Sunflower cDNA Encoding New Cytochrome P450

The primary structure of the cDNA clone SF28 was determined in sunflower (Helianthus annuusL.) flowers. The clone comprises a 874-bp insert corresponding to 227 amino acid residues of the C-terminal part of the cytochrome P450 gene. The sunflower cytochrome P450 was considerably different from the already known plant and animal cytochromes P450.     

Productive and non-productive complexes in cytochrome P450-containing systems

The equilibrium dissociation constants K_D, the complex association / dissociation rate constants (k _on /k _off) and lifetimes of the complexes of redox partners were measured for three cytochrome P450-containing monooxygenase systems (P450cam, P450scc, and P450 2B4) under hydroxylation conditions. The Q parameter representing the ratio of protein-protein complex lifetime (τ _lT ) to time required for a single hydroxylation cycle (τ_turnover) was introduced for estimation of productivity of complexes formed within the systems studied. The Q parameter was insignificantly changed upon transition from the oxidation to hydroxylation conditions. Lifetimes (τ _lT ) for the binary complexes formed within the P450cam and the P450scc systems obligatory requiring an intermediate electron transfer protein between the reductase and cytochrome P450 could not realize hydroxylation reactions for substrates with known τ_turnover and so they were non-productive while the binary complexes formed within the P450 2B4 system, not requiring such intermediate electron-transfer protein, appeared to be productive. Formation of ternary complexes was demonstrated under hydroxylation conditions in all three systems. Analysis of Q values led to the conclusion that the ternary complexes formed within the P450cam and the P450scc systems were productive. In the case of the P450 2B4 system, more than half (about 60%) ternary complexes were also found to be productive.     

Expression analysis of the mixed function oxidase system in rat brain by the polymerase chain reaction

Metabolism of therapeutic drugs in the body by the mixed function oxidase system is an important consideration in the analysis of a drug's effectiveness. P450-dependent metabolism within the brain of a neuro-specific drug may affect the drug's course of action. To determine whether cytochrome P450 was expressed in brain, RNA was isolated from the whole brains of rats treated with a variety of known hepatic P450 inducers, including amitriptyline, imipramine, isosafrole, phenobarbital, and -naphthoflavone. The RNA was analyzed for the presence of P450 isozymes by the PCR technique. Differential expression of P450IA1, P450IIB1, P450IIB2, P450IID, and P450IIE1 was detected in the brain samples, depending on the treatment. Cytochrome P450 reductase expression was also detected in the brain samples, giving strong evidence that the brain contains a competent mixed function oxidase system under all conditions studied. (Mol Cell Biochem120: 171–179, 1993)Thesis student of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston     

氯虫苯甲酰胺诱导甜菜夜蛾细胞色素P450基因上调表达

【目的】明确氯虫苯甲酰胺对甜菜夜蛾Spodoptera exigua (Hübner)细胞色素P450基因的诱导表达作用。【方法】采用O-脱乙基香豆素法研究了低剂量氯虫苯甲酰胺处理对甜菜夜蛾幼虫中肠P450s酶活性的影响,应用Real-time PCR方法测定了其对P450基因(CYP9A9, CYP4G37,CYP4S11和CYP6B)和NADPH细胞色素P450还原酶基因(HQ852049)表达的影响。【结果】氯虫苯甲酰胺对甜菜夜蛾P450酶及相关基因的诱导作用均表现出时间效应和剂量效应,。甜菜夜蛾4龄幼虫取食0.02 mg/kg氯虫苯甲酰胺饲料至5龄, 在蜕皮后6-36 h内, 其P450s酶活性增加为对照组的1.90~2.92倍, 诱导效应高于0.01 mg/kg氯虫苯甲酰胺处理组（其P450s酶活性为对照组的1.11~1.62倍）。同时, 0.02 mg/kg氯虫苯甲酰胺处理组甜菜夜蛾中肠P450基因CYP9A9, CYP4G37和CYP6B mRNA的相对表达量分别上升为对照组的1.97~3.95, 2.46~4.29及1.53~4.48倍, NADPH细胞色素P450还原酶基因 HQ852049 的相对表达量亦增加为对照的1.85~4.08倍。【结论】结果提示,氯虫苯甲酰胺可能通过诱导3种P450基因及细胞色素P450还原酶基因 HQ852049 基因mRNA的上调表达而增强了甜菜夜蛾幼虫中肠P450s酶活性。     

The cytochrome P450 genesis locus: the origin and evolution of animal cytochrome P450s

The neighbourhoods of cytochrome P450 (CYP) genes in deuterostome genomes, as well as those of the cnidarians Nematostella vectensis and Acropora digitifera and the placozoan Trichoplax adhaerens were examined to find clues concerning the evolution of CYP genes in animals. CYP genes created by the 2R whole genome duplications in chordates have been identified. Both microsynteny and macrosynteny were used to identify genes that coexisted near CYP genes in the animal ancestor. We show that all 11 CYP clans began in a common gene environment. The evidence implies the existence of a single locus, which we term the ‘cytochrome P450 genesis locus’, where one progenitor CYP gene duplicated to create a tandem set of genes that were precursors of the 11 animal CYP clans: CYP Clans 2, 3, 4, 7, 19, 20, 26, 46, 51, 74 and mitochondrial. These early CYP genes existed side by side before the origin of cnidarians, possibly with a few additional genes interspersed. The Hox gene cluster, WNT genes, an NK gene cluster and at least one ARF gene were close neighbours to this original CYP locus. According to this evolutionary scenario, the CYP74 clan originated from animals and not from land plants nor from a common ancestor of plants and animals. The CYP7 and CYP19 families that are chordate-specific belong to CYP clans that seem to have originated in the CYP genesis locus as well, even though this requires many gene losses to explain their current distribution. The approach to uncovering the CYP genesis locus overcomes confounding effects because of gene conversion, sequence divergence, gene birth and death, and opens the way to understanding the biodiversity of CYP genes, families and subfamilies, which in animals has been obscured by more than 600 Myr of evolution.     

Preparation of Cell Wall Fractions by Various Ways and Activity of Bound Saccharase in Sugar Beet Seedlings

Washed cells of facultative methylotrophs which have the serine pathway showed high activities for l-methionine formation from dl-homocysteine, in the presence of methanol as methyl donor. Strain FM 518, isolated from soil and identified as a bacterium belonging to the genus Pseudomonas, showed the highest activity for l-methionine formation and was used as the parental strain for breeding the l-methionine-producing mutants. An ethionine-resistant mutant, FE 244, derived from strain FM 518, accumulated 0.8 mg/ml l-methionine in a methanol-medium under optimum conditions.     

大鼠原代肝细胞培养方法的建立

目的：探索混合胶原凝胶培养肝细胞的方法,观察培养鼠肝细胞的功能与形态特征,用于评价中药十八反的作用机理。方法：两步法分离鼠肝细胞,与鼠尾胶原溶液混合接种于培养板,观察培养鼠肝细胞的形态学特征和生化指标。采用RT-PCR技术。检测药物对P450亚酶CYP3A1表达的影响,进一步确证该体系的可靠性。结果：双层胶原培养体系可观察到典型的肝细胞形态特征,肝细胞功能检测显示肝细胞合成分泌的尿素、白蛋白,而乳酸脱氢酶漏出量较少。药物对P450亚酶CYP3A1表达的影响呈良好的剂量依赖性,同时双层胶原具有保持肝细胞活性的优点。可作为原代肝细胞培养的条件。结论：混合胶原凝胶培养能保留体内的细胞功能和活性,特别是保留药物代谢酶的活性。     

Structural analysis of CYP2R1 in complex with vitamin D3

The activation of vitamin D to its hormonal form is mediated by cytochrome P450 enzymes. CYP2R1 catalyzes the initial step converting vitamin D into 25-hydroxyvitamin D. A CYP2R1 gene mutation causes an inherited form of rickets due to 25-hydroxylase deficiency. To understand the narrow substrate specificity of CYP2R1 we obtained the hemeprotein in a highly purified state, confirmed the enzyme as a vitamin D 25-hydroxylase, and solved the crystal structure of CYP2R1 in complex with vitamin D₃. The CYP2R1 structure adopts a closed conformation with the substrate access channel being covered by the ordered B′-helix and slightly opened to the surface, which defines the substrate entrance point. The active site is lined by conserved, mostly hydrophobic residues. Vitamin D₃ is bound in an elongated conformation with the aliphatic side-chain pointing toward the heme. The structure reveals the secosteroid binding mode in an extended active site and allows rationalization of the molecular basis of the inherited rickets associated with CYP2R1.     

Preliminary crystallographic analysis of an enzyme involved in erythromycin biosynthesis: Cytochrome P450eryF

Cytochrome P450eryF was overexpressed in Escherichia coli and purified in high yield. Crystals of the protein in the presence of the substrate, 6-deoxyerythronolide B, have been obtained by the hanging drop vapor diffusion method, using polyethylene glycol 4000 as a precipitant. The crystals belong to the orthorhombic space group P2₁2₁2₁ with unit cell dimensions of a = 54.16 Å, b = 79.67 Å, and c = 99.48 Å and one molecule per asymmetric unit. A complete native data set has been collected to a resolution of 2.1 Å, and anomalous dispersion difference Patterson maps have revealed the location of the single heme iron atom. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

The Hydroxyl Radical Generated by an Iron(II)/EDTA/Ascorbate System Preferentially Attacks Tryptophan Residues of the Protein

Iron(II)/EDTA/ascorbate-mediated oxidative damage to specific amino acid residues (tryptophan) of serum albumin was studied. The active species generated by Fe(II)/EDTA/ascorbate preferred to react with tryptophan residues rather than histidine or other amino acids. The observation of preferential damage to tryptophan residues of the protein was fully suported by a model experiment using a tryptophan analogue. The reaction of Fe(II)/EDTA/ascorbate to the protein was significantly suppressed by mannitol and dimethysulfoxide, suggesting the participation of the hydroxyl radical generated via Fenton’s reaction. The result was supported by the hydroxyl radical assay using 2-deoxyribose.     

棉铃虫P450基因CYP6AE12和CYP9A18的克隆与mRNA表达水平

采用RT-PCR和RACE技术克隆到2个新的棉铃虫细胞色素P450基因：CYP6AE12和CYP9A18。CYP6AE12的cDNA编码区长1 569 bp,编码523个氨基酸;CYP9A18的cDNA编码区长1 590 bp,编码530个氨基酸。用实时定量PCR技术分析了这2个基因在棉铃虫YS敏感品系和YS-FP抗性品系(由氰戊菊酯加辛硫磷混剂筛选YS品系而得) 6龄幼虫脂肪体和中肠中mRNA的表达水平。结果表明：CYP6AE12和CYP9A18的mRNA表达具有组织特异性,CYP6AE12在脂肪体中表达量较高,而CYP9A18在中肠中的表达量较高。与相对敏感品系YS相比,CYP6AE12在YS-FP抗性品系中肠和脂肪体中的mRNA表达量分别为YS品系的3.6倍和1.3倍;CYP9A18在YS-FP品系中肠和脂肪体的mRNA表达量分别为YS品系的0.3倍和1.0倍。CYP6AE12的过量表达与YS-FP品系棉铃虫的抗药性可能有一定关系。