Genetic attachment of undecane peptides to ovomucoid third domain can suppress the production of specific IgG and IgE antibodies

An undecane peptide (Gly-Ser-Pro-Gly-Ile-Pro-Gly-Ser-Thr-Gly-Met) was genetically attached to the N-terminus of ovomucoid third domain (DIII) to investigate structural characteristics of linear IgE and IgG (B cell) epitopes in DIII with respect to modulation of the immune response towards antigenicity and allergenicity. Balb/c mice were sensitized with native DIII, wild type recombinant DIII, and recombinant modified DIII containing the extra amino acid stretch. The immune responses to the antigens were compared using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Interestingly, specific IgE and IgG levels were suppressed when the modified DIII was used as antigen. This was further confirmed by synthesizing immunodominant IgE and IgG epitopes of DIII on cellulose acetate membrane (SPOTs) and probing them with antibodies raised against DIII antigens. Anti-recombinant wild type DIII anti-serum showed strong binding activities to immunodominant IgE and IgG epitopes, while anti-modified DIII serum did not show any significant binding to the IgE and IgG epitopes. Thus, it is clearly demonstrated that the amino acid stretch in DIII is masking the immune reactive epitope. Genetical attachment of peptides into DIII was found to be effective in reducing the production of specific IgE and IgG antibodies in mice.     

Metabolism of 1α-hydroxyvitamin D3 by cytochrome P450scc to biologically active 1α,20-dihydroxyvitamin D3

Cytochrome P450scc (CYP11A1) metabolizes vitamin D3 to 20-hydroxyvitamin D3 as the major product, with subsequent production of dihydroxy and trihydroxy derivatives. The aim of this study was to determine whether cytochrome P450scc could metabolize 1α-hydroxyvitamin D3 and whether products were biologically active. The major product of 1α-hydroxyvitamin D3 metabolism by P450scc was identified by mass spectrometry and NMR as 1α,20-dihydroxyvitamin D3. Mass spectrometry of minor metabolites revealed the production of another dihydroxyvitamin D3 derivative, two trihydroxy-metabolites made via 1α,20-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and a tetrahydroxyvitamin D3 derivative. The K_m for 1α-hydroxyvitamin D3 determined for P450scc incorporated into phospholipid vesicles was 1.4 mol substrate/mol phospholipid, half that observed for vitamin D3. The k_cat was 3.0 mol/min/mol P450scc, 6-fold lower than that for vitamin D3. 1α,20-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 inhibited DNA synthesis by human epidermal HaCaT keratinocytes propagated in culture, in a time- and dose-dependent fashion, with a potency similar to that of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. 1α,20-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 (10 μM) enhanced CYP24 mRNA levels in HaCaT keratinocytes but the potency was much lower than that reported for 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. We conclude that the presence of the 1-hydroxyl group in vitamin D3 does not alter the major site of hydroxylation by P450scc which, as for vitamin D3, is at C20. The major product, 1α,20-dihydroxyvitamin D3, displays biological activity on keratinocytes and therefore might be useful pharmacologically.     

CYP1A1基因单核苷酸多态性与肺癌的相关性研究

目的:探讨代谢酶CYP1A1基因MspI位点多态性与新疆汉族人群肺癌遗传易感性之间的相关性.方法:应用聚合酶链式反应(PCR)-限制性片段长度多态性(RFLP)技术检测59例新疆汉族肺癌和84例新疆汉族健康人的CYP1A1基因MspI位点多态性分布频率,并分析了CYP1A1基因MspI位点多态性与新疆汉族人群肺癌遗传易感性和患者性别之间的相关性.结果:(1)CYP1A1基因MspI位点3种多态基因型分布频率在两组间比较差异有统计学意义(χ2=6.682,P=0.035),CC基因型在病例组的分布频率显著高于正常对照组.(2)携带突变CC基因型的个体较携带TT基因型的个体患肺癌的危险性增加(OR=3.759.95%CI=1.228-11.494,P=0.035).(3)男女肺癌患者的CYP1A1基因MspI位点基因型及等位基因频率的差异均无显著性(P>0.05).结论:(1)CC突变基因型可能是新疆汉族人群的肺癌易感因素.(2)CYP1A1基因MspI位点多态性可能与新疆汉族肺癌患者的性别无关.     

