Characterization of Flavonoid 3[prime],5[prime]-Hydroxylase in Microsomal Membrane Fraction of Petunia hybrida Flowers

We have detected a flavonoid 3[prime],5[prime]-hydroxylase (F3[prime],5[prime]H) in the microsomal fraction of Petunia hybrida flowers. Activity varied with the development of flowers, peaking immediately prior to and during anthesis, but was absent in mature flowers. F3[prime],5[prime]H activity in flower extracts from genetically defined floral color mutants correlated strictly with the genotypes Hf1 and Hf2. No activity was detected in flowers from mutants homozygous recessive for both alleles. F3[prime],5[prime]H activity was dependent on NADPH and molecular oxygen; there was only slight activity with NADH. The enzyme catalyzes the hydroxylation of 5,7,4[prime]-trihydroxyflavonone at the 3[prime] and 5[prime] positions, and of 5,7,3[prime],4[prime]-tetrahydroxyflavonone and dihydroquercetin at the 5[prime] position. Hydroxylase activity was inhibited by plant growth regulators (1-aminobenzotriazole and tetcyclacis) and by CO, N-ethylmaleimide, diethyldithiocarbamate, and cytochrome (Cyt) c. Activity was not affected by diethylpyrocarbonate or phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, but was enhanced by 2-mercaptoethanol. A polyclonal antibody that inhibits higher plant NADPH-Cyt P450 reductase inhibited the F3[prime],5[prime]H. The data are consistent with the suggestion that the P. hybrida F3[prime],5[prime]H is a monooxygenase consisting of a Cyt P450 and a NADPH-Cyt P-450 reductase. Cyts P450 were detected in microsomal membranes and in solubilized detergent extracts of these membranes. F3[prime],5[prime]H activity was sensitive to low concentrations of all detergents tested, and therefore solubilization of the active enzyme was not achieved. Reaction products other than flavanones were observed in F3[prime],5[prime]H assays and these may be formed by enzymic oxidation of flavanones. The possibility of a microsomal flavone synthase of a type that has not been described in P. hybrida is discussed.     

Induction of isoflavonoid and retrochalcone branches of the flavonoid pathway in cultured Glycyrrhiza echinata cells treated with yeast extract.

Yeast extract-treated suspension cultures of a new cell line, AK-1, of Glycyrrhiza echinata were induced to produce an isoflavonoid phytoalexin (medicarpin) and metabolites of retrochalcone/flavone pathway (echinatin, licodione, and 7,4'-dihydroxyflavone). From these cells, putative full-length cDNAs encoding cytochrome P450s, (2S)-flavanone 2-hydroxylase and isoflavone 2'-hydroxylase, were cloned.     

Denitrosation of carcinostatic nitrosoureas by purified NADPH cytochrome P-450 reductase and rat liver microsomes to yield nitric oxide under anaerobic conditions

The nitrosoureas, CCNU (1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-(cyclohexyl)-1-nitrosourea) and BCNU (1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea) are representatives of a class of N-nitroso compounds which undergo denitrosation in the presence of NAD(P)H and deoxygenated hepatic microsomes from rats to yield nitric oxide (NO) and the denitrosated parent compound. Formation of NO during microsomal denitrosation of CCNU and BCNU was determined by three methods. With one procedure, NO was measured and concentration shown to increase over time in the head gas above microsomal incubations with BCNU. Two additional methods utilized NO binding to either ferrous cytochrome P-450 or hemoglobin to form distinct Soret maxima at 444 and 415 nm, respectively. Incubation of either BCNU or CCNU in the presence of NAD(P)H and deoxygenated microsomes resulted in the formation of identical cytochrome P-450 ferrous · NO optical difference spectra. Determination of the P-450 ferrous · NO extinction coefficient by the change in absorbance at 444 minus 500 nm allowed measurement of rates of denitrosation by monitoring the increase in absorbance at 444 nm. The rates of BCNU and CCNU denitrosation were determined to be 4.8 and 2.0 nmol NO/min/mg protein, respectively, for phenobarbital (PB) induced microsomes. For the purpose of comparison, the rate of [¹⁴C]CCNU (1-(2-[¹⁴C]chloroethyl)-3-(cyclohexyl)-1-nitrosourea turnover was examined by the isolation of [¹⁴C]CCU (1-(2-[¹⁴C] chloroethyl)-3-(cyclohexyl)-1-urea) from incubations that contained NADPH and deoxygenated PB-induced microsomes. These analyses showed stoichiometric amounts of NO and [¹⁴C]CCU being formed at a rate of 2.0 nmol/min/mg protein. Denitrosation catalysis by microsomes was enhanced by phenobarbital pretreatment and partially decreased by cytochrome P-450 inhibitors, SKF-525A, α-naphthoflavone (ANF), metyrapone, and CO, suggesting a cytochrome P-450-dependent denitrosation. However, in the presence of NADPH and purified NADPH cytochrome P-450 reductase reconstituted in dilauroylphosphatidylcholine, [¹⁴C]CCNU was shown to undergo denitrosation to [¹⁴C]CCU. Thus, NADPH cytochrome P-450 reductase could support denitrosation in the absence of cytochrome P-450.     

