Effects of cholesterol and adrenodoxin binding on the heme moiety of cytochrome P-450scc: a resonance Raman study

The effects of cholesterol and adrenodoxin binding on resonance Raman spectra of cytochrome P-450scc in both oxidized and CO-reduced states were examined. Upon cholesterol binding, oxidized cytochrome P-450scc showed a significant shift of spin equilibrium from low-spin to high-spin state. Addition of adrenodoxin caused a complete conversion of cholesterol-bound oxidized cytochrome P-450scc to a pure high-spin state that was considered to be in the hexacoordinated state judged by the v10 mode at 1620 cm-1 and v3 mode around 1485 cm-1. Cholesterol in substrate binding site may oppose a linear and perpendicular binding of carbon monoxide to the reduced heme iron, leading to the distorted Fe-C-O linkage. This is based on the following observations: (1) an increase of the Fe-CO stretching frequency to 483 from 477 cm-1 upon addition of cholesterol; (2) an enhanced photodissociability of bound carbon monoxide of CO complex of cytochrome P-450scc in the presence of cholesterol. As another aspect of the effect of cholesterol on the CO complex form of cytochrome P-450scc, the enhanced stability of the native form ("P-450" form) was observed. There was no additional effect of reduced adrenodoxin on the Raman spectra of the CO-reduced form of cytochrome P-450scc.     

Purification and characterization of adrenal cortex mitochondrial cytochrome P-450 specific for cholesterol side chain cleavage activity.

Cytochrome P-450 was purified from bovine adrenal cortex mitochondria by affinity chromatography using an octylamine-substituted Sepharose column. The resulting optically clear preparation was stable at -20 degrees for months. The specific concentration of cytochrome P-450 in the preparation was about 5 nmol of heme per mg of protein. The preparations were free of adrenodoxin, adrenodoxin reductase, phospholipids, and other heme contaminations. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the purified cytochrome P-450 preparation treated with sodium dodecyl sulfate and mercaptoethanol showed a single major band with a molecular weight of about 60,000. The optical absorption spectra of the preparation exhibited Soret maxima at 416, 416, and 448 nm for the Fe3+, Fe2+ and the C.Fe2+ complex, respectively. The EPR spectrum showed the characteristic features of the low spin form of ferric cytochrome P-450 with principal components 1.914, 2.241, and 2.415 of the g-tensor. The circular dichroism spectrum revealed two large negative ellipticities at 412 and 350 nm. Fluorescence spectra showed an excitation maximum at 285 nm and an emission maximum at 305 nm with a shoulder at 330 nm as the cytochrome P-450 molecule is excited at 285 nm, or an emission maximum at 335 nm when the cytochrome molecule is excited at 305 nm. After reconstitution with adrenodoxin and its reductase, this cytochrome P-450 was highly active for cholesterol desmolase with an NADPH-generating system as electron donor but was not active for steroid 11beta-hydroxylase.     

Rapid spectral scan and stopped-flow studies of carbon monoxide binding to bovine adrenocortical cytochrome P-450scc

Carbon monoxide binding with both cholesterol-free (low-spin) and cholesterol-bound (high-spin) reduced forms of purified cytochrome P-450scc has been investigated by rapid-scan and stopped-flow spectrometry. CO binding occurs within 150 ms at 25 degrees C for both forms of P-450scc, with a typical absorption maximum at 450 nm. Isosbestic points occur at the following wavelengths: between reduced-CO and reduced cholesterol-free P-450scc at 434 and 471 nm; between reduced-CO and reduced cholesterol-bound P-450scc at 433 and 469 nm. Both the 'on' (k1) and 'off' rate constants (k-1) are found to be independent of pH between pH 5 and 9. The mean values of k1 for cholesterol-free (1.8 +/- 0.2) X 10(5) M-1 X s-1) and cholesterol-bound [1.9 +/- 0.1) X 10(5) M-1 X s-1) P-450scc are almost identical, while the mean value of k-1 for the former [2.3 +/- 0.3) X 10 s-1) is about double that of the latter [1.2 +/- 0.1) X 10 s-1). This suggests the instability of the reduced-CO complex in the absence of cholesterol.     

