Primary structure of 20S,22R-cholesterol-hydroxylating cytochrome P-450 from bovine adrenal cortex mitochondria. Study of the structure of peptides obtained by hydrolysis of fragment F1 with proteinase from Staphylococcus aureus

The fragment F1 resulting from the limited tryptic hydrolysis of the native molecule of cytochrome P-450 has been digested with Staphylococcus aureus protease. 24 peptides, covering the whole polypeptide chain of fragment F1, are isolated from the hydrolysate. Analysis of their amino acid sequence in combination with the earlier data on the structure of cytochrome P-450 chymotryptic peptides and fragment F1 tryptic peptides permitted to carry out a reconstruction of large peptide blocks of fragment F1 that comprise 252 amino acid residues.     

Primary structure of 20S,22R-cholesterol-hydroxylating cytochrome P-450 from bovine adrenal cortex mitochondria. IV. Structure of peptides of thermolytic and limited tryptic hydrolysis of the fragment F1; peptides of cyanogen bromide hydrolysis of cytochrome P-450. Complete amino acid sequence

A thermolytic hydrolysis of maleinated fragment F1 has been performed, resulted in isolation of 44 peptides; their complete amino acid sequence has been determined. Non-overlapping thermolytic peptides of fragment F1 involve 178 amino acid residues, which comprises about 71% of its amino acid sequence. Also, the cleavage and structural investigation of some tryptophan-containing peptides obtained from the limited trypsinolysis of fragment F1 were carried out; reconstitution of the polypeptide chain of the fragment is completed. The cyanogen bromide cleavage of carboxymethylated cytochrome P-450 was achieved and 17 peptides, comprising almost the whole polypeptide chain of the protein molecule (91%), was isolated. To investigate structure of the cyanogen bromide peptides, we hydrolysed them at tryptophan residues with trypsin, chymotrypsin, proteinase from Staphylococcus aureus, and BNPS-skatole. The data obtained and those published earlier led to the complete primary structure of the cholesterol-hydroxylating cytochrome P-450. The proteins polypeptide chain consists of 481 amino acid residues and has the precise molecular mass 56 407.7.     

The role of mitochondrial cytochrome P-450 from bovine adrenal cortex in side chain cleavage of 20S,22R-dihydroxycholesterol.

The role of cytochrome P-450 in the side chain cleavage of 20S,22R-dihydroxycholesterol was investigated by examining the effect of carbon monoxide on the conversion of this substance to pregnenolone by cytochrome P-450 from bovine adrenocortical mitochondria; the effect of carbon monoxide on the conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone by the same enzyme also was examined. Fifty per cent inhibition of side chain cleavage was produced by gas mixtures with the following ratios: CO:O2,1.5 for cholesterol and 1.2 for 20S, 22R-dihydroxycholesterol. Photochemical action spectra revealed that light of wavelength 451 nm decreased the inhibition of side chain cleavage of both substrates to a greater extent than light of other wavelenghts. It is concluded that the heme moiety of P-450 is involved in the cleavage of 20S,22R-dihydroxycholesterol.     

Localization of the adrenodoxin-binding fragment of cholesterol hydroxylating cytochrome P-450 from adrenal cortex mitochondria

The interaction between cytochrome P-450scc and adrenodoxin has been studied using cleavable cross-linking reagents and limited trypsinolysis. The data obtained indicate that the site responsible for adrenodoxin binding is located on the NH2-terminal fragment F1 of cytochrome P-450scc.     

Immunochemical characteristics of cholesterol-hydroxylating cytochrome P-450 from adrenal cortex mitochondria

Highly specific antibodies against hemeprotein were obtained by immunizing rabbits with a highly purified cholesterol-hydroxylating cytochrome P-450scc from adrenocortical mitochondria. The antibodies do not specifically interact with other components of the adrenocortical electron transport chain, e. g., adrenodoxin reductase and adrenodoxin. Using double immunodiffusion technique (Ouchterlony method), it was shown that the antibodies did not precipitate the microsomal cytochromes P-450 LM2 and LM4, cytochrome b5 and 11 beta-hydroxylating cytochrome P-450 from adrenocortical mitochondria. Antibodies against cytochrome P-450scc inhibited the cholesterol side chain cleavage activity of cytochrome P-450scc in a reconstituted system. Limited proteolysis with trypsin and immunoelectrophoresis in the presence of specific antibodies revealed that antigenic determinants are present of the heme-containing catalytic domain of cytochrome P-450scc (F1) as well as on the domain responsible for the interaction with the phospholipid membrane (F2).     