Evidence for the presence of cytochrome P-450 functional in lanosterol 14 alpha-demethylation in microsomes of aerobically grown respiring yeast

Recent studies have shown that a cytochrome P-450 present in microsomes of semi-anaerobically grown cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is functional in the 14 alpha-demethylation of lanosterol (4,4,14 alpha-trimethyl-5 alpha-cholesta-8,24-dien-3 beta-ol), but the occurrence of the same cytochrome P-450 in microsomes of aerobically grown yeast cells has not yet been reported. In this study, the microsomal fraction from aerobically grown cells was found to catalyze the lanosterol demethylation in the presence of NADPH and O2 and that this activity was sensitive to CO. In Ouchterlony double diffusion test, antibodies to the yeast cytochrome P-450 formed a single precipitin line with the microsomal fraction as well as with the purified yeast cytochrome P-450 and the two precipitin lines fused with each other. Furthermore, the antibodies inhibited the lanosterol demethylation activity of the microsomal fraction from aerobically grown cells. The quadratic-derivative absorption spectrum of the microsomal fraction measured in the presence of both Na2S2O4 and CO showed an absorption band at 450 nm which is attributable to the reduced CO compound of cytochrome P-450. These facts led to the conclusion that cytochrome P-450 actually exists in aerobically grown yeast and participates in the lanosterol 14 alpha-demethylation which is essential for the ergosterol (5 alpha-ergosta-5,7,22-trien-3 beta-ol) biogenesis by yeast.     

Reconstitution of cytochrome P-450-dependent digitoxin 12 beta-hydroxylase from cell cultures of foxglove (Digitalis lanata EHRH.).

Cytochrome P-450-dependent digitoxin 12 beta-hydroxylase from cell cultures of foxglove (Digitalis lanata) was solubilized from microsomal membranes with CHAPS (3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]propane-1-sulphonic acid). Cytochrome P-450 was separated from NADPH: cytochrome c (P-450) reductase by ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sephacel. NADPH:cytochrome c (P-450) reductase was further purified by affinity chromatography on 2',5'-ADP-Sepharose 4B. This procedure resulted in a 248-fold purification of the enzyme; on SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis after silver staining, only one band, corresponding to a molecular mass of 80 kDa, was present. The digitoxin 12 beta-hydroxylase activity could be reconstituted by incubating partially purified cytochrome P-450 and NADPH:cytochrome c (P-450) reductase together with naturally occurring microsomal lipids and flavin nucleotides. This procedure yielded about 10% of the original amount of digitoxin 12 beta-hydroxylase.     

A new and suitable reconstructed system for NADPH-dependent microsomal lipid peroxidation

In order to evaluate the O-2 participation in NADPH-dependent microsomal lipid peroxidation, we used reconstructed system which contained detergent-solubilized NADPH-dependent cytochrome P-450 reductase, cytochrome P-450, phospholipid liposomes, NADPH and Fe3+-ADP. Lipid peroxidation, monitored by the formation of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance, was increased with increasing concentration of detergent-solubilized NADPH cytochrome P-450 reductase, cytochrome P-450 or Fe3+-ADP. Cytochrome P-450-dependent lipid peroxidation was parallel to O-2 generation monitored by chemiluminescence probe with 2-methyl-6-(p-methoxyphenol)-3,7-dihydroimidazo[1,2-a]pyrazin++ +-3-one. Lipid peroxidation was significantly inhibited by superoxide dismutase, but not by catalase or sodium benzoate. The reconstructed system herein described is considered to be very close to NADPH-dependent microsomal lipid peroxidation system.     

