Immunohistochemical localizations of cytochromes P-450 in rat liver

Antibodies produced against two forms of cytochrome P-450, PB-B and MC-B, which were purified to apparent homogeneity from hepatic microsomes of rats pretreated with phenobarbital and 3-methylcholanthrene, respectively, have been employed to localize these hemoproteins immunohistochemically at the light microscopic level in the livers of untreated rats. Using these antibodies in an unlabeled antibody peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique, immunohistochemical staining for the cytochromes P-450 was detected in parenchymal cells throughout the liver lobule. The patterns of immunohistochemical staining intensity observed with the two antibodies, however, were quite different. Exposure of liver sections to the antibody to cytochrome P-450 PB-B resulted in intense immunostaining within the centrilobular regions but produced staining of considerably weaker intensity in the peripheral regions of the lobule. In contrast to these observations, the antibody to cytochrome P-450 MC-B yielded a more uniform pattern of immunohistochemical staining, with the intensity of staining being only slightly greater in the centrilobular regions. The results of this immunohistochemical study thus demonstrate that different patterns of distribution exist for different forms of cytochrome P-450 within the liver lobule and that the greatest concentration of cytochrome P-450 occurs within the centrilobular regions of the liver.     

Immunolocalization of cytochromes P-450olf1 and P-450olf2 in rat olfactory mucosa

Previously, we described two olfactory-specific cytochromes P-450: rat cytochrome P-450olf1 (IIG1), identified by cDNA cloning, and bovine cytochrome P-450olf2 (IIA), identified by peptide microsequencing of a transmembranal polypeptide (p52). Here we describe the preparation of polyclonal antisera against peptide sequences of these proteins and their use in the immunolocalization of cytochromes P-450olf1 and P-450olf2 in rat olfactory mucosa. Immunoreactivities related to both enzymes are found in the subepithelial Bowman's glands of olfactory mucosa. Practically no immunoreactivity was found in other rat tissues, including liver, lung, kidney and respiratory mucosa. In addition, double-labeling experiments demonstrated that cytochromes P-450olf1 and P-450olf2 are present in the same population of Bowman's glands. The olfactory-specific localization of cytochromes P-450olf1 and P-450olf2 is consistent with a role for these enzymes in the modification or clearance of odorants from the chemosensory tissue.     

Partial purification and properties of cytochromes P-450 and P-448 from rat liver microsomes

Cytochromes P-450 and P-448 in rat liver microsomes were solubilized with sodium cholate and were partially purified. The preparations contained 5.0–5.5 nmoles of cytochrome P-450 or P-448 per mg of protein; contamination with cytochrome P-420 and cytochrome b₅, was less than 10% of the total heme content. The absolute spectra of Cytochromes P-450 and P-448 differed only slightly; both hemoproteins had a Soret peak at 418–419 nm in the oxidized absolute spectra and at 448 and 450 nm in the reduced plus CO absolute spectra. Both hemoproteins showed typical type I (benzphetamine) and type II (aniline) binding spectra but differed in their binding of hexobarbital (another type I substrate). The total phospholipid content of the preparation (per mg protein) has been reduced by approximately 90% relative to microsomes and the hemoprotein has been purified 20–25 fold with respect to phospholipid. The partially purified hemoprotein fractions, after combination with a reductase and lipid fraction, were capable of oxidizing a variety of substrates inluding drugs, steroids, and chemical carcinogens.     

Constitutive and inducible expression of cytochromes P4501A (CYP1A1 and CYP1A2) in normal prostate and prostate cancer cells

Constitutive and benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) inducible expression of CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 in prostate cancer and normal prostate epithelial cells were examined by immunoblotting. Androgen independent prostate cancer cell lines DU145 and PC3 have constitutive expression of CYP1A and CYP1A1 and CYP1A2, respectively. Four micromolar B[a]P did not appear to induce CYP1A1 or CYP1A2 expression in DU145 or PC3 cells. The androgen dependent prostate cancer cell line, LnCap, also has constitutive expression of CYP1A1 and CYP1A2. However, both CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 are induced by treatment of LnCap cells with 4 microM B[a]P. Untreated normal prostate and primary prostate tumor cells have no detectable CYP1A1 expression. Treatment with 4 microM B[a]P induced CYP1A1 expression in both normal and primary tumor prostate cells. Constitutive CYP1A2 expression was detected in normal prostate cells with little or no induction by exposure to 4 microM B[a]P. Primary prostate tumor cells did not show constitutive expression of CYP1A2. However, CYP1A2 was induced by 4 microM B[a]P in primary prostate tumor cells. These observations indicate that hormonal and cancer specific factors affect the expression and induction of the phase I metabolic enzymes, CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 in prostate cells. These observations may be related to the potential smoking-linked higher risk of prostate cancer development and morbidity of prostate cancer patients who smoke.     

Effects of emulsified perfluorochemicals on liver cytochromes P-450 in rats

1. The effects of intravenous (i.v.) injection of various perfluorochemical (PFC) emulsions or different fractions of the non-ionic poloxamer surfactant, Pluronic F-68, have been studied separately in male and female rats. 2. Injection of 10 ml/kg body wt of either Fluosol-DA 20% (F-DA) or a novel perfluorodecalin emulsion containing a C-16 oil additive in male rats increased liver weight up to 7 days later; no corresponding effect occurred in response to injection of Oxypherol (FC-43). 3. Liver weight was also increased in female rats at 72 hr after injection of the novel emulsion but this was less pronounced than in males; liver weight in female rats was unchanged in response to injection of either F-DA or FC-43. 4. Mean liver microsomal cytochromes P-450 concentrations in male rats were increased 2-3 fold at 72 hr after injection of either F-DA or the novel emulsion with a less pronounced increase also seen at 7 days in animals receiving the novel emulsion. No significant alterations in cytochrome concentration occurred in response to injection of FC-43 or either commercial grade or purified pluronic solution. 5. Liver cytochromes P-450 concentrations in female rats were unaffected by any of the experimental treatments. 6. These results show that injection of a single low dose of emulsified PFCs into male rats can increase hepatic microsomal cytochromes P-450 concentration but the response is highly variable, depending on composition of emulsion injected.     

A low-temperature EPR study of partially purified, soluble ferric cytochromes P-450 and P-448 from rat liver microsomes

Low-temperature EPR examination of rat liver microsomes from control, phenobarbital-treated, and methylcholanthrene-treated animals showed the presence of both high- and low-spin ferric cytochromes P-450 and P-448. Partially purified cytochromes P-450 (from control and phenobarbital-treated rats) and P-448 (from methylcholanthrene-treated rats) were also examined with EPR. In all cases, both high- and low-spin ferric forms of cytochromes P-450 and P-448 could be observed and were found to be essentially identical compared to the microsomal preparations. However, the level of high-spin species in the soluble P-448 preparation from methylcholanthrene-treated animals was less than could be observed in the liver microsomes from the same animals. The addition of substrates increased the concentration of the high-spin form in the soluble preparations obtained from drug-treated animals. Thus, cytochromes P-450 and P-448 exist as mixtures of high- and low-spin forms. It is concluded that the substrate specificity of these cytochromes is not predetermined by the spin state of the hemoprotein. In all liver microsomal and soluble preparations, the low-spin ferric form of the hemoprotein consisted of more than a single species as determined from the EPR examinations. Each of these species upon reduction and the addition of CO yielded an identical optical spectrum. In all cases, for the ferric protein, a mercaptide sulfur is believed to be a heme ligand while the other heme ligand is variable.     

Purification and characterization of two constitutive cytochromes P-450 (F-1 and F-2) from adult female rats: identification of P-450F-1 as the phenobarbital-inducible cytochrome P-450 in male rat liver

Two hepatic microsomal cytochromes P-450, P-450F-1 and P-450F-2 were purified to electrophoretic homogeneity from untreated adult female rats by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with anion-exchange, cation-exchange, and hydroxyapatite columns. Cytochromes P-450F-1 and P-450F-2 were not adsorbed with the anion-exchange column, but were retained on a cation-exchange column and were separated poorly. These forms separated on hydroxyapatite HPLC. The molecular weights of cytochromes P-450F-1 and P-450F-2 were 50,000 and 49,000, respectively. The absolute spectrum of the oxidized forms indicated that they had the low-spin state of heme, and the CO-reduced spectral maxima of cytochromes P-450F-1 and P-450F-2 were at 450 and 448 nm, respectively. Both forms catalyzed the N-demethylation of benzphetamine and had low catalytic activity for 7-ethoxycoumarin. Cytochrome P-450F-1 had low 2 alpha-hydroxylation activity toward testosterone. Cytochrome P-450F-2 had low 15 alpha-hydroxylation activity. On the basis of these results and those of NH2-terminal sequence analysis, cytochrome P-450F-2 seemed to be the typical female-specific cytochrome P-450. The NH2-terminal sequence of cytochrome P-450F-1 was identical to that of cytochrome P-450PB-2 purified from hepatic microsomes of male rats treated with phenobarbital. Cytochromes P-450F-1 and P-450PB-2 had identical chromatographic properties, minimum molecular weight, spectral properties, and peptide maps. Furthermore, the antibody to phenobarbital-inducible cytochrome P-450PB-2 gave a single immunoprecipitin band with cytochrome P-450F-1 by Ouchterlony double-diffusion analysis.     

