The locus of inhibition of NADH oxidation by benzothiadiazoles in beef heart submitochondrial particles

6-Chloro-1,2,3-benzothiadiazole (6-Cl-BTD) is an effective inhibitor of NADH oxidase (site I) but not of succinate oxidase in beef heart submitochondrial particles. For NADH oxidase activity maximal inhibition (80-85%) was achieved at 0.75mM 6-Cl-BTD. A similar level of inhibition was also observed (half maximal inhibitory concentration 0.5mM) towards NADH-duroquinone reductase; NADH-juglone reductase was slightly inhibited (23%) at 0.5mM 6-Cl-BTD while NADH-ferricyanide reductase was unaffected. The data suggest that 6-Cl-BTD interacts with an electron transport site on the oxygen side of NADH dehydrogenase and inhibitory studies with 6-Cl-BTD and rotenone indicate that it might correspond with one of the two sites affected by rotenone. The substituted 1,2,3-benzothiadiazoles (BTDs) are perhaps best known for their activity as inhibitors of cytochrome P-450-mediated mixed-function oxidation (MFO). In vitro, the BTDs are potent inhibitors of MFO activities in microsomes from mammalian liver and insect tissues and they have been demonstrated to inhibit aminopyrine metabolism in perfused rat liver. In vivo, they reportedly prolong hexobarbital sleeping time in mice, inhibit the irreversible binding of labeled trichloro-ethylene to microsomal protein and effectively enhance the toxicity (synergize) of pyrethrin, organophosphorus-containing and carbamate insecticides to insects.     

Induction of mixed-function oxygenase system and antioxidant enzymes in the coral Montastraea faveolata on acute exposure to benzo(a)pyrene

Components of the cytochrome P(450) monooxygenase system (MFO) and antioxidant enzymes were investigated in the coral Montastraea faveolata exposed to the organic contaminant benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P). For bioassays the corals were exposed to increasing concentrations of B(a)P (0.01 and 0.1 ppm) for 24 and 72 h, with water renewal every 24 h. Enzymatic activity of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) were measured in host (polyp) and hosted (zooxanthellae) cells. NADPH cytochrome c reductase activity and contents of cytochrome P(450) and P(420) were only measured in the polyp. Antioxidant enzymes CAT and SOD in polyps and zooxanthellae and GST in polyps increased significantly at the highest concentration and maximum time of exposure. Cytochrome P(420) was found in all colonies, and the cytochrome P(450) content was greatest in the colonies from the highest concentrations of contaminant. NADPH cytochrome c reductase activity and the concentration of pigments did not vary between treatments. This is the first report of the induction of both detoxifying mechanisms, the MFO system and antioxidant enzymes on acute exposure to an organic contaminant in the reef-constructing coral species M. faveolata.     

Strain differences in the maintenance of cytochrome P-450 and mixed-function-oxidase activities in cultured rat hepatocytes. Effect of prostaglandins.

The mixed-function-oxidase (MFO) activities, ethoxyresorufin and pentoxyphenoxazone O-dealkylase, of cultured Hooded-Lister(HL)-rat hepatocytes declined rapidly during 72 h of culture, whereas in Sprague-Dawley(SD)-rat hepatocytes the MFO activities increased between 24 and 72 h in culture. Cytochrome P-450 content declined at the same rate in both HL- and SD-rat hepatocyte cultures. NADPH:cytochrome c reductase and NADH:cytochrome b5 reductase were more stable in SD- than in HL-rat hepatocyte cultures. 16,16-Dimethylprostaglandins E2 and F2 alpha improved the maintenance of cytochrome P-450 content, MFO activity and NADPH:cytochrome c reductase in the HL-rat hepatocyte cultures. In SD-rat hepatocytes, the prostaglandins had no effect on cytochrome P-450 content or NADPH:cytochrome c reductase activity, whereas they prevented the increase observed in MFO activities between 24 and 72 h after culture.     

