Reconstitution of the Brain Mixed Function Oxidase System: Purification of NADPH-Cytochrome P450 Reductase and Partial Purification of Cytochrome P450 from Whole Rat Brain

NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase was purified to apparent homogeneity and cytochrome P450 partially purified from whole rat brain. Purified reductase from brain was identical to liver P450 reductase by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and western blot techniques. Kinetic studies using cerebral P450 reductase reveal Km values in close agreement with those determined with enzyme purified from rat liver. Moreover, the brain P450 reductase was able to function successfully in a reconstituted microsomal system with partially purified brain cytochrome P450 and with purified hepatic P450c (P450IA1) as measured by 7-ethoxycoumarin and 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation. Our results indicate that the reductase and P450 components may interact to form a competent drug metabolism system in brain tissue.     

Bacterial Expression and Purification of the Arabidopsis NADPH–Cytochrome P450 Reductase ATR2

An N-terminally modified form of the Arabidopsis NADPH–cytochrome P450 ATR2 (ATR2mod) was expressed from the tactac promoter in Escherichia coli to obtain high yields of the enzyme. The N-terminal modification eliminates the predicted chloroplast transit peptide of ATR2 allowing for more efficient expression. ATR2mod was purified from membrane extracts using a 2′,5′-ADP–agarose affinity column. The specific activity of the purified ATR2mod for cytochrome c reduction was 9.4 μmol min⁻¹ mg⁻¹ and the K_m for cytochrome c reduction was 15 ± 2 μM. The purified NADPH–cytochrome P450 reductase was able to support function of CYP79B2.     

Purification and Properties of Sweet Potato NADPH-Cytochrome c (P-450) Reductase

NADPH-cytochrome c reductase, strictly NADPH-cytochrome P-450reductase, was purified by chromatography through DEAE-cellulose,2',5'-ADP-Sepharose, and Sephadex G-100 columns after solubilizationfrom microsomes from Ceratocystis fimbriata-infected sweet potatoroot tissue with Emulgen 913. The enzyme existed in three formsafter solubilization which migrated to positions correspondingto molecular weights of 81,000, 75,000 and 72,000 on an SDS-polyacrylamidegel. Trypsin treatment of the enzyme species with the largestpolypeptide yielded the species with the smallest one. Aftersucrose density gradient centrifugation of the pellet fractionobtained by centrifugation at 100,000?g of the crude extract,the enzyme species with the largest polypeptide was presentin the particulate fractions, whereas that with the smallestone was only found at the top of the gradient. We conclude thatthe enzyme species with the largest polypeptide is in an intact,amphipathic form, whereas that with the smallest one, and probablyalso the other species, is its hydrophilic domain produced byan endogenous protease(s). The K_m values of the enzyme in theintact form for NADPH and cytochrome c were 7.7 and 2.3 µM,respectively. ¹ Present address: Laboratory of Food Hygienics, Faculty ofAgriculture, Kagawa University, Miki-cho, Kida-gun, Kagawa 761-07,Japan. (Received September 6, 1984; Accepted December 27, 1984)     

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     

Heterologous Expression, Purification, and Characterization of a Highly Active Xylose Reductase from Neurospora crassa

A xylose reductase (XR) gene was identified from the Neurospora crassa whole-genome sequence, expressed heterologously in Escherichia coli, and purified as a His₆-tagged fusion in high yield. This enzyme is one of the most active XRs thus far characterized and may be used for the in vitro production of xylitol.     

Cytochrome P450 1A2: oligomers in proteoliposomes

The presence of oligomers of cytochrome P450 1A2 in membranes of proteoliposomes produced by the cholate-dialysis technique was demonstrated by cross-linking of protein molecules with bifunctional reagents followed by electrophoretic analysis of the modified proteins. A hexameric organization of cytochrome P450 1A2 in the membrane of proteoliposomes is suggested with high probability based on the comparison of the purified hemoprotein oligomeric structure in an aqueous medium and that in the proteoliposomes. The comparison was carried out using the same method.     