Biphasic kinetic behavior of rat cytochrome P-4501A1-dependent monooxygenation in recombinant yeast microsomes

Rat cytochrome P-4501A1-dependent monooxygenase activities were examined in detail using recombinant yeast microsomes containing rat cytochrome P-4501A1 and yeast NADPH-P-450 reductase. On 7-ethoxycoumarin, which is one of the most popular substrates of P-4501A1, the relationship between the initial velocity (v) and the substrate concentration ([S]) exhibited non-linear Michaelis-Menten kinetics. Hanes-Woolf plots ([S]/v vs. [S]) clearly showed a biphasic kinetic behavior. Aminopyrine N-demethylation also showed a biphasic kinetics. The regression analyses on the basis of the two-substrate binding model proposed by Korzekwa et al. (Biochemistry 37 (1998) 4137-4147) strongly suggest the presence of the two substrate-binding sites in P-4501A1 molecules for those substrates. An Arrhenius plot with high 7-ethoxycoumarin concentration showed a breakpoint at around 28 degrees C probably due to the change of the rate-limiting step of P-4501A1-dependent 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylation. However, the addition of 30% glycerol to the reaction mixture prevented observation of the breakpoint. The methanol used as a solvent of 7-ethoxycoumarin was found to be a non-competitive inhibitor. Based on the inhibition kinetics, the real V(max) value in the absence of methanol was calculated. These results strongly suggest that the recombinant yeast microsomal membrane containing a single P-450 isoform and yeast NADPH-P-450 reductase is quite useful for kinetic studies on P-450-dependent monooxygenation including an exact evaluation of inhibitory effects of organic solvents.     

Three immunoidentical cytochromes P-450 from liver microsomes of phenobarbital-treated rats.

Three forms of cytochrome P-450 were purified to homogeneity from liver microsomes of Wistar-strain rats treated with phenobarbital. They had minimum mol.wts. of 52 000, 53 000 and 54 000 as determined by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis and are designated as P-450(L), P-450(M) and P-450(H) respectively. They were shown to be immunoidentical by Ouchterlony double-diffusion analysis. Several criteria, such as isoelectric points, substrate specificities and sensitivities to tryptic digestion, however, indicated that these cytochromes are distinct isoenzymes of cytochrome P-450. Whereas P-450(L) was highly active on various substrates, P-450(H) had generally low catalytic activities, except on aminopyrine. The cytochromes purified by immunoaffinity chromatography using anti-P-450(L) showed a marked variation in their distribution depending on the strain and colony of rat. Limited tryptic digestion of P-450(H) gave one tryptic peptide showing the same mobility as P-450(L) by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis and their primary structures were very similar. The result suggests a possibility that such limited proteolysis is involved in the post-translational modification of the cytochrome or its destruction.     

Structural requirements for substrates of cytochromes P-450 and P-448

Distinct and different molecular structural features are manifested by substrates, inhibitors and inducers of the two families of liver microsomal enzymes, the phenobarbital-induced cytochromes P-450 and the 3-methylcholanthrene-induced cytochromes P-448. In a theoretical study based on molecular orbital calculations and molecular graphics, it is established that cytochrome P-448 substrates contain fused aromatic or heteroaromatic rings giving rise to overall molecular planarity with relatively small molecular depth. In contrast, substrates of the cytochromes P-450 have greater conformational freedom and an ability to bind at more than one point of attachment, as a result of possession of certain characteristic functions, namely, a carbonyl and/or amine moiety coupled with an iso-propyl group, or similar function of equivalent shape and hydrophobicity. The implications are that the binding sites of cytochromes P-448 contain a number of hydrophobic aromatic amino acid residues orientated so as to allow occupation by similar substrates containing co-planar aromatic rings, whereas those of the phenobarbital-induced cytochromes P-450 contain hydrophilic amino acid residues capable of hydrogen bonding to greater than C = O moieties and at least one leucine or valine residue, as these contain the complementary isopropyl function. The corollary of these findings is the possibility of prediction of the toxicity of new chemicals on the basis of their molecular dimensions.     

Protein engineering of cytochromes P-450

The cytochromes P-450 are an immensely important superfamily of heme-containing enzymes. They catalyze the monooxygenation of an enormous range of substrates. In bacteria, cytochromes P-450 are known to catalyze the hydroxylation of environmentally significant substrates such as camphor, phenolic compounds and many herbicides. In eukaryotes, these enzymes perform key roles in the synthesis and interconversion of steroids, while in mammals hepatic cytochromes P-450 are vital for the detoxification of many drugs. As such, the cytochromes P-450 are of considerable interest in medicine and biotechnology and are obvious targets for protein engineering. The purpose of this article is to illustrate the ways in which protein engineering has been used to investigate and modify the properties of cytochromes P-450. Illustrative examples include: the manipulation of substrate selectivity and regiospecificity, the alteration of membrane binding properties, and probing the route of electron transfer.     

