Protein kinase C and CYPlAl induction in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) hepatocyte culture

1. The role of protein kinase C (PKC) in B-naphthoflavone (BNF) induction of CYP1A1 in rainbow trout hepatocytes was investigated.2. Primary cultures of rainbow trout hepatocytes treated with BNF for 24 hr showed an increase in microsomal 7-ethyoxyresorufm-O-deethylase (EROD) activity compared to cells treated with vehicle (DMSO) only.3. Increases in EROD activities were proportional to increased concentrations of BNF from 1 to 10 nM reaching a plateau at higher concentrations (20–100 nM) of BNF.4. Western blot analysis using specific antibody (LM4b) against CYP1A1 showed that changes in microsomal CYP1A1 protein paralleled that of EROD activity.5. The induction of EROD activity by BNF required both protein and RNA synthesis since the process was blocked by both cycloheximide and actinomycin D.6. Pretreatment of hepatocytes with 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) led to a dose dependent suppression of BNF-induced EROD activity and CYP1A1 content. TPA alone had no effect on hepatic EROD activity and CYP1A1 protein level.7. Pretreatment with sn-1,2 didecanoylglycerol, a PKC activator, had no effect on BNF-induced EROD activity in these cells.8. Pretreatment of cells with staurosporine, a PKC inhibitor, effectively blocked BNF-induced EROD activity.9. PKC may play a role in the induction of CYP1A1 gene expression in fish liver by BNF.     

(E)-3-(3,4,5-Trimethoxyphenyl)-1-(pyridin-4-yl)prop-2-en-1-one,a heterocyclic chalcone is a potent and selective CYP1A1 inhibitor and cancer chemopreventive agent

The overexpression of CYP1 family of enzymes is reported to be associated with development of human carcinomas. It has been well reported that CYP1A1 specific inhibitors prevents carcinogenesis. Herein, thirteen pyridine-4-yl series of chalcones were synthesized and screened for inhibition of CYP1 isoforms 1A1, 1B1 and 1A2 in Sacchrosomes? and live human HEK293 cells. The structure-activity relationship analysis indicated that chalcones bearing tri-alkoxy groups (8a and 8k) on non-heterocyclic ring displayed selective inhibition of CYP1A1 enzyme, with IC₅₀ values of 58 and 65?nM, respectively. The 3,4,5-trimethoxy substituted derivative 8a have shown >10-fold selectivity towards CYP1A1 with respect to other enzymes of the CYP1 sub-family and >100-fold selectivity with respect to CYP2 and CYP3 family of enzymes. The potent and selective CYP1A1 inhibitor 8a displayed antagonism of B[a]P mediated activation of aromatic hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) in yeast cells, and also protected human cells from CYP1A1-mediated B[a]P toxicity in human cells. This potent and selective inhibitor of CYP1A1 enzyme have a potential for development as cancer chemopreventive agent.     

Effects of β-naphthoflavone on the cytochrome P450 system,and phase II enzymes in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata)

The effect of β-naphthoflavone (β-NF) on several catalytic activities of cytochrome P450 (CYP) and phase II enzymes putatively controlled by [Ah]-receptor activation in the liver, heart and kidney of gilthead seabream, was investigated. In the liver, β-NF treatment [intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) 50 mg/kg] resulted in an increase of CYP content, immunoreactive CYP 1A and methoxyresorufin-O-demethylase (MEROD), pentoxyresorufin O-depentylase (PROD) and ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activities. However, β-NF had no effect on any of the hepatic phase II enzymes examined (benzaldehyde dehydrogenase, propionaldehyde dehydrogenase, glutathione S-transferase, UDP-glucuronyl-transferase, DT-diaphorase). Single i.p. injection of 10 mg/kg β-NF showed a maximal induction of CYP 1A-like protein and EROD activity after 3–7 days. CYP 1A and EROD returned to control levels 18-days post-treatment. β-NF injection also caused a rapid increase of a single band size of mRNA recognized by a CYP 1A1 cDNA fragment from sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax). Expression of mRNA preceded the increase of EROD activity and declined rapidly by 96 h. Dose–response experiments demonstrated that EROD was significantly enhanced in liver by a single injection of 0.3 mg/kg β-NF and was the most sensitive measurement for CYP 1A-like induction. β-NF treatments also increased the expression of CYP 1A-like protein, mRNA and EROD, but not MEROD and PROD activities in heart and kidney.     