Temperature dependence of cholesterol binding to cytochrome P-450scc of the rat adrenal. Effect of adrenocorticotropic hormone and cycloheximide.

A type I absorbance change is observed in suspensions of adrenal cortical mitochondria as the temperature is increased from 0-22 degrees. This "heat-generated" type I absorbance change is similar in magnitude to the pregnenolone-induced type II absorbance change of these mitochondria. Studies with inhibitors of cholesterol side chain cleavage indicate that the heat-generated type I absorbance change represents the specific interaction of cytochrome P-450scc with endogenous cholesterol in the mitochondria. This finding is confirmed by low temperature EPR spectroscopy on temperature-equilibrated, quick frozen adrenal mitochondrial samples. The EPR resonance at g = 8.2, which is that of the high spin cholesterol-bound cytochrome P-450scc, is absent in the samples incubated at 0 degrees and increases in magnitude with increasing temperature of incubation. Studies of the pH dependence of the heat-generated type I and pregnenolone-induced type II absorbance changes reveal that both are diminished by increasing pH over the range 6 to 8. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) treatment of rats results in adrenal mitochondria which show a greatly increased heat-generated type I absorbance change. The latter correlates with an increased pregnenolone-induced type II absorbance change and increased EPR g = 8.2 signal. Prior treatment of animals with cycloheximide eliminated the ACTH-induced increase in the heat-generated type I absorbance change, the pregnenolone-induced type II absorbance change and the EPR g = 8.2 signal. We estimate that the hydrophobic bonding of cholesterol to cytochrome P-450scc occurs with a deltaH0' of approximately +15 kcal/mol and a deltaS0' of approximately +55 cal/mol deg. Our data support the concept of a labile protein which participates directly in this process.     

Conformational change of the heme moiety of the ferrous cytochrome P-450scc-phenyl isocyanide complex upon binding of reduced adrenodoxin

Reduction of cytochrome P-450scc(SF) (SF, substrate free) purified from bovine adrenocortical mitochondria with sodium dithionite (Na2S2O4) or with beta-NADPH mediated by catalytic amounts of adrenodoxin and adrenodoxin reductase in the presence of phenyl isocyanide produced a ferrous cytochrome P-450scc(SF)-phenyl isocyanide complex with Soret absorbance maximum at 455 nm having a shoulder at 425 nm. On the other hand, when a preformed cytochrome P-450scc(SF)-adrenodoxin complex was reduced chemically or enzymatically under the same conditions, the absorbance spectrum showed drastic changes, i.e., an increase in intensity at 425 nm and a concomitant decrease in intensity at 455 nm. Similar spectral changes could be produced by addition of the same amount of reduced adrenodoxin afterward to the ferrous cytochrome P-450scc(SF)-phenyl isocyanide complex. Titration experiments with adrenodoxin showed that (1) a 1:1 stoichiometric saturation of the spectral change was obtained for both the absorbance increase at 425 nm and the absorbance decrease at 455 nm, (2) there was no spectral change in the presence of 0.35 M NaCl, and (3) there was no spectral change for cytochrome P-450scc(SF) whose Lys residue(s) essential to the interaction with adrenodoxin had been covalently modified with PLP. These results suggest that ternary complex formation of ferrous cytochrome P-450scc(SF)-phenyl isocyanide with reduced adrenodoxin caused a conformational change around the ferrous heme moiety. By analysis of temperature and pH dependencies of the spectral change of the ternary complex, it was suggested that this conformational change may reflect the essential step for electron transfer from reduced adrenodoxin to the ferrous-dioxygen complex of cytochrome P-450scc.     