Feminization of the hepatic monooxygenases by growth hormone is mimicked by puromycin and correlates with a decrease in male-type cytochrome P450

The hepatic monooxygenase system (MFO) was studied in hypophysectomized male rats treated with growth hormone (GH), puromycin, or both. GH significantly decreased the amount of cytochrome P450 and the activity of ethylmorphine demethylase but did not affect aniline hydroxylase or NADPH cytochrome c reductase. Puromycin significantly increased the activity of the reductase but otherwise had effects identical to GH. The agent's effects were additive. By labelling the P450 with [3H]-heme we found that GH decreased the amount of male-type (slow turnover) P450 by 56% but lowered the female-type (fast turnover) by only 10%. The hormone increased the half-life of both types by 56 and 100% respectively. We conclude that GH feminizes the MFO by decreasing the synthesis of male-type cytochrome P450.     

Thyroid hormone stimulation of NADPH P450 reductase expression in liver and extrahepatic tissues. Regulation by multiple mechanisms.

The role of thyroid hormone in regulating the expression of the flavoprotein NADPH cytochrome P450 reductase was studied in adult rats. Depletion of circulating thyroid hormone by hypophysectomy, or more selectively, by treatment with the anti-thyroid drug methimazole led to a 75-85% depletion of hepatic microsomal P450 reductase activity and protein in both male and female rats. Thyroxine substantially restored P450 reductase activity at a dose that rendered the thyroid-depleted rats euthyroid. Microsomal P450 reductase activity in several extrahepatic tissues was also dependent on thyroid hormone, but to a lesser extent than in liver (30-50% decrease in kidney, adrenal, lung, and heart but not in testis from hypothyroid rats). Hepatic P450 reductase mRNA levels were also decreased in the hypothyroid state, indicating that the loss of P450 reductase activity is not a consequence of the associated decreased availability of the FMN and FAD cofactors of P450 reductase. Parallel analysis of S14 mRNA, which has been studied extensively as a model thyroid-regulated liver gene product, indicated that P450 reductase and S14 mRNA respond similarly to these changes in thyroid state. In contrast, while the expression of S14 and several other thyroid hormone-dependent hepatic mRNAs is stimulated by feeding a high carbohydrate, fat-free diet, hepatic P450 reductase expression was not increased by this lipogenic diet. Injection of hypothyroid rats with T3 at a supraphysiologic, receptor-saturating dose stimulated a major induction of hepatic P450 reductase mRNA that was detectable 4 h after the T3 injection, and peaked at approximately 650% of euthyroid levels by 12 h. However, this same treatment stimulated a biphasic increase in P450 reductase protein and activity that required 3 days to reach normal euthyroid levels. T3 treatment of euthyroid rats also stimulated a major induction of P450 reductase mRNA that was maximal (12-fold increase) by 12 h, but in this case no major increase in P450 reductase protein or activity was detectable over a 3-day period. Together, these studies establish that thyroid hormone regulates P450 reductase expression by pretranslational mechanisms. They also suggest that other regulatory mechanisms, which may involve changes in P450 reductase protein stability and/or changes in the translational efficiency of its mRNA, are likely to occur.     

Quantitation of mRNAs specific for the mixed-function oxidase system in rat liver and extrahepatic tissues during development

Evaluation of ontogenetic expression of the cytochrome P450PCN and cytochrome P450b gene families as well as the NADPH-cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase and epoxide hydrolase genes in Holtzmann rats showed that basal levels of mRNAs encoding these enzymes could be detected in most tissues. Distinct developmental patterns of mRNA expression are evident for these four proteins in liver and extrahepatic tissues. Levels of cytochrome P450b-like mRNA were comparable in adult lung and liver, while cytochrome P450PCN-homologous mRNA exhibited low levels in lung and approximately 100-fold higher levels in liver. Cytochrome P450PCN-homologous mRNA also reached substantial levels in adult intestine, and was also present in placenta, where it increased approximately 4-fold 24 h before birth. Epoxide hydrolase mRNA was demonstrated to be highest in liver followed by kidney, lung, and intestine but was extremely low in brain. NADPH-cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase mRNA in kidney, lung, prostate, adrenal, and intestine exhibited levels comparable to that found in liver; however, the pattern of expression for oxidoreductase mRNA was unique in that levels declined at maturity in liver, kidney, and intestine but not in lung and brain. Development of mixed-function oxidase and epoxide hydrolase activities in liver was distinct from that in other tissues in that mRNAs for all four proteins rose dramatically after parturition. Testis from immature males demonstrated low levels of all the mRNAs assayed, which ranged from 20% (oxidoreductase) to less than 1% (cytochrome P450PCN and epoxide hydrolase) of the levels found in liver.     