Enhancement of Isoflavone Synthase Activity by Co-expression of P450 Reductase from Rice

Plant cytochrome P450s interact with a flavoprotein, NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase (CPR), to transfer electrons from NADPH. The gene for rice P450 reductase (RCPR) was cloned and expressed in Saccaromyces cerevisiae, where the specific activity of the expressed RPCR was 0.91 U/mg protein. When isoflavone synthase gene (IFS) from red clover, used as a model system of plant cytochrome P450, was co-expressed with RCPR in yeast, the production of genistein from naringein increased about 4.3-fold, indicating that the RCPR efficiently interacts with cytochrome P450 to transfer electrons from NADPH.     

Kaurenolides and fujenoic acids are side products of the gibberellin P450-1 monooxygenase in Gibberella fujikuroi

The steps involved in kaurenolide and fujenoic acids biosynthesis, from ent-kauradienoic acid and ent-6alpha,7alpha-dihydroxykaurenoic acid, respectively, are demonstrated in the gibberellin (GA)-deficient Gibberella fujikuroi mutant SG139, which lacks the entire GA-biosynthesis gene cluster, complemented with the P450-1 gene of GA biosynthesis (SG139-P450-1). ent-[2H]Kauradienoic acid was efficiently converted into 7beta-hydroxy[2H]kaurenolide and 7beta,18-dihydroxy[2H]kaurenolide by the cultures while 7beta-hydroxy[2H]kaurenolide was transformed into 7beta,18-dihydroxy[2H]kaurenolide. The limiting step was found to be hydroxylation at C-18. In addition, SG139-P450-1 transformed ent-6alpha,7alpha-dihydroxy[14C4]kaurenoic acid into [14C4]fujenoic acid and [14C4]fujenoic triacid. Fujenal was also converted into the same products but was demonstrated not to be an intermediate in this sequence. All the above reactions were absent in the mutant SG139 and were suppressed in the wild-type strain ACC917 by disruption of the P450-1 gene. Kaurenolide and fujenoic acids synthesis were associated with the microsomal fraction and showed an absolute requirement for NADPH or NADH, all properties of cytochrome P450 monooxygenases. Only 7beta-hydroxy[14C4]kaurenolide synthesis and not further 18-hydroxylation was detected in the microsomal fraction. The substrates for the P450-1 monooxygenase, ent-kaurenoic acid and [2H]GA12, efficiently inhibited kaurenolide synthesis with I50 values of 3 and 6 microM, respectively. Both substrates also inhibited ent-6alpha,7alpha-dihydroxy[14C4]kaurenoic acid metabolism by SG139-P450-1. Conversely, [14C4]GA14 synthesis from [14C4]GA12-aldehyde was inhibited by ent-[2H]kauradienoic acid and fujenal with I50 values of 10 and 30 microM, respectively. These results demonstrate that kaurenolides and seco-ring B kaurenoids are formed by the P450-1 monooxygenase (GA14 synthase) of G. fujikuroi and are thus side products that probably result from stabilization of radical intermediates involved in GA14 synthesis.     

Functional Expression of the Alkane-Inducible Monooxygenase System of the Yeast: Candida tropicalis IN Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The genes for the alkane-inducible monooxygenase system of the yeast Candida tropicalis, namely a cytochrome P450_alk (P450_alk) and a NADPH cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase (NCPR) gene, were transferred in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The P450_alk gene was expressed in this host with the help of the yeast alcohol dehydrogenase I (ADHI) promoter and terminator, whereas the NCPR gene could be expressed with its own structural elements. The presence of P450_alk in S. cerevisiae microsomal fractions resulted in a new acquired lauric acid terminal hydroxylation activity. Moreover, the same activity, coupled with the appearance of 12-hydroxylauric acid derivatives, could be obtained by the addition of lauric acid to intact cells expressing P450_alk. The coordinate expression of the P450_alk and NCPR genes in S. cerevisiae elevated the turnover rate of the P450_alk monooxygenase activity about 2-fold.     

omega-Hydroxylation of Z9-octadecenoic, Z9,10-epoxystearic and 9,10-dihydroxystearic acids by microsomal cytochrome P450 systems from Vicia sativa.