Cytochrome P-450 of bovine adrenal mitochondria. Ligand binding to two forms resolved by EPR spectroscopy.

The binding of cholest-5-ene-3beta,20alpha-diol (20alpha-hydroxycholesterol), 11-deoxycorticosterone, and aminoglutethimide to cytochrome P-450 in bovine adrenal mitochondria was measured by changes in optical spectra at room temperature and by EPR spectra at 14 K. The two methods provided nearly identical quantitation of these interactions with cytochrome P-450. Two distinct high spin forms of cytochrome P-450 were revealed by EPR spectra. The predominant high spin species (g = 8.2) was decreased by addition of 20alpha-hydroxycholesterol and elevated pH but was increased by addition of cholesterol. The minor high spin species (g = 8.1) was incrreased by addition of deoxycorticosterone but decreased by low concentrations of metyrapone. The two forms were evidently not in equilibrium and have been assigned to distinct forms of cytochrome P-450 involved in, respectively, cholesterol side chain cleavage (P-450scc) and steroid 11beta hydroxylation (P-450(11)beta). The high spin states are derived from complexes of these P-450 cytochromes with endogenous substrates, which are, respectively, cholesterol and deoxycorticoids. A high to low spin transition was observed when these complexes were turned over by initiating hydroxylation with malate. The contributions of cytochromes P-450(11)beta and P-450scc to the low spin spectrum were also resolved by similar means. At least 20% of P-450scc is in the low spin state while about 90% of P-450(11)beta is low spin in isolated beef adrenal mitochondria. Low spin complexes of cytochrome P-450scc with 20alpha-hydroxycholesterol and 3beta-hydroxypregn-5-ene-20-one (pregnenolone) gave distinct EPR spectra. Aminoglutethimide interacted with the total cytochrome P-450 content of the bovine adrenal mitochondria forming low spin complexes. Both optical and EPR data indicated binding to two forms of cytochrome P-450. These results suggest a detailed correlation between the spin state and absorbance changes seen at room temperature, illustrate that EPR allows the distinction of two principal forms of P-450, and suggest that there is no appreciable change in the spin state of either cytochrome between 14 K and 300 K.     

Interaction of a spin-labelled cholesterol derivative with the cytochrome P-450scc active site

The cholesterol analogue 25-doxyl-27-nor-cholesterol (CNO), was found to be a substrate for cytochrome P-450scc. Upon incubation with the cytochrome P-450scc electron transfer system, CNO is transformed to pregnenolone (Km = 33 microM, Vmax = 0.32 min-1). The pregnenolone formation from endogenous cholesterol is strongly inhibited by CNO (50% at 5 microM). It binds tightly to cytochrome P-450scc as evidenced by a reversed type I spectral absorbance change (Kd = 5.9 microM) which is paralleled by a greater hyperfine splitting of the room-temperature CNO ESR spectrum due to an enhanced probe immobilization (Kd = 1.9 microM). This finding is in accord with a rotational correlation time of about 10(-7) s, which is close to the tumbling rate of the protein. At 110 K the CNO-bound cytochrome P-450scc displays the ESR g-values gx = 2.404/2.456, gy = 2.245 and gz = 1.916; these are different from those of cholesterol-liganded cytochrome P-450scc and may thus serve as a marker for cytochrome P-450scc. Our data indicate that the stereospecificity of the cytochrome P-450scc side-chain-cleaving activity is not dependent on the nature of the cholesterol side-chain termination (C25 to C27). The substrate binding site is however rather sensitive to a modification of the side chain. The doxyl ring confers a stronger affinity of the substrate to the enzyme. Upon binding it becomes embedded in the protein matrix, and we estimate that its final position is 0.6-1.0 nm from the heme moiety.     