Identification of mitochondrial cytochrome P450 induced in response to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus)

Increasing evidence suggests that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) such as benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) are localized to the mitochondria. Because the toxic effects of many PAHs are the result of metabolism by cytochrome P4501A (CYP1A), it is important to investigate whether active forms of these enzymes can be identified in the mitochondria. In this study, we identified mitochondrial P450s with a monoclonal antibody against scup (Stenotomus chrysops) CYP1A in the isolated mitochondrial fraction of the liver from adult male mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus) livers. The size of the protein in the mitochondria was similar to that of microsomal CYP1A. Fish dosed with 10 mg/kg BaP had increased EROD activity in the mitochondrial fraction compared to controls. In mummichog larvae dosed with 100 µg/L BaP and 100 µg/L benzo[k]fluoranthene, CYP1A protein levels as well as enzyme activity were elevated. However, fish from a PAH-polluted Superfund site (Elizabeth River, Portsmouth VA) showed recalcitrant mitochondrial CYP1A protein levels and enzyme activity in a similar manner to microsomal CYP1A.     

Cytochromes P450 (CYP) in Tropical Fishes: Catalytic Activities,Expression of Multiple CYP Proteins and High Levels of Microsomal P450 in Liver of Fishes From Bermuda

Hepatic microsomes prepared from 10 fish species from Bermuda were studied to establish features of cytochrome P450 (CYP) systems in tropical marine fish. The majority (7/10) of the species had total P450 content between 0.1 and 0.5 nmol/mg, and cytochrome b₅ content between 0.025 and 0.25 nmol/mg. Ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase (ECOD) and aminopyrine N-demethylase (APND) rates in these 7 species were 0.23–2.1 nmol/min/mg and 0.5–11 nmol/min/mg, respectively, similar to rates in many temperate fish species. In contrast to those 7 species, sergeant major (Abudefduf saxatilis) and Bermuda chub (Kyphosus sectatrix) had microsomal P450 contents near 1.7 nmol/mg, among the highest values reported in untreated fish, and had greater rates of ECOD, APND, ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) and pentoxyresorufin O-depentylase than did most of the other species. Freshly caught individuals of all species had detectable levels of EROD and aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) activities. Those individuals with higher rates of EROD activity had greater content of immunodetected CYP1A protein, consistent with Ah-receptor agonists acting to induce CYP1A in many fish in Bermuda waters. Injection of tomtate and blue-striped grunt with β-naphthoflavone (BNF; 50 or 100 mg/kg) induced EROD rates by 25 to 55-fold, suggesting that environmental induction in some fish was slight compared with the capacity to respond. AHH rates were induced only 3-fold in these same fish. The basis for disparity in the degree of EROD and AHH induction is not known. Rates of APND and testosterone 6β- and 16β-hydroxylase were little changed by BNF, indicating that these are not CYP1A activities in these fish. Antibodies to phenobarbital-inducible rat CYP2B1 or to scup P450B, a putative CYP2B, detected one or more proteins in several species, suggesting that CYP2B-like proteins are highly expressed in some tropical fishes. Generally, species with greater amounts of total P450 had greater amounts of proteins related to CYP2B. These species also had appreciable amounts of CYP3A-like proteins. Thus, many fishes in Bermuda appear to have induced levels of CYP1A; some also have unusually high levels of total P450 and of CYP2B-like and CYP3A-like proteins. These species may be good models for examining the structural, functional and regulatory properties of teleost CYP and the environmental or ecological factors contributing to high levels of expression of CYP in some fishes.     