Chemical modification of cholesterol-hydroxylating cytochrome P-450 from adrenal cortex mitochondria with diethylpyrocarbonate

Chemical modification of adrenocortical cytochrome P-450scc with diethyl pyrocarbonate has been carried out. The histidine residues and the protein amino groups were shown to undergo modification. Carbethoxylation was accompanied by the hemoprotein inactivation and the loss of enzymatic activity. Neither of the high spin effectors (i.e., substrate and adrenodoxin) protected cytochrome P-450scc either from inactivation or from the loss of enzymatic activity. The data obtained are discussed in terms of the functional role of histidine residues in the cytochrome P-450scc molecule.     

Purification of cytochrome P-450 from bovine adrenocortical mitochondria

One soluble cytochrome P.450 from bovine adrenocortical mitochondria has been purified to near homogeneity. The purified enzyme catalyses side-chain cleavage of cholesterol and to a much lesser extent 11β-hydroxylation (<13% side-chain cleavage) but shows no 18-hydroxylase activity. The molecular weight of this P.450 is approximately 800,000.     

Cholesterol-hydroxylating cytochrome P-450 from bovine adrenal cortex mitochondria and human placenta: immunochemical properties and structural characteristics

An immunochemical comparison of components of cholesterol side chain cleavage system from bovine adrenocortical and human placental mitochondria has been carried out. Antibodies against cytochrome P-450scc, adrenodoxin reductase and adrenodoxin from bovine adrenocortical mitochondria were shown to cross-react with corresponding antigens of human placental mitochondria. A highly sensitive immunochemical method for cytochrome P-450scc determination has been developed. Limited proteolysis of cytochrome P-450scc of human placental mitochondria was studied, and the products of trypsinolysis were identified using antibodies against cytochrome P-450scc and fragments of its polypeptide chain: F1, F2 and F3. Immunochemical relatedness of ferredoxins from bovine adrenocortical and human placental mitochondria allowed one to develop a fast and efficient method for cytochrome P-450scc purification from human placental mitochondria by affinity chromatography on adrenodoxin-Sepharose.     

Ferrous ion-mediated cytochrome P-450 degradation and lipid peroxidation in adrenal cortex mitochondria.

The relationship between the degradation reaction of cytochrome P-450 and lipid peroxidation was studied utilizing bovine adrenal cortex mitochondria. The two reactions were found to be closely correlated in terms of their response to storage of the mitochondrial preparation, stimulation by Fe2+, inhibition by EDTA and their initiation by cumene hydroperoxide. Both reactions were also found not to be inhibited by catalase, superoxide dismutase, 1,4-diazabicyclo-(2,2,2)-octane and alcohols, indicating that H2O2, superoxide, singlet oxygen and hydroxyl radicals do not participate in these reactions. Yet, diphenylamine proved to be a powerful inhibitor for both reactions, suggesting the involvement of a radical species. Cumene hydroperoxide could induce these two reactions at below 0.1 mM concentrations in the presence of molecular oxygen. The chemiluminescence observed during the Fe2+-mediated lipid peroxidation reaction which was not inhibited by either superoxide dismutase or 1,4-diazabicyclo-(2,2,2)-octane, was biphasic: one was a rapid burst; and the other was a slowly increasing emission. The latter portion of the emission of light coincided with the formation of malondialdehyde. These results indicate that in adrenal cortex mitochondria the degradation of cytochrome P-450 is closely related to lipid peroxidation.     