Characterization of two cysteine residues in cytochrome P-450scc: chemical identification of the heme-binding cysteine residue

It was found that there were only two cysteine residues in highly purified cytochrome P-450scc molecule from bovine adrenocortical mitochondria by titration with 5,5'-dithio-bis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) in denatured conditions. Only one cysteine residue at position 303 of cytochrome P-450scc could be specifically modified with DTNB in the native state. The resulting cytochrome P-450scc-5-thio-2-nitrobenzoic acid complex (cytochrome P-450scc-TNB) showed no distinct differences in absorption spectra, cholesterol binding, or electron transferring from adrenodoxin, compared to those of untreated cytochrome P-450scc. These observations indicated that the 303rd cysteine residue does not play a role in heme binding, cholesterol (substrate) binding or adrenodoxin binding. The other cysteine residue at 461 could be modified with DTNB only in a denatured condition. These assignments of cysteine residues were made by the subsequent S-cyanylation with KCN followed by incubation in 6 M guanidine hydrochloride at alkaline pH, which causes enhanced cleavage of peptide bonds adjacent to the cyanylated cysteine residues. Analyses of fragmented polypeptides by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis confirmed that there were only two cysteine residues in the molecule and indicated that the cleavage rate of the peptide bond between 460 and 461 becomes high only when both cysteine residues (303 and 461) are cyanylated. These results clearly established that the 461st cysteine residue in cytochrome P-450scc plays a role as the heme fifth ligand on the basis of the general agreement that a thiolated cysteine residue coordinates to the heme iron.     

Magnetic circular dichroism studies on microsomal aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase: comparison with cytochrome b-5 and cytochrome P-450-cam.

Magnetic circular dichroism spectra are reported for the visible and near ultraviolet spectral regions of liver microsomes from dimethylbenzanthracene-treated rats. The sequential addition of NADH, dithionite, and carbon monoxide enables us to determine contributions to the magnetic circular dichroism by cytochromes b-5 and P-450, which dominate the spectra. The magnetic circular dichroism of the microsomal preparation is compared with that of purified oxidized and reduced cytochrome -b-5 from pig liver and with the camphor-complexed and camphor-free oxidized, reduced, and reduced carbonmonoxy cytochrome P-450-cam from Pseudomonas putida. The magnetic circular dichroism spectra of the membrane bound cytochrome -b-5 are similar to those of the purified protein, indicating that little or no alteration in the environment of the heme occurs during the isolation procedure. The soluble bacterial cytochrome P-450 also appears to be a suitable model for microsomal P-450, although differences in the magnetic circular dichroism intensity are observed for the two enzymes. No effect of dimethylbenzanthracene on the magnetic circular dichroism spectra of induced compared to control rat microsomes could be observed.     

Purification and comparative characterization of cytochrome P-450scc from porcine adrenocortical mitochondria.

Cytochrome P-450scc (cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme) was purified from porcine adrenocortical mitochondria. 2. The purified cytochrome P-450scc was found to be homogeneous on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. 3. The heme content of the purified enzyme was 20.6 nmol/mg protein. 4. The enzymatic activity of the reconstituted cytochrome P-450scc-linked monooxygenase system amounted to 7.8 nmol of pregnenolone formed per nmole of P-450 per minute, with cholesterol as a substrate. 5. The amino acid sequence of the amino-terminal region of the cytochrome P-450scc and the amino acid residue at the carboxyl terminal were determined and compared with those of other mammalian cytochromes P-450scc.     

Inhibition of electron transfer from adrenodoxin to cytochrome P-450scc by chemical modification with pyridoxal 5'-phosphate: identification of adrenodoxin-binding site of cytochrome P-450scc