A microsomal fraction from etiolated Vicia sativa seedlings incubated aerobically with [1-14C]oleic acid (Z9-octadecenoic acid) or [1-14C]9,10-epoxystearic acid or [1-14C]9,10-dihydroxystearic acid catalyzed the NADPH-dependent formation of hydroxylated metabolites. The chemical structure of compounds formed from oleic, 9,10-epoxystearic or 9,10-dihydroxystearic acids was established by gas chromatography/mass spectra analysis to be 18-hydroxyoleic acid, 18-hydroxy-9,10-epoxystearic acid and 9,10,18-trihydroxystearic acid, respectively. The reactions required O2 and NADPH and were inhibited by carbon monoxide. As expected for monooxygenase reactions involving cytochrome P450, inhibition could be partially reversed by light and all three reactions were inhibited by antibodies raised against NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase from Jerusalem artichoke. The omega-hydroxylation of the three substrates was enhanced in microsomes from clofibrate induced seedlings.     

NAD(P)H-dependent 6'-deoxychalcone synthase activity in Glycyrrhiza echinata cells induced by yeast extract

The crude extract prepared from Glycyrrhiza echinata cells treated with yeast extract catalyzed the formation of liquiritigenin (5-deoxyflavanone) and isoliquiritigenin (6'-deoxychalcone) in addition to naringenin (5-hydroxyflavanone) when incubated with 4-coumaroyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA in the presence of high concentrations (0.1 mM or higher) of NADPH. Incubation without NADPH, or with low concentrations (0.01 mM or lower), gave only naringenin as a reaction product. With NADH (1 mM), the major product was naringenin accompanied by a small quantity of liquiritigenin. The initial product of the assay with 1 mM NADPH was isoliquiritigenin, indicating a reaction catalyzed by 6'-deoxychalcone synthase (DOCS). Subsequent formation of liquiritigenin was attributed to the presence of chalcone isomerase in the crude extract. The results constitute the first demonstration in vitro of DOCS activity which, in G. echinata cells and other leguminous plants, is involved in the biosynthesis of retrochalcone and 5-deoxyisoflavonoid-derived phytoalexins.     

Biodiversity of the P450 catalytic cycle: yeast cytochrome b5/NADH cytochrome b5 reductase complex efficiently drives the entire sterol 14-demethylation (CYP51) reaction

The widely accepted catalytic cycle of cytochromes P450 (CYP) involves the electron transfer from NADPH cytochrome P450 reductase (CPR), with a potential for second electron donation from the microsomal cytochrome b5/NADH cytochrome b5 reductase system. The latter system only supported CYP reactions inefficiently. Using purified proteins including Candida albicans CYP51 and yeast NADPH cytochrome P450 reductase, cytochrome b5 and NADH cytochrome b5 reductase, we show here that fungal CYP51 mediated sterol 14alpha-demethylation can be wholly and efficiently supported by the cytochrome b5/NADH cytochrome b5 reductase electron transport system. This alternative catalytic cycle, where both the first and second electrons were donated via the NADH cytochrome b5 electron transport system, can account for the continued ergosterol production seen in yeast strains containing a disruption of the gene encoding CPR.     

Purification and partial characterization of NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase from Gentiana triflora flowers

Reduced form of nicotineamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-cytochrome P450 reductase was solubilized from a microsomal fraction of Gentiana triflora flowers by 3-[(3 Cholamidopropyl)-dimethylammonio]-1-propane sulfonate detergent and purified to electrophoretic homogeneity. The purification was achieved by adenosine 2', 5'-bisphosphate-Sepharose chromatography, followed by high-performance anion-exchange chromatography. A Mr value of 82,000 was obtained by SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. Western blot analysis showed that the purified protein cross-reacted with polyclonal antibody raised against rabbit anti-Gentiana triflora NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase antibodies. The temperature and pH optimum for reduction of cytochrome c was 25 degrees C and 7.4 respectively. The Km values for the binding of NADPH and cytochrome c were 9.4 and 3.2 microM, respectively. In this paper, we present some results of the purification and partial characterization of microsomal NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase from Gentiana triflora flowers.     

