Sunflower cDNA Encoding New Cytochrome P450

The primary structure of the cDNA clone SF28 was determined in sunflower (Helianthus annuusL.) flowers. The clone comprises a 874-bp insert corresponding to 227 amino acid residues of the C-terminal part of the cytochrome P450 gene. The sunflower cytochrome P450 was considerably different from the already known plant and animal cytochromes P450.     

Productive and non-productive complexes in cytochrome P450-containing systems

The equilibrium dissociation constants K_D, the complex association / dissociation rate constants (k _on /k _off) and lifetimes of the complexes of redox partners were measured for three cytochrome P450-containing monooxygenase systems (P450cam, P450scc, and P450 2B4) under hydroxylation conditions. The Q parameter representing the ratio of protein-protein complex lifetime (τ _lT ) to time required for a single hydroxylation cycle (τ_turnover) was introduced for estimation of productivity of complexes formed within the systems studied. The Q parameter was insignificantly changed upon transition from the oxidation to hydroxylation conditions. Lifetimes (τ _lT ) for the binary complexes formed within the P450cam and the P450scc systems obligatory requiring an intermediate electron transfer protein between the reductase and cytochrome P450 could not realize hydroxylation reactions for substrates with known τ_turnover and so they were non-productive while the binary complexes formed within the P450 2B4 system, not requiring such intermediate electron-transfer protein, appeared to be productive. Formation of ternary complexes was demonstrated under hydroxylation conditions in all three systems. Analysis of Q values led to the conclusion that the ternary complexes formed within the P450cam and the P450scc systems were productive. In the case of the P450 2B4 system, more than half (about 60%) ternary complexes were also found to be productive.     

Expression analysis of the mixed function oxidase system in rat brain by the polymerase chain reaction

Metabolism of therapeutic drugs in the body by the mixed function oxidase system is an important consideration in the analysis of a drug's effectiveness. P450-dependent metabolism within the brain of a neuro-specific drug may affect the drug's course of action. To determine whether cytochrome P450 was expressed in brain, RNA was isolated from the whole brains of rats treated with a variety of known hepatic P450 inducers, including amitriptyline, imipramine, isosafrole, phenobarbital, and -naphthoflavone. The RNA was analyzed for the presence of P450 isozymes by the PCR technique. Differential expression of P450IA1, P450IIB1, P450IIB2, P450IID, and P450IIE1 was detected in the brain samples, depending on the treatment. Cytochrome P450 reductase expression was also detected in the brain samples, giving strong evidence that the brain contains a competent mixed function oxidase system under all conditions studied. (Mol Cell Biochem120: 171–179, 1993)Thesis student of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston     

Preparation of Cell Wall Fractions by Various Ways and Activity of Bound Saccharase in Sugar Beet Seedlings

Washed cells of facultative methylotrophs which have the serine pathway showed high activities for l-methionine formation from dl-homocysteine, in the presence of methanol as methyl donor. Strain FM 518, isolated from soil and identified as a bacterium belonging to the genus Pseudomonas, showed the highest activity for l-methionine formation and was used as the parental strain for breeding the l-methionine-producing mutants. An ethionine-resistant mutant, FE 244, derived from strain FM 518, accumulated 0.8 mg/ml l-methionine in a methanol-medium under optimum conditions.     

The cytochrome P450 genesis locus: the origin and evolution of animal cytochrome P450s

The neighbourhoods of cytochrome P450 (CYP) genes in deuterostome genomes, as well as those of the cnidarians Nematostella vectensis and Acropora digitifera and the placozoan Trichoplax adhaerens were examined to find clues concerning the evolution of CYP genes in animals. CYP genes created by the 2R whole genome duplications in chordates have been identified. Both microsynteny and macrosynteny were used to identify genes that coexisted near CYP genes in the animal ancestor. We show that all 11 CYP clans began in a common gene environment. The evidence implies the existence of a single locus, which we term the ‘cytochrome P450 genesis locus’, where one progenitor CYP gene duplicated to create a tandem set of genes that were precursors of the 11 animal CYP clans: CYP Clans 2, 3, 4, 7, 19, 20, 26, 46, 51, 74 and mitochondrial. These early CYP genes existed side by side before the origin of cnidarians, possibly with a few additional genes interspersed. The Hox gene cluster, WNT genes, an NK gene cluster and at least one ARF gene were close neighbours to this original CYP locus. According to this evolutionary scenario, the CYP74 clan originated from animals and not from land plants nor from a common ancestor of plants and animals. The CYP7 and CYP19 families that are chordate-specific belong to CYP clans that seem to have originated in the CYP genesis locus as well, even though this requires many gene losses to explain their current distribution. The approach to uncovering the CYP genesis locus overcomes confounding effects because of gene conversion, sequence divergence, gene birth and death, and opens the way to understanding the biodiversity of CYP genes, families and subfamilies, which in animals has been obscured by more than 600 Myr of evolution.     

Structural analysis of CYP2R1 in complex with vitamin D3

The activation of vitamin D to its hormonal form is mediated by cytochrome P450 enzymes. CYP2R1 catalyzes the initial step converting vitamin D into 25-hydroxyvitamin D. A CYP2R1 gene mutation causes an inherited form of rickets due to 25-hydroxylase deficiency. To understand the narrow substrate specificity of CYP2R1 we obtained the hemeprotein in a highly purified state, confirmed the enzyme as a vitamin D 25-hydroxylase, and solved the crystal structure of CYP2R1 in complex with vitamin D₃. The CYP2R1 structure adopts a closed conformation with the substrate access channel being covered by the ordered B′-helix and slightly opened to the surface, which defines the substrate entrance point. The active site is lined by conserved, mostly hydrophobic residues. Vitamin D₃ is bound in an elongated conformation with the aliphatic side-chain pointing toward the heme. The structure reveals the secosteroid binding mode in an extended active site and allows rationalization of the molecular basis of the inherited rickets associated with CYP2R1.     