Covalent modification of cytochrome P-450scc (purified from bovine adrenocortical mitochondria) with pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) was found to cause inhibition of the electron-accepting ability of this enzyme from its physiological electron donor, adrenodoxin, without conversion to the "P-420" form. Reaction conditions leading to the modification level of 0.82 and 2.85 PLP-Lys residues per cytochrome P-450scc molecule resulted in 60% and 98% inhibition, respectively, of electron-transfer rate from adrenodoxin to cytochrome P-450scc (with beta-NADPH as an electron donor via NADPH-adrenodoxin reductase and with phenyl isocyanide as the exogenous heme ligand of the cytochrome). It was found that covalent PLP modification caused a drastic decrease of cholesterol side-chain cleavage activity when the cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme system was reconstituted with native (or PLP-modified) cytochrome P-450scc, adrenodoxin, and NADPH-adrenodoxin reductase. Approximately 60% of the original enzymatic activity of cytochrome P-450scc was protected against inactivation by covalent PLP modification when 20% mole excess adrenodoxin was included during incubation with PLP. Binding affinity of substrate (cholesterol) to cytochrome P-450scc was found to be increased slightly upon covalent modification with PLP by analyzing a substrate-induced spectral change. The interaction of adrenodoxin with cytochrome P-450scc in the absence of substrate (cholesterol) was analyzed by difference absorption spectroscopy with a four-cuvette assembly, and the apparent dissociation constant (Ks) for adrenodoxin binding was found to be increased from 0.38 microM (native) to 33 microM (covalently PLP modified).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone mobilizes cytochrome P-450 in the inner membrane of adrenocortical mitochondria: protein rotation study

Rotation of cytochrome P-450 was examined in bovine adrenocortical mitochondria before and after an enzymatic transformation of cholesterol into pregnenolone by cytochrome P-450scc in the presence of malate. Rotational diffusion was measured by observing the decay of absorption anisotropy, r(t), after photolysis of the heme.CO complex by a vertically polarized laser flash. Analysis of r(t) was based on a "rotation-about-membrane normal" model. The measurements were used to investigate substrate-dependent intermolecular interactions of cytochrome P-450 with other redox components. Rotational mobility of cytochrome P-450 was significantly dependent on the decrease in cholesterol content by side chain cleavage reaction catalyzed by cytochrome P-450scc. In a typical experiment, the observed value for the normalized time-independent anisotropy r(infinity)/r(0) was decreased from 0.78 in control mitochondria to 0.60 after conversion of 21% of cholesterol to pregnenolone, while no significant change was observed for the average rotational relaxation time phi of about 700 microseconds. Significantly high values of r(infinity)/r(0) = 0.78 and 0.60 imply co-existence of mobile and immobile populations of cytochrome P-450. Since we observed that the heme angle tilted 55 degrees from membrane plane, 22% (control mitochondria) and 40% (after conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone) of cytochrome P-450 in mitochondria are calculated to be mobile in the preparation. The significant mobilization of cytochrome P-450scc molecules caused by the conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone is likely due to changes in protein-protein interactions with its redox partners, since the lipid fluidity was kept unchanged by the cholesterol depletion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Chemical modification of adrenocortical cytochrome P-450scc with tetranitromethane

Selective chemical modification of adrenocortical cytochrome P-450scc, responsible for key stages of steroid biogenesis, with tetranitromethane has been carried out. Nitration of the cytochrome P-450scc tyrosine residues results in heme protein inactivation with syncatalytic loss of enzyme activity. Analysis of the cytochrome P-450scc inactivation kinetics indicates that there are several pools of tyrosine residues, differing in their accessibility to tetranitromethane. The modification of cytochrome P-450scc results in changes in the hemeprotein spectral properties and its conformation which indicates to the involvement of essential tyrosine residue(s) in the heme-protein interaction. Cholesterol and adrenodoxin (high-spin effectors) prevent the inactivation of cytochrome P-450scc with tetranitromethane, i.e., protect the essential tyrosine residue(s) from modification. Possible functions of the tyrosine residues in the cytochrome P-450scc molecule are discussed.     