Isolation of aldosterone synthase cytochrome P-450 from zona glomerulosa mitochondria of rat adrenal cortex

A cytochrome P-450 capable of producing aldosterone from 11-deoxycorticosterone was purified from the zona glomerulosa of rat adrenal cortex. The enzyme was present in the mitochondria of the zona glomerulosa obtained from sodium-depleted and potassium-repleted rats but scarcely detected in those from untreated rats. It was undetectable in the mitochondria of other zones of the adrenal cortex from both the treated and untreated rats. The cytochrome P-450 was distinguishable from cytochrome P-45011 beta purified from the zonae fasciculata-reticularis mitochondria of the same rats. Molecular weights of the former and the latter cytochromes P-450, as estimated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, were 49,500 and 51,500, respectively, and their amino acid sequences up to the 20th residue from the N terminus were different from each other at least in one position. The former catalyzed the multihydroxylation reactions of 11-deoxycorticosterone giving corticosterone, 18-hydroxydeoxycorticosterone, 18-hydroxycorticosterone, and a significant amount of aldosterone as products. On the other hand, the latter catalyzed only 11 beta- and 18-hydroxylation reactions of the same substrate to yield either corticosterone or 18-hydroxydeoxycorticosterone. Thus, at least two forms of cytochrome P-450, which catalyze the 11 beta- and 18-hydroxylations of deoxycorticosterone, exist in rat adrenal cortex, but aldosterone synthesis is catalyzed only by the one present in the zona glomerulosa mitochondria.     

Molecular properties of cytochrome P-45011 beta from adrenal cortex mitochondria.

Cytochrome P-45011 beta has been solubilized and partially purified from bovine adrenal cortex mitochondria using chromatography on Octyl-Sepharose CL-4B or DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B. The partially purified P-450 preparations were about 90% pure as judged by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. In the presence of purified preparations of adrenodoxin reductase and adrenodoxin, the partially purified P-450 preparations catalyzed NADPH-supported 11 beta-hydroxylation of unconjugated and sulphoconjugated deoxycorticosterone. In presence of Triton X-100 the partially purified cytochrome P-45011 beta had a Stoke's radius of 4.5 nm, a sedimentation coefficient of 3.1 S and a partial specific volume of about 0.85 cm3/g. These results indicate that the cytochrome P-45011 beta-Triton X-100 complex has a molecular weight of about 100 000 and that P-45011 beta bound about 1.1 g of Triton X-100 per g of protein. The P-45011 beta-Triton X-100 complex was catalytically active in hydroxylation reactions supported by NADPH or the hydroxylating agent ortho-nitroiodosobenzene, suggesting that the monomer of cytochrome P-45011 beta is an active form of the protein.     

The orientation of bovine adrenal cortex cytochrome P-450 in submitochondrial particle multilayers.

Angular electron paramagnetic resonance spectra of cytochrome P-450 in oriented multilayers from bovine adrenal cortex Submitochondrial particles have been obtained. Both high- and low-spin forms are present. Analysis of the spectra allows the orientation of the cytochrome P-450 to be determined relative to the membrane plane. The quality of the orientation of the cytochrome P-450 is estimated by use of a computer simulation program. Cytochrome P-450, unlike other cytochromes and porphyrins previously studied, has its heme plane parallel to the membrane plane.     

Chemical modification of cholesterol-hydroxylating cytochrome P450 from bovine adrenal cortex mitochondria by acetylimidazole

The state and role of tyrosine residues in adrenocortical cytochrome P-450scc was investigated. Spectrophotometric titration experiments showed the existence of two types of tyrosine residues in the hemoprotein molecule, i.e., exposed (pK 9.25) and buried (pK 10.75) ones. Chemical modification of the exposed tyrosine residues with N-acetylimidazole was carried out. The data obtained indicate the involvement of these residues in the interaction with adrenodoxin.     

The active form of cytochrome P-450 from bovine adrenocortical mitochondria.