Oxidation of human cytochrome P450 1A2 substrates by Bacillus megaterium cytochrome P450 BM3

Cytochrome P450 enzymes (P450s or CYPs) are good candidates for biocatalysis in the production of fine chemicals, including pharmaceuticals. Despite the potential use of mammalian P450s in various fields of biotechnology, these enzymes are not suitable as biocatalysts due to their low stability, low catalytic activity, and limited availability. Recently, wild-type and mutant forms of bacterial P450 BM3 (CYP102A1) from Bacillus megaterium have been found to metabolize various. It has therefore been suggested that CYP102A1 may be used to generate the metabolites of drugs and drug candidates. In this report, we show that the oxidation reactions of typical human CYP1A2 substrates (phenacetin, ethoxyresorufin, and methoxyresorufin) are catalyzed by both wild-type and mutant forms of CYP102A1. In the case of phenacetin, CYP102A1 enzymes show only O-deethylation product, even though two major products are produced as a result of O-deethylation and 3-hydroxylation reactions by human CYP1A2. Formation of the metabolites was confirmed by HPLC analysis and LC–MS to compare the metabolites with the actual biological metabolites produced by human CYP1A2. The results demonstrate that CYP102A1 mutants can be used for cost-effective and scalable production of human CYP1A2 drug metabolites. Our computational findings suggest that a conformational change in the cavity size of the active sites of the mutants is dependent on activity change. The modeling results further suggest that the activity change results from the movement of several specific residues in the active sites of the mutants.     

A methoxyflavonoid,chrysoeriol, selectively inhibits the formation of a carcinogenic estrogen metabolite in MCF-7 breast cancer cells

A 17β-estradiol (E₂) is hydrolyzed to 2-hydroxy-E₂ (2-OHE₂) and 4-hydroxy-E₂ (4-OHE₂) via cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A1 and 1B1, respectively. In estrogen target tissues including the mammary gland, ovaries, and uterus, CYP1B1 is highly expressed, and 4-OHE₂ is predominantly formed in cancerous tissues. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of chrysoeriol (luteorin-3′-methoxy ether), which is a natural methoxyflavonoid, against activity of CYP1A1 and 1B1 using in vitro and cultured cell techniques. Chrysoeriol selectively inhibited human recombinant CYP1B1-mediated 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylation (EROD) activity 5-fold more than that of CYP1A1-mediated activity in a competitive manner. Additionally, chrysoeriol inhibited E₂ hydroxylation was catalyzed by CYP1B1, but not by CYP1A1. Methylation of 4-OHE₂, which is thought to be a detoxification process, was not affected by the presence of chrysoeriol. In human breast cancer MCF-7 cells, chrysoeriol did not affect the gene expression of CYP1A1 and 1B1, but significantly inhibited the formation of 4-methoxy E₂ without any effects on the formation of 2-methoxy E₂. In conclusion, we present the first report to show that chrysoeriol is a chemopreventive natural ingredient that can selectively inhibit CYP1B1 activity and prevent the formation of carcinogenic 4-OHE₂ from E_2.     

Alkoxyresorufin (methoxy-, ethoxy-, pentoxy- and benzyloxyresorufin) O-dealkylase activities by in vitro-expressed cytochrome P450 1A4 and 1A5 from common cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)