Cytochrome P-450scc induces vesicle aggregation through a secondary interaction at the adrenodoxin binding sites (in competition with protein exchange

Addition of bovine adrenal cytochrome P-450scc to small unilamellar dioleoylphosphatidylcholine vesicles (DOPC-SUV) produces a complex sequence of interactions, indicating exceptional cytochrome mobility. First, cholesterol transfer from cytochrome to vesicles indicated rapid dissociation of P-450scc oligomers and integration of monomers into the membrane (delta A 390-420 nm; t1/2 = 2 s). After 10-15 s, P-450scc-induced aggregation of the vesicles starts, as indicated by increased turbidity (delta A 448 or 520 nm; complete in 6-8 min). Fluorescence quenching experiments indicate that this aggregation does not lead to measurable vesicle fusion during this period. Aggregation is prevented by mild heat denaturation of P-450scc, by addition of anti-P-450scc IgG, and also by 1:1 complex formation with the electron donor adrenodoxin (ADX). P-450scc, therefore, links two vesicles through two separate domains involved in, respectively, membrane integration (lipophilic) and ADX binding (charged). Although completely bound by DOPC-SUV, as evidenced by Sephadex elution, P-450scc has access within 1 min to cholesterol in secondary SUV. This is indicated by spectral changes (cholesterol complex formation) and by metabolism of secondary vesicle cholesterol. Since cholesterol equilibrates slowly between vesicles (t1/2 = 1-2 h), these changes arise from P-450scc transfer. This transfer was maximally slowed after a 5-min preincubation with primary vesicles, reflecting more extensive integration into the membrane than is necessary for the rapid initial cholesterol transfer to P-450scc. P-450scc transfer probably results from simultaneous interaction of P-450scc with two vesicles that may also initiate aggregation. Weaker integration into primary dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine vesicles facilitates exchange but prevents aggregation. Integration and aggregation are both enhanced by incorporation of 10% phosphatidylinositol into SUV, while exchange is slowed. This mobility of P-450scc is most probably a consequence of the absence of amino-terminal anchoring. P-450scc-induced association of inner mitochondrial membrane segments may contribute to the exceptionally vesiculated structure of adrenal and ovarian mitochondria that parallels increased P-450scc content.     

Cytochrome P-450 of adrenal mitochondria. Spin states as detected by difference spectroscopy.

Adrenal mitochondrial cytochrome P-450 which functions in cholesterol side chain cleavage (P-450scc) exhibited type I (lambdamax 385, lambdamin 420 nm) and inverse type I (lambdamin 385, lambdamax 420 nm) difference spectra with several steroids. The magnitude and type of response were dependent on the particular steroid and on the extent to which cholesterol was bound to the cytochrome in the intact mitochondrion. the inverse type I difference spectrum induced by 3beta-hydroxy-pregn-5-ene-20-one (pregnenolone) was dependent on the proportion of high spin cholesterol-cytochrome P-450scc complexes. With rat adrenal mitochondria cholest-5-ene-3beta, 20alpha-diol (20alpha-hydroxycholesterol) invariably induced a smaller inverse type I response and, under conditions where cytochrome P-450scc was nearly free of cholesterol, even produced a small type I response. Two distinct steroid binding sites on cytochrome P-450scc were detected by, respectively, the slow type I response to cholest-5-ene-3beta, 25-diol (25-hydroxycholesterol) and the rapid type I response to a subsequent addition of cholest-5-ene-3beta, 20alpha, 22 R-triol (20alpha, 22R-dihydroxycholesterol). The relative proportions of the spectral responses to these steroids were dependent on the previous extent of adrenal activation by adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), because this stimulatory process altered the combination of mitochondrial cholesterol with cytochrome P-450scc. It is proposed that the two steroid binding sites on cytochrome P-450scc interact with steroids in the following way: site I binds cholesterol, 25-hydroxycholesterol, and 20alpha, 22R-dihydroxycholesterol with formation of a partially high spin cytochrome; site II binds both pregnenolone and 20alpha-OH cholesterol resulting in a low spin cytochrome. Interactions between sites I and II are not competitive, and occupancy of site II ensures a low spin state irrespective of the occupancy of site I. A second mode of interaction by 20alpha, 22R-dihydroxycholesterol stabilizes a high spin cytochrome and is competitive with site II binding by 20alpha-hydroxycholesterol or pregnenolone. Formation of a maximally high spin cytochrome follows occupancy by 20alpha, 22R-dihydroxycholesterol at both sites.     