Differential tissue-specific expression and induction of cytochrome P450IVA1 and acyl-CoA oxidase.

We have examined the tissue-specific expression and inducibility of acyl-CoA oxidase and cytochrome P450IVA1 (P450IVA1) RNA in rats. Groups of three rats were dosed daily by gavage with methylclofenapate at 25 mg/kg in 5 ml/kg corn oil for nine weeks, or were administered a vehicle control. P450IVA1 and acyl-CoA oxidase RNA were detected using an RNase protection assay. Similar levels of acyl-CoA oxidase RNA were present in control liver and kidney, but the level of this RNA in lung, muscle and testis was 6-11%, and in pancreas was 0.13%, of that in liver. Treatment of rats with methylclofenapate led to an 11-fold induction of acyl-CoA oxidase RNA in liver and also produced a significant induction of this RNA in kidney, lung, muscle and testis of 1.7-fold, 1.3-fold, 2-fold and 1.7-fold, respectively. Acyl-CoA oxidase RNA was not induced in pancreas. P450IVA1 RNA was present in control liver and also in kidney of control rats at 28% of the level in liver. In contrast to acyl-CoA oxidase RNA, P450IVA1 RNA was not detected in lung, pancreas or testis. Methylclofenapate treatment of rats led to an 18-fold induction of P450IVA1 RNA in liver, and a sevenfold induction in kidney. Induction of P450IVA1 was not detected in any of the other tissues examined. Quantification of the relative amounts of acyl-CoA oxidase and P450IVA1 RNA in control liver revealed that acyl-CoA oxidase RNA was present in a 17.5-fold molar excess over P450IVA1 RNA. Western blotting with an anti-P450IVA IgG revealed two bands of similar apparent molecular mass in liver and kidney microsomes, but not in microsomes from the testis of control rats. Methylclofenapate treatment of rats caused an increase in the intensity of these bands in microsomes from liver, but no induction was obvious in kidney. Immunocytochemical staining for both the microsomal P450IVA and peroxisomal acyl-CoA oxidase proteins was restricted to the proximal convoluted tubule in the kidney cortex, with staining being most intense in the S3 region.     

Immunochemical detection of cytochrome P450C-M/F and NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase in rat liver and kidney

The localization and distribution of NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase and cytochrome P450C-M/F were investigated immunohistochemically in the liver and the kidney of untreated rats employing both an unlabelled antibody peroxidase-antiperoxidase method and a peroxidase labelled primary antibody technique. In both immunohistochemical procedures, the reductase and P450C-M/F were detected in hepatocytes throughout the liver. In contrast, the reductase and P450C-M/F in the kidney were only detectable in the proximal tubule cells.     

Metabolization of Porphyrinogenic Agents in Brain: Involvement of the Phase I Drug Metabolizing System. A Comparative Study in Liver and Kidney

(1) We evaluated the involvement of brain mitochondrial and microsomal cytochrome P-450 in the metabolization of known porphyrinogenic agents, with the aim of improving the knowledge on the mechanism leading to porphyric neuropathy. We also compared the response in brain, liver and kidney. To this end, we determined mitochondrial and microsomal cytochrome P-450 levels and the activity of NADPH cytochrome P-450 reductase. (2) Animals were treated with known porphyrinogenic drugs such as volatile anaesthetics, allylisopropylacetamide, veronal, griseofulvin and ethanol or were starved during 24 h. Cytochrome P-450 levels and NADPH cytochrome P-450 reductase activity were measured in mitochondrial and microsomal fractions from the different tissues. (3) Some of the porphyrinogenic agents studied altered mitochondrial cytochrome P-450 brain but not microsomal cytochrome P-450. Oral griseofulvin induced an increase in mitochondrial cytochrome P-450 levels, while chronic Isoflurane produced a reduction on its levels, without alterations on microsomal cytochrome P-450. Allylisopropylacetamide diminished both mitochondrial and microsomal cytochrome P-450 brain levels; a similar pattern was detected in liver. Mitochondria cytochorme P-450 liver levels were only diminished after chronic Isoflurane administration. In kidney only mitochondrial cytochrome P-450 levels were modified by veronal; while in microsomes, only acute anaesthesia with Enflurane diminished cytochrome P-450 content. (4) Taking into account that δ-aminolevulinic acid would be responsible for porphyric neuropathy, we investigated the effect of acute and chronic δ-aminolevulinic acid administration. Acute δ-aminolevulinic acid administration reduced brain and liver cytochrome P-450 levels in both fractions; chronic δ-aminolevulinic acid administration diminished only liver mitochondrial cytochrome P-450. (5) Brain NADPH cytochrome P-450 reductase activity in animals receiving allylisopropylacetamide, dietary griseofulvin and δ-aminolevulinic acid showed a similar profile as that for total cytochrome P-450 levels. The same response was observed for the hepatic enzyme. (6) Results here reported revealed differential tissue responses against the xenobiotics assayed and give evidence on the participation of extrahepatic tissues in porphyrinogenic drug metabolization. These studies have demonstrated the presence of the integral Phase I drug metabolizing system in the brain, thus, total cytochrome P-450 and associated monooxygenases in brain microsomes and mitochondria would be taken into account when considering the xenobiotic metabolizing capability of this organ. Dedicated to the memory of Dr. Susana Afonso     