Cytochrome P-450 from bovine adrenocortical mitochondria exists in three forms of molecular weight: 850,000 (protein 16), of one-half (protein 8), and of one-quarter of this value (protein 4). The forms of the enzyme are named according to the number of subunits and all appear to be active in converting cholesterol to 3beta-hydroxy-5-pregnen-20-one (side chain cleavage) (Shikita, M., and Hall, P.F. (1973) J. Biol. Chem. 248, 5606). To determine whether all three forms are active at their characteristic molecular weights, the three cytochromes were each layered onto separate sucrose density gradients and centrifuged at 49,000 rpm for 60 min; the gradients contained all the factors necessary for side chain cleavage including one of the following substrates: cholesterol, 20S-hydroxycholesterol, and 20S,22R-dihydroxycholesterol. Regardless of the form of P-450 layered onto the gradient and regardless of the substrate, enzyme activity (side chain cleavage) was observed only in fractions corresponding to a sedimentation coefficient of 20 to 22 S which is that for protein 16. No activity was observed at S values corresponding to either protein 8 or protein 4. These findings indicate that the active form of cytochrome P-450 from adrenocortical mitochondria is that containing 16 subunits, i.e. the form in which the cytochrome is normally isolated from adrenal mitochondria. Forms consisting of eight and four subunits which can be prepared from protein 16 become active only by forming protein 16, at least in an aqueous medium in vitro.     

Crystallization of cytochrome P-450scc from bovine adrenocortical mitochondria

Cytochrome P-450scc (P-450scc), a cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme from bovine adrenocortical mitochondria, has been crystallized for the first time. Upon removal of glycerol from the solution of the native enzyme complexed with pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) by microdialysis against distilled water, reddish and planar crystals appeared. The crystals of native P-450scc were also obtained by the same procedure. We identified the crystals as the P-450scc-PLP complex or native P-450scc by absorption spectroscopy and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and characterized them under a polarization microscope.     

Import and processing of the precursor of cytochrome P-450(SCC) by bovine adrenal cortex mitochondria

Isolated bovine adrenal cortex mitochondria imported in vitro synthesized pre-P-450(SCC) and processed it to the mature form. Partial radio-sequencing of the processed P-450(SCC) gave a result identical with that for authentic P-450(SCC). Rat liver mitochondria also imported pre-P-450(SCC) and processed it to the mature form, whereas bovine heart mitochondria were unable to import and process pre-P-450(SCC) although both mitochondrial preparations imported and processed pre-adrenodoxin. The pre-P-450(SCC) processing activity of bovine adrenal cortex mitochondria was associated with the matrix side surface of the inner membrane. The processing protease could be solubilized by sodium cholate and partially purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation. The partially purified processing protease cleaved pre-P-450(SCC) at the correct position. It was also active in processing pre-P-450(11 beta) but inactive toward pre-adrenodoxin. Bovine heart mitochondria lacked the processing activity to pre-P-450(SCC). The localization of pre-P-450(SCC) and mature P-450(SCC) in bovine adrenal cortex mitochondria was examined. Mature P-450(SCC) processed by the mitochondria was found associated with the matrix-side surface of the inner membrane, which is the correct location of P-450(SCC) in the cell. In the presence of o-phenanthroline, pre-P-450(SCC) was imported into the organelles without being processed and remained soluble in the matrix. The incorporation of newly processed mature P-450(SCC) into the inner membrane was also observed when pre-P-450(SCC) was incubated with inner membrane vesicles. Mature P-450(SCC) generated in vitro from pre-P-450(SCC) by the partially purified processing protease was incorporated not only into the inner membrane vesicles but also into bovine adrenal cortex microsomes. These findings suggested that the processing of pre-P-450(SCC) occurred prior to the incorporation of mature-P-450(SCC) into the inner membrane.     

The active form of cytochrome P-45011beta from adrenal cortex mitochondria.