Magnetic circular dichroism studies of hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450.

Magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectra have been measured for cytochrome P-450 (P-450) purified from phenobarbital-induced rabbit liver microsomes. The temperature dependence of some of the MCD spectra has also been determined. The MCD spectrum of oxidized P-450 seems to suggest that it is in a state intermediate between the ferric low-spin states. Model experiments suggest that this anomaly arises from the coordination of a thiolate anion to the heme. Reduced P-450 shows a very peculiar MCD spectrum; the spectrum as well as its temperature dependence suggest that the heme in reduced P-450 is a "mixture" in terms of redox and/or spin states. The MCD spectrum of the CO complex of reduced P-450 exhibits an apparent Faraday A term around 450 nm which consists of about 50% C term and 50% the other terms, indicating that it is not in a purely ferrous low-spin state. The CO complex of reduced cytochrome P-420 (P-420), on the other hand, shows an MCD spectrum characteristic of a ferrous low-spin heme. It is suggested from model experiments that the thiolate anion coordinates to the heme trans to CO in the P-450-CO complex. The Soret region of the MCD spectrum of the EtNC complex of reduced P-450 is characterized by two apparent A terms around 430 and 455 nm, whereas that of the corresponding complex of P-420 has only one apparent A term around 434 nm.     

Absorption and magnetic circular dichroism spectra of hemoproteins in nonequilibrium states. V. Cytochrome P450 and its substrate complex

It was shown that ferrocytochrome P450 forms a nonequilibrium state if ferrocytochrome P450 and its complexes are reduced in freezed water-glycerol solutions by thermolysed electrons, arising during gamma-radiolysis of the matrix at 77 degrees K. Unlike the equilibrium form of ferrocytochrome P450 with the heme iron at the high-spin state the reduced nonequilibrium form of the protein contains the heme iron at a low-spin state. The absorption spectrum of ferrocytochrome P450 in the nonequilibrium state is characterized by alpha and beta-bands at 562 and 534 nm, respectively, whereas the magnetic circular dichroism spectra exhibit type A effect at 562 nm. Upon temperature increasing the nonequilibrium state is relaxed to the equilibrium one. Type 1 substrates had practically no influence on the spectral characteristic of the nonequilibrium form of ferrocytochrome P450. Binding of type 2 substrates results in an essential decrease of the intensity ratio of the alpha- and beta-bands (A alpha/A beta) and is accompanied by a red-shift of the alpha-band and corresponding magnetic circular dichroism effect. It was shown that mercaptoethanol complex of hemoglobin, formed by reduction at 77 degrees K is spectrally similar to the nonequilibrium ferrocytochrome P450 complex with type 2 substrates. From analysis of experimental data one can conclude that (i) the ligand environment of heme iron in oxidased and reduced cytochrome P450 are different; (ii) the sixth axial ligand of the heme iron in the oxidised protein is probably a water molecule (OH-) attached by a hydrogen bond to the neighbouring histidine. It is assumed that a similar nonequilibrium form of cytochrome P450 can be formed in physiological conditions.     

Orientation and lateral mobility of cytochrome c on the surface of ultrathin lipid multilayer films.