Fatty acid hydroxylation in rat kidney cortex microsomes

Rat kidney microsomes have been found to catalyze the hydroxylation of medium-chained fatty acids to the omega- and (omego-1)-hydroxy derivatives. This reaction, which requires NADPH and molecular oxygen, is a function of monooxygenase system present in the kidney microsomes, containing NADPH-cytochrome c reductase and cytochrome P-450K. NADH is about half as effective as an electron donor as NADPH and there is an additive effect in the presence of both nucleotides. Cytochrome P-450K absorbs light maximally at 452-3 nm, when it is reduced and bound to carbon monoxide. The extinction coefficient of this complex is 91 mM(-1) cm(-1). Electrons from NADPH are transferred to cytochrome P-450K via the NADPH-cytochrome c reductase. The reduction rate of cytochrome P-450K is stimulated by added fatty acids and the reduction kinetics reveal the presence of endogenous substrates bound to cytochrome P-450K. Both cytochrome P-450K concentration and fatty acid hydroxylation activity in kidney microsomes are increased by starvation. On the other hand, phenobarbital treatment of the rats has no effect on either the hemoprotein or the overall hydroxylation reaction and 3,4-benzpyrene administration induces a new species of cytochrome P-450K not involved in fatty acid hydroxylation. Cytochrome P-450K shows, in contrast to liver P-450, high substrate specificity. The only substances forming enzyme-substrate complexes with cytochrome P-450K are the medium-chained fatty acids and certain derivatives of these acids. The chemical requirements for substrate binding include a carbon chain of medium length and at the end of the chain a carbonyl group and a free electron pair on a neighbouring atom. The distance between the binding site for the carbonyl group and the active oxygen is suggested to be in the order of 16 A. This distance fixes the ratio of omega- and (omega-1)-hydroxylated products formed from a certain fatty acid by the single species of cytochrome P-450K involved. The membrane microenvironment seems also to be of importance for the substrate specificity of cytochrome P-450K, since removal of the cytochrome from the membrane lowers its binding specificity to some extent. A comparison between the liver and kidney cytochrome P-450 systems suggests that the kidney cytochrome P-450K system is specialized for fatty acid hydroxylation.     

Quantification of cytochrome P450 reductase gene expression in human tissues.

We have isolated and sequenced cDNA clones that code for a variant of human cytochrome P450 reductase. An RNase protection assay was used to quantify the corresponding mRNA in adult and fetal tissues. The results demonstrate that, in the samples analyzed, the cytochrome P450 reductase gene displays very little inter-individual variation in its expression in adult liver and is subject to little developmental or tissue-specific regulation.     

Molecular Characterization of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Camelus dromedarius</Emphasis> Putative Cytochrome P450s Genes

The expression levels of cytochrome P450s were examined in different camel tissues by western blotting and semi-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Camelus dromedarius liver microsomes were found to express different P450s isoenzymes constitutively. The maximum expression of P450 protein was seen in the camel liver in the order of P450 2E1, 1A1, 3A and 2B1/2. Camel extrahepatic tissues, kidney, spleen and the lung showed detectable levels of P450s 1A1 but lower than that noticed in liver. Detectable level of P450 2B1/2 was also observed in camel lung (29.5 vs. 58% liver microsomes). P450scc and 21-hydroxylase were found to be differentially expressed only in camel testis. Partial sequences of these P450s genes showed high similarities with the human P450s. These results demonstrate that the multiple forms of P450s are differentially expressed in camel tissues and that the relative levels of expression are comparable with other mammals. These observations might be important in understanding the differential susceptibility of camel tissues to the toxic effects of xenobiotics and environmental pollution.     