Here we report the inter-paralog comparison of cytochrome P4501A (CYP1A) catalytic function in common cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) using the recombinant proteins synthesized by yeast-based vector system. CYP1A4 and CYP1A5 proteins from common cormorant were heterologously expressed in yeast Saccaromyces cerevisiae. Kinetic analyses revealed that among alkoxyresorufin (methoxy-, ethoxy-, pentoxy- and benzyloxyresorufin) O-dealkylase (AROD) activities V_max value for ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity was the highest for both enzymes, reaching 0.91 ± 0.034 and 1.8 ± 0.043 nmol/min/nmol CYP for CYP1A4 and CYP1A5, respectively. Similar results were obtained for the catalytic efficiencies represented as the ratios of V_max to K_m (V_max/K_m). Meanwhile, distinct substrate preferences were also observed; CYP1A4 had V_max and V_max/K_m values for benzyloxyresorufin O-debenzylase (BROD) activity 12- and 46-fold greater than CYP1A5, respectively, while CYP1A5 was about 13- and 4.5-fold more efficient in methoxyresorufin O-demethylase (MROD) activity than CYP1A4. The K_m values showed no significant change among MROD, EROD, pentoxyresorufin O-depenthylase (PROD) and BROD activities for both enzymes, except for significant differences between PROD and other three activities for CYP1A4. Comparing the results in the present study with previous studies addressing chicken and rat CYP1A enzymes, it is also clear that CYP1A orthologs have different catalytic preferences for AROD activities between cormorant and rat and even between cormorant and chicken. Variations in CYP1A catalytic function between cormorant CYP1A paralogs and between CYP1A orthologs from cormorant and other species indicate that enzymatic properties should be characterized on the basis not only of a limited model species such as chicken, but also of multiple species to further understand the mechanism underlying differences in substrate selectivity and the interaction with environmental contaminants in avian species.     

Effects of major tanshinones isolated from Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza) on rat CYP1A2 expression and metabolism of model CYP1A2 probe substrates

This study explored the effects of Danshen on metabolism/pharmacokinetics of model CYP1A2 substrates and hepatic CYP1A2 expression in rats. The effects of Danshen and tanshinones on CYP1A2 activity was determined by metabolism of model substrates in vitro (phenacetin) and in vivo (caffeine). HPLC was used to determine model substrates/metabolites. The effect of Danshen on CYP1A2 expression was determined by Western blot. Tanshinones (1.25–50 μM) competitively inhibited phenacetin O-deethylation in vitro. Inhibition kinetics studies showed the K_i values were in the order: dihydrotanshinone (3.64 μM), cryptotanshinone (4.07 μM), tanshinone I (22.6 μM) and tanshinone IIA (23.8 μM), furafylline (35.8 μM), a CYP1A2 inhibitor. The Ki of Danshen extract (mainly tanshinones) was 72 μg/ml. Acute Danshen extract treatment (50–200 mg/kg, i.p.) decreased metabolism of caffeine to paraxanthine, with overall decrease in caffeine clearance (14–22%); increase in AUC (11–25%) and plasma T_1/2 (12–16%). Danshen treatment with (100 mg/kg/day, i.p. or 200 mg/kg/day, p.o.) for three or fourteen days showed similar pharmacokinetic changes of the CYP1A2 probe substrate without affecting CYP1A2 expression. This study demonstrated that major tanshinones competitively inhibited the metabolism of model CYP1A2 probe substrates but had no effect on rat CYP1A2 expression.     

Highly sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic assay for coumarin 7-hydroxylation and 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylation by human liver cytochrome P450 enzymes

A highly sensitive method for the determination of coumarin 7-hydroxylation and 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylation by human cytochrome P450 (P450 or CYP) enzymes was developed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The newly developed HPLC method was found to be about 100-fold more sensitive than the previous spectrofluorimetric method in detecting the metabolite 7-hydroxycoumarin (umbelliferone). With this high sensitivity, the kinetics of coumarin 7-hydroxylation and 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylation catalyzed by human liver microsomal and recombinant P450 enzymes were determined more precisely. With 36 different substrate concentrations in these two reactions, coumarin 7-hydroxylation was found to be catalyzed mainly by a single enzyme CYP2A6 and 7-ethoxycoumarin was oxidized by at least two enzymes CYP2E1 and CYP1A2 in human liver microsomes.     