Alpha-oxidation of 3-methyl-substituted fatty acids in rat liver.

3-Methyl-substituted fatty acids are first oxidatively decarboxylated (alpha-oxidation) before they are degraded further via beta-oxidation. We synthesized [1-14C]phytanic and 3-[1-14C]methylmargaric acids in order to study their alpha-oxidation in isolated rat hepatocytes, rat liver homogenates and subcellular fractions. alpha-Oxidation was measured as the production of radioactive CO2. In isolated hepatocytes, maximal rates of alpha-oxidation amounted to 7 and 10 nmol/min x 10(8) cells with phytanic acid and 3-methylmargaric acid, respectively. At equimolar substrate concentrations, alpha-oxidation of branched fatty acids was approximately 10- to 15-fold slower than the beta-oxidation of the straight chain palmitate. In whole liver homogenates, rates of alpha-oxidation that equaled 60 to 70% of those observed in the hepatocytes were obtained. Optimum rates required O2, NADPH, Fe3+, and ATP. Fe3+ could be replaced by Fe2+ and ATP could be replaced by a number of other phosphorylated nucleosides and even inorganic phosphate without loss of activity. NADH could substitute for NADPH but not always with full restoration of activity. A variety of other cofactors and metal ions was either inhibitory or without effect. Scavengers of reactive oxygen species, known to be formed during the NADPH-dependent microsomal reduction of ferric-phosphate complexes, were without effect on alpha-oxidation. No evidence was found for the accumulation of NADPH-dependent or Fe(3+)-dependent reaction intermediates. Subcellular fractionation of liver homogenates demonstrated that alpha-oxidation was located predominantly, if not exclusively, in the endoplasmic reticulum. alpha-Oxidation, measured in microsomal fractions, was not inhibited by CO, cytochrome c, or ferricyanide, indicating that NADPH cytochrome P450 reductase and cytochrome P450 are not involved in alpha-oxidation. Our results indicate that, contrary to current belief, alpha-oxidation is catalyzed by the endoplasmic reticulum. The cofactor requirements suggest that alpha-oxidation involves the reduction of Fe3+ by electrons from NADPH and that it is stimulated by phosphate ions and nucleotides.     

Stereoselectivity of the epoxidation of 7,8-dihydrobenzo[a]pyrene by prostaglandin H synthase and cytochrome P-450 determined by the identification of polyguanylic acid adducts

The stereoselectivity of the oxidation of 7,8-dihydrobenzo[a]pyrene (H2BP) to 9,10-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene (H4BP-epoxide) by prostaglandin H (PGH) synthase and cytochrome P-450 has been studied using microsomal preparations from ram seminal vesicles and rat liver. Incubations were performed in the presence of polyguanylic acid and the adducts formed between H4BP-epoxide and guanosine were isolated following the recovery and hydrolysis of the poly(G). When (+/-)-H4BP-epoxide was reacted with poly(G), four diastereomeric adducts were formed by the cis and trans addition of the exocyclic amino group of guanine to the benzylic carbon of the epoxide enantiomers. Each diastereomer was identified by a combination of ultraviolet, nuclear magnetic resonance, circular dichroism, and mass spectroscopy. Under comparable conditions, ram seminal vesicle microsomes in the presence of arachidonic acid triggered the binding of H2BP to poly(G) to a greater extent than rat liver microsomes from untreated and phenobarbital- and methylcholanthrene pretreated animals in the presence of NADPH. Quantitation of the (-)-cis- and (+)-cis-guanosine adducts revealed the degree of stereoselectivity of epoxidation. The ratio of (-)/(+) adducts was 54:46 for PGH synthase and 89:11 (control), 62:38 (phenobarbital), and 69:31 (methylcholanthrene) for cytochrome P-450-catalyzed reactions. PGH synthase catalyzed the epoxidation of H2BP with little or no stereoselectivity in contrast to cytochrome P-450. The utility of the poly(G) binding technique for the elucidation of the stereoselective generation of chiral electrophiles is discussed along with the mechanistic implications of the results.     