Mixed-function oxidase induction as a test for the biological monitoring of water: limitations and prospects]

The induction in fish liver of some enzyme activities, and typically of microsomal mixed-function oxidases (MFO), provides the earliest biological warning signal of exposure to pollutants. Our studies provided evidence that the basal levels of cytochrome P-450 and specific MFO activities, such as arylhydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) and ethoxyresorufin deethylase (EROD), were strongly influenced by the diet in freshwater fish (Oncorhynchus mykiss). The response of fish liver to a known enzyme inducer, i.e., beta-naphthoflavone, was also affected by the diet, which therefore should be carefully controlled in laboratory studies. Under field conditions MFO activities were significantly enhanced in the liver of O. mykiss kept in polluted river water as well as in the liver of the seawater fish Diplodus annularis collected from a polluted harbour area, as compared to specimens of the same species collected from an unpolluted reference area.     

In vivo effects of Panax ginseng extracts on the cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenase system in the liver of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin-exposed guinea pig

The effects of the subchronic administration of Panax ginseng extracts were examined on the hepatic cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenase system of guinea pigs pre-exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). Panax ginseng extracts were intraperitoneally administered to guinea pigs at 100 mg/kg/day for 14 days from 1 week after a single intraperitoneal injection of 1 microg of TCDD/kg of body weight. TCDD treatment increased the total cytochrome P450 content 2.86-fold, and this was remarkably inhibited by the administration of Panax ginseng extracts. Treatment with ginseng extract alone also decreased the contents of cytochrome P450 by 33%, but both TCDD and ginseng extracts had no effect on cytochrome b(5) content. The administration of TCDD resulted in a 1.73-fold increase in microsomal NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase activity in the guinea pig liver, and this was significantly inhibited by ginseng extracts, but treatment with ginseng extracts alone had no effect on its activity, and no statistical changes in the activity of NADPH-cytochrome b(5) reductase were observed in guinea pig liver due to TCDD and/or ginseng extract administration. Compared to the control, ECOD activity remarkably (1.76-fold) increased after TCDD administration, but this increase was completely inhibited by treatment with ginseng extract. Treatment with ginseng extract alone resulted in a 50% reduction of ECOD activity. TCDD administration remarkably induced benzphetamine demethylation (BPDM) activity, while ginseng extract also slightly increased the enzyme's activity, but the induction attributed to ginseng extracts was not statistically significant. Even though administration of ginseng extracts slightly inhibited TCDD-induced BPDM activity, the inhibition was not statistically significant. These results indicate that ginseng extract exerts different effect on the induction of P450 isozymes. From these results, we suggest that Panax ginseng extracts may act as an inhibitor of CYP1A rather than that of CYP2B.     

Purification and Characterization of Cytochrome P450 Reductase from Liver Microsomes of Feral Leaping Mullet (Liza saliens)

NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity from detergent-solubilized liver microsomes from the leaping mullet (Liza saliens). The purified reductase was characterized with respect to spectral, electrophoretic, and biocatalytic properties. In addition, effects of pH, ionic strength, and the substrate concentration on the NADPH-dependent cytochrome c reductase activity of the purified fish liver cytochrome P450 reductase were studied. Cytochrome P450 reductase was purified 438-fold with a yield of 17.5% with respect to the initial amount present in the fish liver microsomes. The specific activity of the enzyme was found to be 52.6 μmol cytochrome c reduced per minute per mg protein. The monomer molecular weight of the purified enzyme was calculated to be 77,000 ± 1000 when electrophoresed on polyacrylamide gels under the denaturing conditions in the presence of SDS. The absorption spectrum of fish reductase showed two peaks at 378 and 455 nm. NADPH-dependent cytochrome c reductase activity of the purified Liza saliens liver cytochrome P450 reductase was found to be maximal when pH was between 7.4 and 7.8. The apparent K_m of the purified enzyme was found to be 7.69 μM for cytochrome c when the enzyme activity was measured in 0.3 M potassium phosphate buffer, pH 7.7, at room temperature, and the enzyme was fully saturated by its substrate, cytochrome c, when the substrate concentration was at or above the 70 μM. Furthermore, the purified enzyme was biocatalytically active in reconstituting the 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase activity in the reconstituted system containing purified mullet liver cytochrome P4501A1 and lipid. These results suggested that the purified fish liver cytochrome P450 reductase is similar to its mammalian counterparts with respect to spectral, electrophoretic, and biocatalytic properties. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Biochem Toxicol 12: 103–113, 1998     

The use of a specific fluorescence probe to study the interaction of adrenodoxin with adrenodoxin reductase and cytochrome P-450scc

The single free cysteine at residue 95 of bovine adrenodoxin was labeled with the fluorescent reagent N-iodoacetylamidoethyl-1-aminonaphthalene-5-sulfonate (1,5-I-AEDANS). The modification had no effect on the interaction with adrenodoxin reductase or cytochrome P-450scc, suggesting that the AEDANS group at Cys-95 was not located at the binding site for these molecules. Addition of adrenodoxin reductase, cytochrome P-450scc, or cytochrome c to AEDANS-adrenodoxin was found to quench the fluorescence of the AEDANS in a manner consistent with the formation of 1:1 binary complexes. F?rster energy transfer calculations indicated that the AEDANS label on adrenodoxin was 42 A from the heme group in cytochrome c, 36 A from the FAD group in adrenodoxin reductase, and 58 A from the heme group in cytochrome P-450scc in the respective binary complexes. These studies suggest that the FAD group in adrenodoxin reductase is located close to the binding domain for adrenodoxin but that the heme group in cytochrome P-450scc is deeply buried at least 26 A from the binding domain for adrenodoxin. Modification of all the lysines on adrenodoxin with maleic anhydride had no effect on the interaction with either adrenodoxin reductase or cytochrome P-450scc, suggesting that the lysines are not located at the binding site for either protein. Modification of all the arginine residues with p-hydroxyphenylglyoxal also had no effect on the interaction with adrenodoxin reductase or cytochrome P-450scc. These studies are consistent with the proposal that the binding sites on adrenodoxin for adrenodoxin reductase and cytochrome P-450scc overlap, and that adrenodoxin functions as a mobile electron carrier.     

Reductive metabolism of nitroprusside in rat hepatocytes and human erythrocytes.

The metabolism of nitroprusside by hepatocytes or subcellular fractions involves a one-electron reduction of nitroprusside to the corresponding metal-nitroxyl radical. Thiol compounds also reduced nitroprusside to the metal-nitroxyl radical apparently via a thiol adduct. The nitroprusside reduction by microsomes was shown to be due to cytochrome P450 reductase as an antibody to cytochrome P450 reductase inhibits the microsomal reduction of nitroprusside, and the inhibitors of cytochrome P450 such as carbon monoxide or metyrapone had no effect. The reduction of nitroprusside by mitochondria in the presence of NADH or NADPH also produced the metal-nitroxyl radical. In hepatocytes, both mitochondria and the cytochrome P450 reductase are involved in the reduction of nitroprusside. The reductive metabolism of nitroprusside was found to produce toxic by-products, namely, free cyanide anion and hydrogen peroxide. We have also detected thiyl radicals formed in the thiol compound reduction of NP. We propose that cyanide and hydrogen peroxide are important toxic species formed in the metabolism of nitroprusside. The rate of reductive metabolism of nitroprusside by rat hepatocytes was much higher than with human erythrocytes. Therefore the major site of nitroprusside metabolism in vivo may be liver and not blood as originally proposed.     

Role of a novel dual flavin reductase (NR1) and an associated histidine triad protein (DCS-1) in menadione-induced cytotoxicity

Microsomal cytochrome P450 reductase catalyzes the one-electron transfer from NADPH via FAD and FMN to various electron acceptors, such as cytochrome P450s or to some anti-cancer quinone drugs. This results in generation of free radicals and toxic oxygen metabolites, which can contribute to the cytotoxicity of these compounds. Recently, a cytosolic NADPH-dependent flavin reductase, NR1, has been described which is highly homologous to the microsomal cytochrome P450 reductase. In this study, we show that over-expression of NR1 in human embryonic kidney cells enhances the cytotoxic action of the model quinone, menadione. Furthermore, we show that a novel human histidine triad protein DCS-1, which is expressed together with NR1 in many tissues, can significantly reduce menadione-induced cytotoxicity in these cells. We also show that DCS-1 binds NF1 and directly modulates its activity. These results suggest that NR1 may play a role in carcinogenicity and cell death associated with one-electron reductions.     

