. This apparent paradox is resolved here by the demonstration that TNFR2 carries a novel carboxyl-terminal TRAF2-binding site (T2bs-C) that prevents the delivery of activation signals from its conventional TRAF2-binding site (T2bs-N). T2bs-C does not conform to canonical TRAF2 binding motifs and appears to bind TRAF2 indirectly via an as yet unidentified intermediary. Specific inactivation of T2bs-N by site-directed mutagenesis eliminated most of the TRAF2 recruited to the TNFR2 cytoplasmic domain but had no effect on ligand-dependent activation of the NF-kappaB or JNK pathways. By contrast, inactivation of T2bs-C had little effect on the amount of TRAF2 recruited but greatly enhanced ligand-dependent NF-kappaB and JNK activation. In wild-type TNFR2 therefore, T2bs-C acts in a dominant fashion to attenuate signaling by the intrinsically more active T2bs-N but not by preventing TRAF2 recruitment. This unique uncoupling of TRAF2 recruitment and signaling at T2bs-N may be important in the modulation by TNFR2 of signaling through coexpressed TNFR1.     

Acute sodium arsenite treatment induces Cyp2a5 but not Cyp1a1 in the C57Bl/6 mouse in a tissue (kidney) selective manner

Modulation of hepatic and extrahepatic detoxication enzymes Cyp1a1, Cyp2a5, glutathione S-transferse Ya (GSTYa) and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase (QOR) dependent catalytic activity and mRNA levels were investigated at 1, 2, or 4 days in liver, lung, or kidney of male, adult CD57 Bl/6 mice treated sc with a single dose (85 micromol/kg) of sodium arsenite (As3+). Maximum decreases of total hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP) monooxygenase content and catalytic activities, occurring at 24 h, corresponded with maximum increases of heme oxygenase (HO-1) in all tissues, as well as maximum plasma total bilirubin. Extrahepatic increases in CYP were observed only in non-AHR dependent isozymes in the kidney, where both Cyp2a5 mRNA and catalytic activity increased maximally 24 h after treatment. In contrast, no significant changes in Cyp2b1/2-dependent PROD or mRNA activity and decreases in Cyp1a1-dependent-EROD activity were noted 1, 2, or 4 days after treatment. Increases in QOR catalytic activities were observed in all tissues examined with increased mRNA in kidney. On the other hand, GSTYa catalytic activity and mRNA increases were only detected in kidney. This study demonstrates the differential modulation of CYP, QOR, and GST-Ya, important drug metabolizing enzymes after acute As3+ administration. The induction of Cyp2a5, QOR, and GSTYa catalytic activity and gene expression occurred primarily in kidney during or shortly after conditions of oxidant stress.