大鼠热休克蛋白70的融合表达及纯化鉴定

目的：在大肠杆菌中高效表达并纯化大鼠热休克蛋白（HSP）70与麦芽糖结合蛋白（MBP）的融合蛋白,以进一步研究细胞外HSfr70的生物学功能。方法：用RT-PCR方法扩增目的基因,并将其克隆到原核表达载体pMAL-c2X中,酶切鉴定并进行DNA测序;将该重组表达载体转化大肠杆菌B121,用IPTG在不同温度及时间下进行诱导表达,建立最佳诱导表达条件;采用Amylose树脂预装柱对目的蛋白进行亲和纯化,并对不同表达条件下的产物进行SDS-PAGE及Westernblot分析。结果：克隆出目的基因,构建了融合表达载体pMAL-c2X／hsp70;诱导表达后经SDS-PAGE检测表明获得了目的条带,并纯化出纯度较高的融合蛋白;免疫印迹鉴定表明其具有抗原活性。结论：在大肠杆菌中高效表达并纯化了融合蛋白MBP-HSP70,为进一步研究细胞外HSP70的生物学效应提供了有用的材料。     

Catalytically Relevant Electrostatic Interactions of Cytochrome P450c17 (CYP17A1) and Cytochrome b5

Two acidic residues, Glu-48 and Glu-49, of cytochrome b₅ (b₅) are essential for stimulating the 17,20-lyase activity of cytochrome P450c17 (CYP17A1). Substitution of Ala, Gly, Cys, or Gln for these two glutamic acid residues abrogated all capacity to stimulate 17,20-lyase activity. Mutations E49D and E48D/E49D retained 23 and 38% of wild-type activity, respectively. Using the zero-length cross-linker ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide, we obtained cross-linked heterodimers of b₅ and CYP17A1, wild-type, or mutations R347K and R358K. In sharp contrast, the b₅ double mutation E48G/E49G did not form cross-linked complexes with wild-type CYP17A1. Mass spectrometric analysis of the CYP17A1-b₅ complexes identified two cross-linked peptide pairs as follows: CYP17A1-WT: ⁸⁴EVLIKK⁸⁹-b₅: ⁵³EQAGGDATENFEDVGHSTDAR⁷³ and CYP17A1-R347K: ³⁴¹TPTISDKNR³⁴⁹-b₅: ⁴⁰FLEEHPGGEEVLR⁵². Using these two sites of interaction and Glu-48/Glu-49 in b₅ as constraints, protein docking calculations based on the crystal structures of the two proteins yielded a structural model of the CYP17A1-b₅ complex. The appositional surfaces include Lys-88, Arg-347, and Arg-358/Arg-449 of CYP17A1, which interact with Glu-61, Glu-42, and Glu-48/Glu-49 of b₅, respectively. Our data reveal the structural basis of the electrostatic interactions between these two proteins, which is critical for 17,20-lyase activity and androgen biosynthesis.     

微粒体细胞色素P-450、NADPH-细胞色素P-450还原酶的纯化与重组活性

经苯巴比妥钠诱导的雄性大白鼠的肝微粒体纯化的细胞色素P-450同功酶组份,经SDS-PAGE鉴定呈电泳纯,分子量为55kD。部分纯化的NADPH-细胞色素P-450还原酶,含72和77kD两个蛋白质组分。上述细胞色素P-450和NADPH-细胞色素P-450还原酶与卵磷脂制备的脂质体重组后的活性试验表明,对艾氏剂有环氧化作用,对环已烷有羟化作用,对溴氰菊酯的羟化作用微弱。当重组系统中缺少细胞色素P-450组份时,对环已烷不再起作用。同时还研究了纯化的细胞色素P-450的光谱特性。     

半乳糖凝集素-1的融合克隆及纯化

目的：表达和纯化半乳糖凝集素-1融合蛋白。方法：用PCR方法从乳腺文库中扩增半乳糖凝集素-1编码序列,将其以正确相位与pGEX-KG载体中的GST编码序列融合,将重组质粒转化大肠杆菌DH5α后,用谷胱甘肽-Sepharose 4B纯化融合蛋白,并用Western印迹检测融合蛋白的表达。结果：构建得到半乳糖凝集素-1的融合蛋白表达载体;Western印迹检测表明,GST-半乳糖凝集素-1融合蛋白成功表达,并纯化得到融合蛋白。结论：克隆和表达了半乳糖凝集素-1基因,并得到纯化的融合蛋白。     

Molecular Cloning,Expression Pattern and Polymorphisms of NADPH-Cytochrome P450 Reductase in the Bird Cherry-Oat Aphid Rhopalosiphum padi (L.)