细胞色素P450 1A1基因多态性与我国某些肿瘤遗传易感性

近年来有关细胞色素P450基因多态性与肿瘤遗传易感性的研究正日益吸引越来越多的关注,本文对我国近年来有关细胞色素P450 1A1(CYP1Al)基因多态性与几种肿瘤遗传易感性的研究进行探讨,推测我国几种高发病率肿瘤的发生与我国CYP1A1基因多态分布状况有关,以此为进一步研究CYP1A1与肿瘤的关系作参考。     

cDNA cloning and characterization of feline CYP1A1 and CYP1A2

Deficiency of drug glucuronidation in the cat is one of the major reasons why this animal is highly sensitive to the side effects of drugs. The characterization of cytochrome P450 isoforms belonging to the CYP1A subfamily, which exhibit important drug oxidation activities such as activation of pro-carcinogens, was investigated. Two cDNAs, designated CYP1A-a and CYP1A-b, corresponding to the CYP1A subfamily were obtained from feline liver. CYP1A-a and CYP1A-b cDNAs comprise coding regions of 1554 bp and 1539 bp, and encode predicted amino acid sequences of 517 and 512 residues, respectively. These amino acid sequences contain a heme-binding cysteine and a conserved threonine. The cDNA identities, as well as the predicted amino acid sequences containing six substrate recognition sites, suggest that CYP1A-a and CYP1A-b correspond to CYP1A1 and CYP1A2, respectively. This was confirmed by the kinetic parameters of the arylhydrocarbon hydroxylase and 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase activities of expressed CYPs in yeast AH22 cells and by the tissue distribution of each mRNA. However, theophylline 3-demethylation is believed to be catalyzed by CYP1A1 in cats, based on the high V(max) and low K(m) seen, in contrast to other animals. Because feline CYP1A2 had a higher K(m) for phenacetin O-deethylase activity with acetaminophen, which cannot be conjugated with glucuronic acid due to UDP-glucuronosyltransferase deficiency, it is supposed that the side effects of phenacetin as a result of toxic intermediates are severe and prolonged in cats.     

De Novo Synthesis of Steroids and Oxysterols in Adipocytes

Local production and action of cholesterol metabolites such as steroids or oxysterols within endocrine tissues are currently recognized as an important principle in the cell type- and tissue-specific regulation of hormone effects. In adipocytes, one of the most abundant endocrine cells in the human body, the de novo production of steroids or oxysterols from cholesterol has not been examined. Here, we demonstrate that essential components of cholesterol transport and metabolism machinery in the initial steps of steroid and/or oxysterol biosynthesis pathways are present and active in adipocytes. The ability of adipocyte CYP11A1 in producing pregnenolone is demonstrated for the first time, rendering adipocyte a steroidogenic cell. The oxysterol 27-hydroxycholesterol (27HC), synthesized by the mitochondrial enzyme CYP27A1, was identified as one of the major de novo adipocyte products from cholesterol and its precursor mevalonate. Inhibition of CYP27A1 activity or knockdown and deletion of the Cyp27a1 gene induced adipocyte differentiation, suggesting a paracrine or autocrine biological significance for the adipocyte-derived 27HC. These findings suggest that the presence of the 27HC biosynthesis pathway in adipocytes may represent a defense mechanism to prevent the formation of new fat cells upon overfeeding with dietary cholesterol.     

Polyamines: Naturally occurring small molecule modulators of electrostatic protein-protein interactions

Modulations of protein-protein interactions are a key step in regulating protein function, especially in networks. Modulators of these interactions are supposed to be candidates for the development of novel drugs. Here, we describe the role of the small, polycationic and highly abundant natural polyamines that could efficiently bind to charged spots at protein interfaces as modulators of such protein-protein interactions. Using the mitochondrial cytochrome P45011A1 (CYP11A1) electron transfer system as a model, we have analyzed the capability of putrescine, spermidine, and spermine at physiologically relevant concentrations to affect the protein-protein interactions between adrenodoxin reductase (AdR), adrenodoxin (Adx), and CYP11A1. The actions of polyamines on the individual components, on their association/dissociation, on electron transfer, and on substrate conversion were examined. These studies revealed modulating effects of polyamines on distinct interactions and on the entire system in a complex way. Modulation via changed protein-protein interactions appeared plausible from docking experiments that suggested favourable high-affinity binding sites of polyamines (spermine > spermidine > putrescine) at the AdR-Adx interface. Our findings imply for the first time that small endogenous compounds are capable of interfering with distinct components of transient protein complexes and might control protein functions by modulating electrostatic protein-protein interactions.     