Induction of cytochrome P450 1A1 and conjugating enzymes in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) liver: A time course study

1. The effects of i.p. injections of isosafrole (ISF) or β-naphthoflavone (β-NF) on the cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A1 system and conjugating enzymes were investigated in livers from juvenile rainbow trout in a time course study employing catalytic, immunochemical and cDNA probes.2. β-NF treatment resulted in a rapid rise in CYP1A1 mRNA followed by accumulation of P450 1A1 protein and P450 1A1 mediated enzyme activity measured as ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity.3. ISF treatment resulted in a comparatively weak induction of CYP1A1 mRNA and P450 1A1 protein levels whilst EROD activity was markedly induced; thus when expressed on the basis of immunoquantified P450 1A1 protein, the specific EROD activity was signficantly higher in ISF than β-NF treated fish.4. In vitro inhibition studies revealed that ISF inhibited EROD activity to a far lesser extent than β-NF.5. Conjugation enzymes represented by phenol UDP-glucuronosyltransferase and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities, were induced by β-NF, whereas ISF treatment had no effect on these enzyme activities.6. Immunoblotting using antibodies raised against rat GST7-7 showed that a Pi class trout GST enzyme was induced by β-NF treatment.     

Characterization of chicken cytochrome P450 1A4 and 1A5: Inter-paralog comparisons of substrate preference and inhibitor selectivity

The chicken (Gallus gallus) is one of the most economically important domestic animals and also an avian model species. Chickens have two CYP1A genes (CYP1A4 and CYP1A5) which are orthologous to mammalian CYP1A1 and CYP1A2. Although the importance of chicken CYP1As in metabolism of endogenous compounds and xenobiotics is well recognized, their enzymatic properties, substrate preference and inhibitor selectivity remain poorly understood. In this study, functional enzymes of chicken CYP1A4 and CYP1A5 were successfully produced in Escherichia coli (E. coli). The substrate preference and inhibitor specificity of the two chicken CYP1As were compared. Kinetic results showed that the enzymatic parameters (K_m, V_max, V_max/K_m) for ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) and benzyloxyresorufin O-debenzylase (BROD) differed between CYP1A4 and CYP1A5, while no significant difference was observed for methoxyresorufin O-demethylase (MROD). Lower K_m of CYP1A4 for BROD suggests that CYP1A4 has a greater binding affinity to benzyloxyresorufin than either ethoxyresorufin or methoxyresorufin. The highest V_max/K_m ratio was seen in BROD activity for CYP1A4 and in MROD for CYP1A5 respectively. These results indicate that substrate preference of chicken CYP1As is more notably distinguished by BROD activity and CYP1A5 prefers shorter alkoxyresorufins resembling its mammalian ortholog CYP1A2. Differential patterns of MROD inhibition were observed between CYP1As and among the five CYP inhibitors (α-naphthoflavone, furafylline, piperonyl butoxide, erythromycin and ketoconazole). α-Naphthoflavone was determined to be a potent MROD inhibitor of both CYP1A4 and CYP1A5. In contrast, no or only a trace inhibitory effect (< 15%) was observed by erythromycin at a concentration of 500 μM. Stronger inhibition of MROD activity was found in CYP1A5 than CYP1A4 by relatively small molecules α-naphthoflavone, piperonyl butoxide and furafylline. AROD kinetics and inhibition profiles between chicken CYP1A4 and CYP1A5 demonstrate that the two paralogous members of the CYP1A subfamily have distinct enzymatic properties, reflecting differences in the active site geometry between CYP1A4 and CYP1A5. These findings suggest that CYP1A4 and CYP1A5 play partially overlapping but distinctly different physiological and toxicological roles in the chicken.     