NADPH–cytochrome P450 reductase (CPR) plays an important role in the cytochrome P450 (CYP)-mediated metabolism of endogenous and exogenous substrates. CPR has been found to be associated with insecticide metabolism and resistance in many insects. However, information regarding CPR in the bird cherry-oat aphid, Rhopalosiphum padi, is unavailable. In the current study, a full-length cDNA (2,476 bp) of CPR (RpCPR) encoding 681 amino acids was cloned from R. padi. Nucleotide sequence and deduced amino acid sequence analysis showed that RpCPR exhibits characteristics of classical CPRs and shares high identities with those of other insects, especially with the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum. The mRNA of RpCPR was expressed at all developmental stages, with the highest expression level found in the second instar and the lowest in adult. Expression levels of RpCPR in isoprocarb-resistant and imidacloprid-resistant strains were 3.74- and 3.53-fold higher, respectively, than that of a susceptible strain. RpCPR expression could also be induced by low concentrations (LC₃₀) of isoprocarb and imidacloprid. Moreover, we sequenced the open reading frame (ORF) of RpCPR from 167 field samples collected in 11 geographical populations. Three hundred and thirty-four SNPs were detected, of which, 65 were found in more than two individuals. One hundred and ninety-four missense mutations were present in the amino acid sequence, of which, the P484S mutant had an allele frequency of 35.1%. The present results suggest that RpCPR may play an important role in the P450-mediated insecticide resistance of R. padi to isoprocarb and imidacloprid and possibly other insecticides. Meanwhile, RpCPRmaintains high genetic diversity in natural individuals, which provides the possibility of studying potential correlations between variants and certain special physiological characters.     

Oxidation of Endogenous N-Arachidonoylserotonin by Human Cytochrome P450 2U1

Cytochrome P450 (P450) 2U1 has been shown to be expressed, at the mRNA level, in human thymus, brain, and several other tissues. Recombinant P450 2U1 was purified and used as a reagent in a metabolomic search for substrates in bovine brain. In addition to fatty acid oxidation reactions, an oxidation of endogenous N-arachidonoylserotonin was characterized. Subsequent NMR and mass spectrometry and chemical synthesis showed that the main product was the result of C-2 oxidation of the indole ring, in contrast to other human P450s that generated different products. N-Arachidonoylserotonin, first synthesized chemically and described as an inhibitor of fatty acid amide hydrolase, had previously been found in porcine and mouse intestine; we demonstrated its presence in bovine and human brain samples. The product (2-oxo) was 4-fold less active than N-arachidonoylserotonin in inhibiting fatty acid amide hydrolase. The rate of oxidation of N-arachidonoylserotonin was similar to that of arachidonic acid, one of the previously identified fatty acid substrates of P450 2U1. The demonstration of the oxidation of N-arachidonoylserotonin by P450 2U1 suggests a possible role in human brain and possibly other sites.     

人细胞色素P450在大肠杆菌中的功能表达

研究人细胞色素P450（P450,CYP）在大肠杆菌中的功能表达对新药研发,临床药物治疗和药物早期ADME/T性质研究均有重要意义。异源表达人P450使用最多的宿主是大肠杆菌E.coli,然而要获得足量的有催化活性的P450仍是一个难题。结合作者近年研究,对异源表达的研究意义,P450在E.coli中功能表达的策略,高效表达的影响因素和共表达等方面做一评述,指出今后的研究应用方向。     

抗人P185^erbB2的scFv—Fc融合蛋白的表达及免疫功能分析

为提高鼠源单抗用于体内治疗的效应功能及降低人抗鼠抗体反应 ,将编码抗人P185 erbB2 单抗轻、重链可变区 (VL、VH)融合构建的单链抗体 (scFv)基因片段与人IgG1的Fc区基因片段融合构建了scFv Fc融合基因 ,并将其克隆到哺乳动物细胞表达载体pCIDN中。用重组载体转染CHO细胞 ,通过G4 18筛选获得稳定高表达克隆。更换无血清培养基培养 ,经重组蛋白质A亲和层析柱纯化scFv Fc融合蛋白。融合蛋白质在还原SDS PAGE中表现为5 2kD的条带 ;与SK BR 3细胞裂解液共培育可特异性地沉淀出P185 erbB2 蛋白 ;FACS分析表明融合蛋白质识别P185 erbB2 蛋白的胞外段 ;ELISA测定融合蛋白质对细胞表面抗原P185 erbB2 的亲和常数为 7.5× 10 -10 (mol/L) -1。构建scFv Fc融合基因 ,将其克隆到表达载体 ,进一步稳定表达抗P185 erbB2 的scFv Fc融合蛋白 ,为进一步的体外、体内研究鼠源单抗治疗效果创造了条件。     