Circular dichroism spectra of purified cytochromes P-450 from rabbit liver microsomes.

Circular dichroism (CD) spectra were measured for cytochromes P-450 (P-450) purified from phenobarbital- and 3-methylcholanthrene-induced rabbit liver microsomes. No striking difference in alpha-helix content was seen between phenobarbital-induced P-450 (PB P-450) (50%), phenobarbital-induced P-448 (PB P-448) (40%) and 3-methylcholanthrene-induced P-448 (MC P-448) (45--50%) in terms of ultraviolet CD spectra. Strong negative CD spectra associated with 3-methylcholanthrene transitions for MC P-448 in the near-ultraviolet region (250--310 nm) and weaker negative CD spectra associated with Soret transitions for PBP-448 ([theta] = 50 000) and MCP-448 ([theta] = 160 000), indicated that structures of these preparations are strikingly different from each other. Reduction of P-450 and P-448 led to a remarkable decrease of the Soret CD trough, suggesting that reduction was accompanied by a striking conformational change in the vicinity of the heme. Since CO complexes of reduced P-450 and P-448 showed a CD trough and an S-shaped CD, respectively, associated with the absorption peak at 450 nm, the heme vicinities are remarkably different from each other. The CD spectra in the visible region are also discussed. It was noticed that P-420, the denatured form of P-450, exhibited no CD spectra in the Soret and visible regions.     

Factors involved in the regulation of the levels and activities of rat liver cytochromes P-450

Methods have been developed for the purification of eight rat liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 (P-450) isoenzymes. Another rat P-450, responsible for the metabolism of the genetic polymorphism prototype debrisoquine, has also been partially purified from rat liver. Six P-450s have been purified to electrophoretic homogeneity from human liver preparations. The rat and human P-450s can be quantified in crude samples using 'immunoblotting' methods coupled with peroxidase visualization. A study on the effects of a family of polybrominated biphenyl congeners led to the conclusion that the levels of all of the rat P-450s considered above are under some degree of independent regulation. In monolayer culture, different P-450s show different stabilities and levels of several are selectively regulated by various media components. Studies with the eight isolated rat P-450s indicate that the iron spin state, oxidation-reduction potential (Fe3+/Fe2+ couple), and catalytic activity towards substrates are not related to each other. The major function of phospholipid in reconstituted P-450/NADPH-P-450 reductase systems is the facilitation of formation of a complex of the two proteins. Studies on the regioselective hydroxylation of warfarin have been used to develop an order of binding affinity of the different P-450s for NADPH-P-450 reductase.     

Coordinate induction of multiple mRNAs specific for rat liver phenobarbital-inducible cytochromes P-450

Utilizing two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, the polypeptide composition of a purified microsomal cytochrome P-450 preparation isolated from phenobarbital-treated Long-Evans rats obtained from Charles River Laboratories has been examined. The purified protein consists of three polypeptides with nearly identical subunit molecular weights (approximately 52,000) but differing in net charge. These three polypeptides can be detected in liver microsomes isolated from phenobarbital-treated rats by immunoblot analysis but are virtually absent in microsomes isolated from untreated rats. All three polypeptides appear to be products of distinct mRNAs since they can be immunoprecipitated from rabbit reticulocyte lysates programmed with poly(A+)-RNA isolated from phenobarbital-treated rats. The amount of functional mRNA specific for the P-450 polypeptides increases dramatically in response to an acute administration of phenobarbital; however, in untreated rats the amount of functional mRNA was below the level of detection by the translational assay. These data are consistent with the very low level of the phenobarbital-inducible cytochromes P-450 in liver microsomes isolated from untreated rats. Finally, the data indicate that all three cytochrome P-450 mRNAs increase rapidly in response to phenobarbital administration and are regulated coordinately.     

Primary and secondary progesterone hydroxylation by the rabbit liver microsomal cytochromes P-450 system

Progesterone metabolism by the rabbit liver microsomal cytochromes P-450 system has been investigated with reverse phase (C18) high performance liquid chromatography. Time-course studies indicated that 6 beta-OHDOC accumulated as a secondary metabolite produced by the sequential 6 beta- and 21-hydroxylation of progesterone. When 21-hydroxylation occurred first, DOC accumulated and 6-hydroxylation was reduced. 16-OHP was resistant to secondary metabolism at both the 6- and 21-positions. The variable rates of 21-hydroxylase activity between different rabbits was further influenced by the nature of C-6-function in the order of 6-oxo greater than 6 beta-OH greater than 6 beta-OH greater than 6 alpha-OH greater than 6-H greater than 6 beta-acetoxy. These results indicate the potential interaction of the microsomal cytochromes P-450 and/or products in the sequential hydroxylation of a single steroid substrate at multiple sites.