Cytochrome P-45011beta has been solubilized and partially purified from bovine adrenal cortex mitochondria by means of chromatography on Octyl-Sepharose CL-4B or DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B. The partially purified P-450 preparations were about 90% pure as judged by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, but had a low specific content of P-450 (between 1 and 2 nmol of P-450 per mg of protein). In the presence of purified preparations of adrenodoxin reductase and adrenodoxin, the partially purified P-450 preparations catalyzed NADPH-supported 11beta-hydroxylation of unconjugated and sulfoconjugated deoxycorticosterone. In the reconstituted system the hydroxylation of deoxycorticosterone sulfate proceeded at a much higher rate than in intact mitochondria, indicating that in the former case interactions between the hydrophilic substrate and P-450 were facilitated. In the presence of Triton X-100 the partially purified cytochrome P-45011beta had a Stokes radius of 4.5 nm, a sedimentation coefficient of 3.1 S, and a partial specific volume of about 0.85 cm3/g. These results indicate that the cytochrome P-45011beta . Triton X-100 complex had a molecular weight of about 100,000 and that P-45011beta bound about 1.1 g of Triton X-100 per g of protein. The P-45011beta . Triton X-100 complex was catalytically active in hydroxylation reactions supported by NADPH or the hydroxylating agent ortho-nitroiodosobenzene, suggesting that the monomer of cytochrome P-45011beta is the active form of the protein.     

Cytochrome P-450 from mitochondria of bovine adrenal cortex: comparison of cholesterol side-chain cleavage P-450 with steroid 11beta-hydroxylation P-450 and immunochemical cross-reactivity between adrenal mitochondrial and liver microsomal cytochromes P-450.

Adrenocortical mitochondrial cytochrome P-450 specific to the cholesterol side-chain cleavage (desmolase) reaction differs from that for the 11beta-hydroxylation reaction of deoxycorticosterone. The former cytochrome appears to be more loosely bound to the inner membrane than the latter. Upon ageing at 0 degrees C or by aerobic treatment with ferrous ions, the desmolase P-450 was more stable than the 11beta-hydroxylase P-450. By utilizing artificial hydroxylating agents such as cumene hydroperoxide, H2O2, and sodium periodate, the hydroxylation reaction of deoxycorticosterone to corticosterone in the absence of NADPH was observed to a comparable extent with the reaction in the presence of adrenodoxin reductase, adrenodoxin and NADPH. However, the hydroxylation reaction of cholesterol to pregnenolone was not supported by these artificial agents. Immunochemical cross-reactivity of bovine adrenal desmolase P-450 with rabbit liver microsomal P-450LM4 was also investigated. We found a weak but significant cross-reactivity between the adrenal mitochondrial P-450 and liver microsomal P-450LM4, indicating to some extent a homology between adrenal and liver cytochromes P-450.     

The domain structure of the cholesterol side-chain cleavage cytochrome P-450 from bovine adrenocortical mitochondria

A homogeneous cytochrome P-450scc preparation with a specific enzyme content of 18 nmol/1 mg protein has been obtained using affinity chromatography on adrenodoxin-Sepharose under optimal conditions of the protein adsorption onto and desorption from the affinity sorbent. The data on the N-terminal amino acid sequence of the enzyme, along with the results of electrophoretic and spectrophotometric analyses favoured the multistage cholesterol transformation to pregnenolone to be catalyzed by single species of cytochrome P-450scc consisting of one polypeptide chain. Limited proteolysis of cytochrome P-450scc with trypsin resulted, at the initial stages, in the formation (in an equimolar ratio) of two large polypeptide fragments, I and II, with Mr 27000 and 22000, respectively. Prolonged action of trypsin led to the digestion of fragment II and the formation of a stoichiometric amount of fragment III, Mr of about 14000. Cytochrome P-450scc converted by trypsin into equimolar mixtures of fragments I and II or I and III retained the major spectral and functional properties of the native protein. The aspartyl-prolyl linkages, sulphhydryl groups, and surface tyrosine residues are distributed nonuniformly among fragments I and II. These data, as well as a different resistance of the fragments to the action of trypsin, suggest that cytochrome P-450scc consists of two independently folded domains linked with a short loop of the polypeptide chain, the domains being rigidly associated under neutral conditions.