Reversible and time-dependent inhibition of the hepatic cytochrome P450 steroidal hydroxylases by the proestrogenic pesticide methoxychlor in rat and human

Methoxychlor, a currently used pesticide, is demethylated and hydroxylated by several hepatic microsomal cytochrome P450 enzymes. Also, methoxychlor undergoes metabolic activation, yielding a reactive intermediate (M*) that binds irreversibly and apparently covalently to microsomal proteins. The study investigated whether methoxychlor could inhibit or inactivate certain liver microsomal P450 enzymes. The regioselective and stereoselective hydrox-ylation of testosterone and the 2-hydroxylation of estradiol (E₂) were utilized as markers of the P450 enzymes inhibited by methoxychlor. Both reversible and time-dependent inhibition were examined. Coincubation of methoxychlor and testosterone with liver microsomes from phenobarbital treated (PB-microsomes) male rats, yielded marked diminution of 2α- and 16α-testosterone hydroxylation, indicating strong inhibition of P4502C11 (P450h). Methoxychlor moderately inhibited 2β-, 7α-, 15α-, 15β-, and 16β-hydroxylation and androstenedi-one formation. There was only a weak inhibition of 6β-ydroxylation of testosterone. The methox-ychlor-mediated inhibition of 6β-hydroxylation was competitive. By contrast, when methoxychlor was permitted to be metabolized by PB-microsomes or by liver microsomes from pregnenolone-16α-car-bonitrile treated rats (PCN-microsomes) prior to addition of testosterone, a pronounced time-dependent inhibition of 6β-hydroxylation was observed, suggesting that methoxychlor inactivates the P450 3A isozyme(s). The di-demethylated methoxychlor (bis-OH-M) and the tris-hydroxy (ca-techol) methoxychlor metabolite (tris-OH-M) inhibited 6β-hydroxylation in PB-microsomes competitively and noncompetitively, respectively; however, these methoxychlor metabolites did not exhibit a time-dependent inhibition. Methoxychlor inhibited competitively the formation of 7α-hydroxytestosterone (7α-OH-T) and 16α-hydroxy-testosterone (16α-OH-T) but exhibited little or no time-dependent inhibition of generation of these metabolites, indicating that P450s 2A1, 2B1/B2, and 2C11 were inhibited but not inactivated. Methoxychlor inhibited in a time-dependent fashion the 2-hydroxylation of E2 in PB-microsomes. However, bis-OH-M exhibited solely reversible inhibition of the 2-hydroxylation, supporting our conclusion that the inactivation of P450s does not involve participation of the demethylated metabolites. Both competitive inhibition and time-dependent inactivation of human liver P450 3A (6β-hydroxylase) by methoxychlor, was observed. As with rat liver microsomes, the human 6β-hydroxylase was inhibited by bis-OH-M and tris-OH-M competitively and noncompetitively, respectively. Testosterone and estradiol strongly inhibited the irreversible binding of methoxychlor to microsomal proteins. This might explain the “clean” competitive inhibition by methoxychlor of the 6β-OH-T formation when the compounds were coin-cubated. Glutathione (GSH) has been shown to interfere with the irreversible binding of methoxychlor to PB-microsomal proteins. The finding that the coincubation of GSH with methoxychlor partially diminishes the time-dependent inhibition of 6β-hydroxylation provides supportive evidence that the inactivation of P450 3A isozymes by methoxychlor is related to the formation of M*.     

大黄鱼CYP1A基因cDNA的克隆与表达分析

由于外源化合物能诱导鱼类CYPIA(P4501A)的表达,因而它广泛被用作评价水环境污染生物标记物.利用RT-PCR结合RACE技术从大黄鱼(Larimichthys crocea)肝脏克隆了CYP1A基因全长cDNA序列.经分析,该cDNA的5'末端有175 bp的非翻译区.开放阅读框为1 566 bp,编码521个氨基酸和一个终止密码子,3'末端有857 bp的非翻译区,3'非翻译区有一个多聚腺苷酸信号及两个与mRNA的快速降解有关的AUUUA序列.推测大黄鱼CYP1A的氨基酸序列和欧洲鲈鱼的相似度最高迭89.6%.用RT-PCR检测大黄鱼CYP1A的表达特征发现,在所检测的9个组织中均有表达,以肝脏、消化道、脾脏和肾脏的表达量较高.     