We have previously shown that cytochrome c can be electrostatically bound to an ultrathin multilayer film having a negatively charged hydrophilic surface; furthermore, x-ray diffraction and absorption spectroscopy techniques indicated that the cytochrome c was bound to the surface of these ultrathin multilayer films as a molecular monolayer. The ultrathin fatty acid multilayers were formed on alkylated glass, using the Langmuir-Blodgett method. In this study, optical linear dichroism was used to determine the average orientation of the heme group within cytochrome c relative to the multilayer surface plane. The cytochrome c was either electrostatically or covalently bound to the surface of an ultrathin multilayer film. Horse heart cytochrome c was electrostatically bound to the hydrophilic surface of fatty acid multilayer films having an odd number of monolayers. Ultrathin multilayer films having an even number of monolayers would not bind cytochrome c, as expected for such hydrophobic surfaces. Yeast cytochrome c was covalently bound to the surface of a multilayer film having an even number of fatty acid monolayers plus a surface monolayer of thioethyl stearate. After washing extensively with buffer, the multilayer films with either electrostatically or covalently bound cytochrome c were analyzed for bound protein by optical absorption spectroscopy; the orientation of the cytochrome c heme was then investigated via optical linear dichroism. Polarized optical absorption spectra were measured from 450 to 600 nm at angles of 0 degrees, 30 degrees, and 45 degrees between the incident light beam and the normal to the surface plane of the multilayer. The dichroic ratio for the heme alpha-band at 550 nm as a function of incidence angle indicated that the heme of the electrostatically-bound monolayer of cytochrome c lies, on average, nearly parallel to the surface plane of the ultrathin multilayer. Similar results were obtained for the covalently-bound yeast cytochrome c. Furthermore, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) was used to characterize the lateral mobility of the electrostatically bound cytochrome c over the monolayer plane. The optical linear dichroism and these initial FRAP studies have indicated that cytochrome c electrostatically bound to a lipid surface maintains a well-defined orientation relative to the membrane surface while exhibiting measurable, but highly restricted, lateral motion in the plane of the surface.     

Cytochrome P-450 of adrenal mitochondria. In vitro and in vivo changes in spin states.

Steroid-induced difference spectra have been used to examine the combination of cholesterol with adrenal mitochondrial cytochrome P-450 which participates in cholesterol side chain cleavage (P-450scc) and the depletion of cholesterol from the cytochrome which results from turnover of the enzyme system. Type I difference spectra-induced by cholest-5-ene-3beta, 25-diol (25-hydroxycholesterol) and cholest-5-ene-3beta, 20 alpha, 22R-triol (20alpha, 22R dihydroxycholesterol) have been used to quantitate binding of cholesterol to two sites (I and II) on cytochrome P-450scc. The action of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in vivo and the action of calcium or phosphate ions on isolated mitochondria stimulate the combination of cholesterol with site I but not site II. Cholesterol derived from lecithin-cholesterol micelles, however, binds to both sites. Malate-induced cholesterol depletion occurred at a comparable rate to the transfer of cholesterol from lecithin-cholesterol micelles. However, a residual proportion of cholesterol-cytochrome P-450scc complexes remained, even after 10 min of exposure to malate, and was of similar magnitude in mitochondria from both cycloheximide-treated and stressed rats. It is suggested that this reflects a less reactive form of cholesterol-cytochrome complex. Steroid-induced difference spectra indicate that sites I and II on cytochrome P-450scc are similarly depleted after metabolism of mitochondrial cholesterol in vitro and after inhibition of the action of ACTH in vivo. Anaerobiosis of adrenal cells after excision of the accumulation of cholesterol at cytochrome P-450cc. When anaerobiosis was prevented, cytochrome P-450scc in the freshly isolated mitochondria was apparently essentially free of complexed cholesterol, irrespective of the extent of ACTH action. For 30 min after suspension of the mitochondria in 0.25 M sucrose at 4 degrees, cholesterol combines with cytochrome P-450scc. The extent of this process was not affected by the presence of cycloheximide during ether stress treatment of the rats. It is concluded that there are at least two pools of mitochondrial cholesterol with access to cytochrome P-450scc but that ACTH stimulates only the pool which most readily interacts with the cytochrome.     

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.