Hepatic CYP1A induction in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) after exposure to benzo[a]pyrene in water

Juvenile rainbow trout were exposed to unlabelled benzo[a]pyrene BaP and ³H benzo a pyrene (³H BaP), in a static exposure system for 2 days. The initial concentration was 30 μg l^-1 and 0.625 μCi l^-1, corresponding to 6 mg kg^-1 body weight and 125 μCi kg^-1 body weight. Hepatic 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity was measured during the exposure and depuration periods, elucidating the time course pattern of CYP1A induction. Maximum induction (11-fold) of EROD activity was observed on day 2 after addition of BaP to the water. Tissue distribution of ³H-BaP was studied by liquid scintillation counting and whole body autoradiography. The concentration of ³H-BaP-derived radioactivity was highest in the bile at all sampling times. High levels of radiolabelled compound were also present in the gills, liver and the olfactory organ. There was an overall decrease in all tissues during the depuration period. The elimination of ³H-BaP-derived radioactivity from the gills, however, was slow compared with liver and blood (6.2 days vs 2.7 and 2.9 days, respectively).     

Metabolic activation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon trans-dihydrodiols by ubiquitously expressed aldehyde reductase (AKR1A1)

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are metabolized to trans-dihydrodiol proximate carcinogens by CYP1A1 and epoxide hydrolase (EH). CYP1A1 or aldo–keto reductases (AKRs) from the 1C subfamily can further activate the trans-dihydrodiols by forming either anti-diol-epoxides or reactive and redox active o-quinones, respectively. To determine whether other AKR superfamily members can divert trans-dihydrodiols to o-quinones, the cDNA encoding human aldehyde reductase (AKR1A1) was isolated from hepatoma HepG2 cells using RT-PCR, subcloned into a prokaryotic expression vector, overexpressed in E. coli and purified to homogeneity in milligram amounts. Studies revealed that AKR1A1 preferentially oxidized the metabolically relevant (−)-[3R,4R]-dihydroxy-3,4-dihydrobenz[a]anthracene. AKR1A1 also displayed high utilization ratios (V_max/K_m) for the following PAH trans-dihydrodiols: (±)trans-3,4-dihydroxy-3,4-dihydro-7-methylbenz[a]anthracene, (±)trans-3,4-dihydroxy-3,4-dihydro-7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene and (±)trans-7,8-dihydroxy-7,8-dihydro-5-methylchrysene. Multiple tissue expression (MTE) arrays were used to measure the co-expressed of CYP1A1, EH and AKR1A1. All the three enzymes co-expressed to sites of PAH activation. The high catalytic efficiency of AKR1A1 for potent proximate carcinogen trans-dihydrodiols and its presence in tissues that contain CYP1A1 and EH suggests that it plays an important role in this alternative pathway of PAH activation (supported by CA39504).     

Noncompetitive mixed-type inhibition of rainbow trout CYP1A catalytic activity by clotrimazole

Over the past two decades a number of antifungal imidazole derivatives have been approved for use in agricultural. The purpose of this study was to characterize the interaction of a model antifungal imidazole compound with a cytochrome P450 isozyme in a species of fish. Clotrimazole inhibited rainbow trout (Oncorhyncus mykiss) hepatic CYP1A-catalyzed ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity in vivo and in vitro. Although clotrimazole inhibited EROD activity in vivo, it did not effect CYP1A mRNA levels. Addition of clotrimazole to microsomes produced a type II binding spectrum and clotrimazole was determined to be a noncompetitive mixed-type inhibitor of EROD activity with an IC₅₀ of 190 nM. Since antifungal imidazole compounds may be co-applied with other pesticides, inhibition of cytochrome P450 activity by antifungal imidazole compounds may lead to unexpected toxicological interactions.     

5,6,7,8-Tetrahydropyrido[4,3-d]pyrimidines as novel class of potent and highly selective CaMKII inhibitors

A novel series of 5,6,7,8-tetrahydropyrido[4,3-d]pyrimidines containing substituted phenyl sulfonamide are synthesized and evaluated for their inhibitory activity against CaMKII. Substituents on the phenyl group had significant impact on CaMKII inhibition, in particular, the inhibitory activity of 8p was 25-fold higher than that of KN-93, a known CaMKII inhibitor. Michaelis–Menten analysis of a representative compound suggested that the synthesized pyrimidines are calmodulin non-competitive inhibitors. Finally, 8p exhibited more than 100-fold higher selectivity for CaMKII over five types of off-target kinases.     