Characterization of the dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) metabolism via oxysterol 7alpha-hydroxylase and 17-ketosteroid reductase activity in the human brain

Dehydroepiandrosterone and its sulphate are important factors for vitality, development and functions of the CNS. They were found to be subjects to a series of enzyme-mediated conversions within the rodent CNS. In the present study, we were able to demonstrate for the first time that membrane-associated dehydroepiandrosterone 7alpha-hydroxylase activity occurs within the human brain. The cytochrome P450 enzyme demonstrated a sharp pH optimum between 7.5 and 8.0 and a mean KM value of 5.4 micro m, corresponding with the presence of the oxysterol 7alpha-hydroxylase CYP7B1. Real-time RT-PCR analysis verified high levels of CYP7B1 mRNA expression in the human CNS. The additionally observed conversion of dehydroepiandrosterone via cytosolic 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity could be ascribed to the activity of an enzyme with a broad pH optimum and an undetectably high KM value. Subsequent experiments with cerebral neocortex and subcortical white matter specimens revealed that 7alpha-hydroxylase activity is significantly higher in the cerebral neocortex than in the subcortical white matter (p < 0.0005), whereas in the subcortical white matter, 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity is significantly higher than in the cerebral neocortex (p < 0.0005). No sex differences were observed. In conclusion, the high levels of CYP7B1 mRNA in brain tissue as well as in a variety of other tissues in combination with the ubiquitous presence of 7alpha-hydroxylase activity in the human temporal lobe led us to assume a neuroprotective function of the enzyme such as regulation of the immune response or counteracting the deleterious effects of neurotoxic glucocorticoids, rather than a distinct brain specific function such as neurostimulation or neuromodulation.     

草鱼CYP1A和ACT基因cDNA片段的克隆与鉴定

以Trizol法分别提取BNF诱导和对照处理草鱼的肝组织总RNA并合成cDNA第一链,以此为模板利用1对ACT特异性引物和(8条)6对CYP1A简并引物进行扩增。结果显示,引物对F0-R0在对照和诱导草鱼中均扩增得到预期ACTcDNA片段,而引物对F4-R4在诱导草鱼中获得预期CYP1A cDNA产物。这两个cDNA片段分别进行克隆、测序和比对,BLAST结果表明草鱼ACTcDNA片段(800 bp)与GenBank中ACT基因(登录号M25013)同源性为99.1%,推导氨基酸序列同源性为99.2%;草鱼CYP1A cDNA片段(439 bp)与鲤鱼同源性最高,为92.5%,推导氨基酸同源性为96.6%。上述序列提交GenBank,获得登录号分别为DQ211096和DQ211095。通过Mega 3.1软件的Neighbor-joining程序对CYP基因的部分cDNA序列和氨基酸序列进行比对分析并绘制进化树,根据CYP1A部分蛋白的系统发育关系,在进化上可以将参与比对的真骨鱼划分为4个主要的分支。     

应用TaqMan定量方法研究巴马香猪CYP1A1、2A19、2E1 mRNA表达

目的巴马香猪是我国具有特色和优势的实验用小型猪资源品系,用于药物评价具有广阔前景。方法 以β-actin作校正,利用TaqMan定量技术对巴马香猪肝、肾、肾上腺、小肠、皮肤、脑、肺、睾丸、前列腺、子宫和卵巢等组织中CYP1A1、2A19和2E1 mRNA的表达水平进行检测,检测结果与报道的人体对应酶CYP1A2、2A6、2E1进行比较。结果巴马香猪CYP1A1、2A19、2E1 mRNA均以肝脏中最高,肝外组织明显较低,并且巴马香猪肝脏CYP1A1、2A19、2E1 mRNA均低于报道的人肝对应酶。结论巴马香猪CYP1A1、2A19、2E1与人体对应酶CYP1A2、2A6、2E1的mRNA组织表达存在一定差异,提示在其作为相应CYP亚型代谢的药物评价时应考虑这种种属差异对实验结果推广到人的影响。