Hydroxylation of prostaglandin A1 by the microsomes of rabbit intestinal mucosa

Microsomes from rabbit small intestine mucosa were found to catalyze the hydroxylation of PGA1 in the presence of NADPH. The major product was identified as 20-hydroxy PGA1 by using high performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and the minor product was assumed to be 19-hydroxy PGA1. The ratio of the former product to the latter was about 24.1. The specific PGA1 omega-hydroxylase activity of small intestine microsomes was comparable to that of liver microsomes, and was significantly higher than those of microsomes from other tissues such as kidney cortex and lung. Microsomes from rabbit colon mucosa also catalyzed the hydroxylation of PGA1 in the presence of NADPH, with the ratio of omega- to (omega-1)-hydroxy PGA1 formed being 33.0. The PGA1 hydroxylase activities of the microsomes from both small intestine and colon were inhibited markedly by carbon monoxide, indicating the participation of cytochrome P-450. A cytochrome P-450 was solubilized from small intestine microsomes, and purified to a specific content of 10.5 nmol of cytochrome P-450/mg of protein. This cytochrome hydroxylated PGA1 at the omega-position with a turnover rate of 38.2 nmol/min/nmol of cytochrome P-450 in the reconstituted system containing cytochrome P-450, NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase, cytochrome b5 and phosphatidylcholine. It is suggested that this cytochrome P-450 is specialized for the omega-hydroxylation of PGA1 in small intestine microsomes.     

Reduction of 7-alkoxyresorufins by NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase and its differential effects on their O-dealkylation by rat liver microsomal cytochrome P450

Antibody-inhibition experiments established that the induction of cytochrome P450c is largely responsible for the marked increase in liver microsomal 7-ethoxyresorufin O-dealkylation in rats treated with 3-methylcholanthrene, whereas the induction of cytochrome P450b and/or P450e is largely responsible for the marked increase in 7-pentoxy- and 7-benzyloxyresorufin O-dealkylation in rats treated with phenobarbital. When reconstituted with NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase and lipid, purified cytochrome P450c catalyzed the O-dealkylation of 7-ethoxyresorufin at a rate of approximately 30 nmol/nmol P450/min, which far exceeded the rate catalyzed by either purified cytochromes P450b and P450e or microsomal cytochrome P450c. In contrast, purified cytochrome P450b and P450e were poor catalysts of the O-dealkylation of 7-pentoxy- and 7-benzyloxyresorufin. However, purified cytochrome P450b is an excellent catalyst of several other reactions, such as the N-demethylation of benzphetamine, the hydroxylation of testosterone, and the O-dealkylation of 7-ethoxycoumarin. The low rate of 7-pentoxyresorufin O-dealkylation catalyzed by purified cytochrome P450b did not reflect a requirement for cytochrome b5, and could not be ascribed to an artifact of the method used to measure the formation of resourufin. The catalytic activity of purified cytochrome P450b toward 7-pentoxyresorufin was consistently low over a range of substrate and lipid concentrations, and was not stimulated by sodium deoxycholate (which stimulates the N-demethylation of benzphatamine by purified cytochrome P450b). Evidence is presented which indicates that cytochrome P450c catalyzes the O-dealkylation of both the oxidized and reduced forms of 7-ethoxyresorufin, with perhaps a slight preference for the reduced form. In contrast, cytochrome P450b preferentially catalyzes the O-dealkylation of the oxidized form of 7-pentoxyresorufin. Conditions that favored formation of the reduced form of 7-ethoxyresorufin tended to stimulate its O-dealkylation by purified cytochrome P450c, whereas conditions that favored formation of the reduced form of 7-pentoxyresorufin decreased its rate of O-dealkylation by purified cytochrome P450b. Such conditions included a molar excess of NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase over cytochrome P450, the presence of superoxide dismutase, and the presence of DT-diaphorase (liver cytosol).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)