Structural features of cytochrome P450 1A associated with the absence of EROD activity in liver of the loricariid catfish Pterygoplichthys sp

The Amazon catfish genus Pterygoplichthys (Loricariidae, Siluriformes) is closely related to the loricariid genus Hypostomus, in which at least two species lack detectable ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity, typically catalyzed by cytochrome P450 1 (CYP1) enzymes. Pterygoplichthys sp. liver microsomes also lacked EROD, as well as activity with other substituted resorufins, but aryl hydrocarbon receptor agonists induced hepatic CYP1A mRNA and protein suggesting structural/functional differences in Pterygoplichthys CYP1s from those in other vertebrates. Comparing the sequences of CYP1As of Pterygoplichthys sp. and of two phylogenetically related siluriform species that do catalyze EROD (Ancistrus sp., Loricariidae and Corydoras sp., Callichthyidae) showed that these three proteins share amino acids at 17 positions that are not shared by any fish in a set of 24 other species. Pterygoplichthys and Ancistrus (the loricariids) have an additional 22 amino acid substitutions in common that are not shared by Corydoras or by other fish species. Pterygoplichthys has six exclusive amino acid substitutions. Molecular docking and dynamics simulations indicate that Pterygoplichthys CYP1A has a weak affinity for ER, which binds infrequently in a productive orientation, and in a less stable conformation than in CYP1As of species that catalyze EROD. ER also binds with the carbonyl moiety proximal to the heme iron. Pterygoplichthys CYP1A has amino acid substitutions that reduce the frequency of correctly oriented ER in the AS preventing the detection of EROD activity. The results indicate that loricariid CYP1As may have a peculiar substrate selectivity that differs from CYP1As of most vertebrate.     

Inhibition of in vitro aflatoxin B1-DNA binding in rainbow trout by CYP1A inhibitors: α-naphthoflavone, β-naphthoflavone and trout CYP1A1 peptide antibody

Rainbow trout cytochrome P450 (CYP)1A detoxifies aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) to aflatoxin M₁ (AFM₁), whereas CYP2K1 activates AFB₁ to AFB₁-8,9-epoxide. We report that α-naphthoflavone (ANF) and β-naphthoflavone (BNF) both strongly inhibit CYP1A-mediated ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity (K_i = 9.1 ± 0.8 and 7.6 ± 1.1 nM, respectively). These inhibitors (selective for mammalian CYP1A at low concentrations), as well as rabbit polyclonal antibody to a trout CYP1A1 peptide (residues 277–294), also strongly inhibited trout microsome-catalyzed AFB₁-DNA binding and lauric acid (ω-1) hydroxylation in vitro, reactions previously established to be CYP2K1-dependent. ANF at 0.5, 5, 50 and 500 μM inhibited liver microsome-catalyzed AFB₁-DNA binding by 22, 58, 84 and 91%, respectively, whereas BNF at the same concentrations inhibited 22, 74, 78 and 81%, respectively. The CYP1A1 peptide and CYP2K1 polyclonal antibodies (10 mg IgG/mg microsomal protein) inhibited AFB₁-DNA binding by 84 and 66%, respectively, compared with pre-immune IgG. Lauric acid (ω-1) hydroxylation was inhibited 61% by 5 μM ANF, 69% by 5 μM BNF and 100% by either antibody at 12 mg IgG/mg microsomal protein. These results demonstrate that mammalian CYP1A inhibitors also inhibit trout microsomal AFB₁-DNA binding and lauric acid (ω-1) hydroxylation, catalyzed primarily by CYP2K1. In the absence of evidence that trout CYP1A can catalyze AFB₁-DNA binding, the results suggest configuration similarities at, or near, the active sites for these two fish enzymes that result in antibody crossreaction and loss of the inhibitor specificity observed with mammalian CYP1A.