Involvement of FMN and phenobarbital cytochrome P-450 in stimulating a one-electron reductive denitrosation of 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-(cyclohexyl)-1-nitrosourea catalyzed by NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase

Purified hepatic NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase, which was reconstituted with dilauroylphosphatidylcholine, catalyzed a one-electron reductive denitrosation of 1-(2-[14C]-chloroethyl)-3-(cyclohexyl)-1-nitrosourea ([14C]CCNU) to give 1-(2-[14C]-chloroethyl)-3-(cyclohexyl)urea at the expense of NADPH. Ambient oxygen or anoxic conditions did not alter the rates of [14C]CCNU denitrosation catalyzed by NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase with NADPH. Electron equivalents for reduction could be supplied by NADPH or sodium dithionite. However, the turnover number with NADPH was slightly greater than with sodium dithionite. Enzymatic denitrosation with sodium dithionite or NADPH was observed in anaerobic incubation mixtures which contained NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase with or without cytochrome P-450 purified from livers of phenobarbital (PB)-treated rats; PB cytochrome P-450 alone did not support catalysis. PB cytochrome P-450 stimulated reductase activity at molar concentrations approximately equal to or less than NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase concentration, but PB cytochrome P-450 concentrations greater than NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase inhibited catalytic denitrosation. Cytochrome c, FMN, and riboflavin demonstrated different degrees of stimulation of NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase-dependent denitrosation. Of the flavins tested, FMN demonstrated greater stimulation than riboflavin and FAD had no observable effect. A 3-fold stimulation by FMN was not observed in the absence of NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase. These studies provided evidence which establish NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase rather than PB cytochrome P-450 as the enzyme in the hepatic endoplasmic reticulum responsible for CCNU reductive metabolism.     

A convenient assay for mephenytoin 4-hydroxylase activity of human liver microsomal cytochrome P-450

A simple and rapid method for the determination of (S)-mephenytoin 4-hydroxylase activity by human liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 has been developed. [Methyl-14C] mephenytoin was synthesized by alkylation of S-nirvanol with 14CH3I and used as a substrate. After incubation of [methyl-14C]mephenytoin with human liver microsomes or a reconstituted monooxygenase system containing partially purified human liver cytochrome P-450, the 4-hydroxylated metabolite of mephenytoin was separated by thin-layer chromatography and quantified. The formation of the metabolite depended on the incubation time, substrate concentration, and cytochrome P-450 concentration and was found to be optimal at pH 7.4. The Km and Vmax rates obtained with a human liver microsomal preparation were 0.1 mM and 0.23 nmol 4-hydroxymephenytoin formed/min/nmol cytochrome P-450, respectively. The hydroxylation activity showed absolute requirements for cytochrome P-450, NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase, and NADPH in a reconstituted monooxygenase system. Activities varied from 5.6 to 156 pmol 4-hydroxymephenytoin formed/min/nmol cytochrome P-450 in 11 human liver microsomal preparations. The basic system utilized for the analysis of mephenytoin 4-hydroxylation can also be applied to the estimation of other enzyme activities in which phenol formation occurs.     

The effect of the administration of cobaltic protoporphyrin IX on drug metabolism, carbon tetrachloride activation and lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomes

The effects of cobaltic protoporphyrin IX (CPP) administration on hepatic microsomal drug metabolism, carbon tetrachloride activation and lipid peroxidation have been investigated using male Wistar rats. CPP (125 mumol/kg, 72 h before sacrifice) profoundly decreased the levels of hepatic microsomal heme, particularly cytochrome P-450. Consequently, the associated mixed-function oxidase systems were equally strongly depressed. An unexpected finding was that CPP administration also greatly decreased the activity of NADPH/cytochrome c reductase, a result not generally found with the administration of the more widely used cytochrome P-450 depleting agents, cobaltous chloride. Activation of carbon tetrachloride, measured as covalent binding of [14C] CCl4, spin-trapping of CCl3 and CCl4-stimulated lipid peroxidation, was much lower in liver microsomes from CPP-treated rats. Other microsomal lipid peroxidation systems, utilising cumene hydroperoxide or NADPH/ADP-Fe2+, were also depressed in parallel with the decrease in microsomal enzyme activities.