Mechanistic Scrutiny Identifies a Kinetic Role for Cytochrome b5 Regulation of Human Cytochrome P450c17 (CYP17A1, P450 17A1)

Cytochrome P450c17 (P450 17A1, CYP17A1) is a critical enzyme in the synthesis of androgens and is now a target enzyme for the treatment of prostate cancer. Cytochrome P450c17 can exhibit either one or two physiological enzymatic activities differentially regulated by cytochrome b5. How this is achieved remains unknown. Here, comprehensive in silico, in vivo and in vitro analyses were undertaken. Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer analysis showed close interactions within living cells between cytochrome P450c17 and cytochrome b5. In silico modeling identified the sites of interaction and confirmed that E48 and E49 residues in cytochrome b5 are essential for activity. Quartz crystal microbalance studies identified specific protein-protein interactions in a lipid membrane. Voltammetric analysis revealed that the wild type cytochrome b5, but not a mutated, E48G/E49G cyt b5, altered the kinetics of electron transfer between the electrode and the P450c17. We conclude that cytochrome b5 can influence the electronic conductivity of cytochrome P450c17 via allosteric, protein-protein interactions.     

Structures of Human Steroidogenic Cytochrome P450 17A1 with Substrates

The human cytochrome P450 17A1 (CYP17A1) enzyme operates at a key juncture of human steroidogenesis, controlling the levels of mineralocorticoids influencing blood pressure, glucocorticoids involved in immune and stress responses, and androgens and estrogens involved in development and homeostasis of reproductive tissues. Understanding CYP17A1 multifunctional biochemistry is thus integral to treating prostate and breast cancer, subfertility, blood pressure, and other diseases. CYP17A1 structures with all four physiologically relevant steroid substrates suggest answers to four fundamental aspects of CYP17A1 function. First, all substrates bind in a similar overall orientation, rising ∼60° with respect to the heme. Second, both hydroxylase substrates pregnenolone and progesterone hydrogen bond to Asn²⁰² in orientations consistent with production of 17α-hydroxy major metabolites, but functional and structural evidence for an A105L mutation suggests that a minor conformation may yield the minor 16α-hydroxyprogesterone metabolite. Third, substrate specificity of the subsequent 17,20-lyase reaction may be explained by variation in substrate height above the heme. Although 17α-hydroxyprogesterone is only observed farther from the catalytic iron, 17α-hydroxypregnenolone is also observed closer to the heme. In conjunction with spectroscopic evidence, this suggests that only 17α-hydroxypregnenolone approaches and interacts with the proximal oxygen of the catalytic iron-peroxy intermediate, yielding efficient production of dehydroepiandrosterone as the key intermediate in human testosterone and estrogen synthesis. Fourth, differential positioning of 17α-hydroxypregnenolone offers a mechanism whereby allosteric binding of cytochrome b₅ might selectively enhance the lyase reaction. In aggregate, these structures provide a structural basis for understanding multiple key reactions at the heart of human steroidogenesis.     

Kinetic and Structural Characterization of the Interaction between the FMN Binding Domain of Cytochrome P450 Reductase and Cytochrome c

Cytochrome P450 reductase (CPR) is a diflavin enzyme that transfers electrons to many protein partners. Electron transfer from CPR to cyt c has been extensively used as a model reaction to assess the redox activity of CPR. CPR is composed of multiple domains, among which the FMN binding domain (FBD) is the direct electron donor to cyt c. Here, electron transfer and complex formation between FBD and cyt c are investigated. Electron transfer from FBD to cyt c occurs at distinct rates that are dependent on the redox states of FBD. When compared with full-length CPR, FBD reduces cyt c at a higher rate in both the semiquinone and hydroquinone states. The NMR titration experiments reveal the formation of dynamic complexes between FBD and cyt c on a fast exchange time scale. Chemical shift mapping identified residues of FBD involved in the binding interface with cyt c, most of which are located in proximity to the solvent-exposed edge of the FMN cofactor along with other residues distributed around the surface of FBD. The structural model of the FBD-cyt c complex indicates two possible orientations of complex formation. The major complex structure shows a salt bridge formation between Glu-213/Glu-214 of FBD and Lys-87 of cyt c, which may be essential for the formation of the complex, and a predicted electron transfer pathway mediated by Lys-13 of cyt c. The findings provide insights into the function of CPR and CPR-cyt c interaction on a structural basis.