Preliminary crystallographic analysis of an enzyme involved in erythromycin biosynthesis: Cytochrome P450eryF

Cytochrome P450eryF was overexpressed in Escherichia coli and purified in high yield. Crystals of the protein in the presence of the substrate, 6-deoxyerythronolide B, have been obtained by the hanging drop vapor diffusion method, using polyethylene glycol 4000 as a precipitant. The crystals belong to the orthorhombic space group P2₁2₁2₁ with unit cell dimensions of a = 54.16 Å, b = 79.67 Å, and c = 99.48 Å and one molecule per asymmetric unit. A complete native data set has been collected to a resolution of 2.1 Å, and anomalous dispersion difference Patterson maps have revealed the location of the single heme iron atom. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

P450s在萜类合成方面的合成生物学研究进展 *

细胞色素P450氧化酶能够催化一系列具有区域特异性、立体特异性的化学步骤,并参与许多天然产物如萜类化合物、甾醇以及生物碱的合成。萜类化合物是活性天然产物中的一大类化合物,在医药、香料等领域具有重要价值。萜类化合物的生物合成及合成后修饰需要P450s,但是目前已知P450s较低的催化活性极大地限制了萜类生物合成的效率。因此,迫切需要发掘和改造用于萜类生物合成的高活性P450s,以充分实现其巨大的工业应用潜力。综述了萜类代谢中涉及到的P450s家族以及近年来萜类生物合成中P450s的发掘和工程研究进展,重点介绍了合成生物学扩宽P450s在萜类合成应用中的主要策略,提出进一步加速P450s发掘和P450s工程的可行策略,并针对合成生物学技术为今后P450s在萜类合成中的应用提出建议与展望。     

In vitro modulation of the P450 activities of hamster and human lung slices

The respiratory tract is a portal of entry for many environmental chemicals. The respiratory tract plays an important role in the detoxification or metabolic activation of these chemicals, e.g., via cytochrome P450 enzymes. Alterations in the capabilities of these enzymes to metabolize inhaled compounds can, therefore, affect the toxicity of the chemicals. The pulmonary cytochrome P450 activity has been studied in many species, but relatively little is known about this activity in the human lung tissue. In this limited study, we have investigated the possibility of modulating in vitro the P450 activity in lung slices from hamsters and humans. The alkoxyresorufin-O-dealkylase activity was measured in the S9 fraction of lung slices incubated for 24 h with 106 mol/L 20-methylcholanthrene (3MC) or -naphthoflavone (N). The ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity was increased by 3MC and N in lung slices of both species. The benzyloxyresorufin-O-deethylase (BROD) activity was decreased after incubation with 3MC but increased with N. These data show that in vitro modulation in lung slices is feasible, although technical improvement is still needed, particularly in relation to the viability of the slices.     

The Hydroxyl Radical Generated by an Iron(II)/EDTA/Ascorbate System Preferentially Attacks Tryptophan Residues of the Protein

Iron(II)/EDTA/ascorbate-mediated oxidative damage to specific amino acid residues (tryptophan) of serum albumin was studied. The active species generated by Fe(II)/EDTA/ascorbate preferred to react with tryptophan residues rather than histidine or other amino acids. The observation of preferential damage to tryptophan residues of the protein was fully suported by a model experiment using a tryptophan analogue. The reaction of Fe(II)/EDTA/ascorbate to the protein was significantly suppressed by mannitol and dimethysulfoxide, suggesting the participation of the hydroxyl radical generated via Fenton’s reaction. The result was supported by the hydroxyl radical assay using 2-deoxyribose.     

Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids are endogenous regulators of vasoactive neuropeptide release from trigeminal ganglion neurons

Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) are bioactive eicosanoids produced from arachidonic acid by cytochrome P450 epoxygenases. We previously described the expression of cytochrome P450-2J epoxygenase in rat trigeminal ganglion neurons and that EETs signaling is involved in cerebrovascular dilation resulting from perivascular nerve stimulation. In this study, we evaluate the presence of the EETs signaling pathway in trigeminal ganglion neurons and their role in modulating the release of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) by trigeminal ganglion neurons. Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry identified the presence of each of the four EETs regio-isomers within primary trigeminal ganglion neurons. Stimulation for 1 h with the transient receptor potential vanilloid-1 channel agonist capsaicin (100 nmol/L) or depolarizing K(+) (60 mmol/L) increased CGRP release as measured by ELISA. Stimulation-evoked CGRP release was attenuated by 30 min pre-treatment with the EETs antagonist 14,15-epoxyeicosa-5(Z)-enoic acid (14,15-EEZE, 10 μmol/L). K(+) stimulation elevated CGRP release 2.9 ± 0.3-fold above control levels, whereas in the presence of 14,15-EEZE K(+)-evoked CGRP release was significantly reduced to 1.1 ± 0.2-fold above control release (p < 0.01 anova, n = 6). 14,15-EEZE likewise attenuated capsaicin-evoked CGRP release from trigeminal ganglion neurons (p < 0.05 anova, n = 6). Similarly, pre-treatment with the cytochrome P450 epoxygenase inhibitor attenuated stimulation-evoked CGRP release. These data demonstrate that EETs are endogenous constituents of rat trigeminal ganglion neurons and suggest that they may act as intracellular regulators of neuropeptide release, which may have important clinical implications for treatment of migraine, stroke and vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage.