Further characterization of cytochrome P450 involved in phytoalexin synthesis in soybean: cytochrome P450 cinnamate 4-hydroxylase and 3,9-dihydroxypterocarpan 6a-hydroxylase.

Two cytochrome P450 enzymes, cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (C4H) and 3,9-dihydroxypterocarpan 6a-hydroxylase (D6aH), were isolated from elicitor-challenged soybean (Glycine max) cell cultures (G. Kochs and H. Grisebach, 1989, Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 273, 543-553). An earlier purification protocol was improved by the use of new chromatographic media, leading to a higher yield of enzymatic activity. After separation of C4H from D6aH on hydroxyapatite, the C4H was identified using anti-C4H antibody from Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) (B. Gabriac et al., 1991, Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 288, 302-309). The two proteins show molecular weights of about 58,000 for C4H and about 55,000 for D6aH on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Both enzyme activities are dependent on NADPH:cytochrome P450 reductase and cross-react with their respective antibodies. Both cytochrome P450 subspecies show substrate binding and CO-difference spectra typical for cytochrome P450 and were found to be glycoproteins by their cross-reaction with biotinylated lectins in Western blot. The N-terminal sequence of C4H from soybean shows high similarity to the N-terminus of C4H from Jerusalem artichoke.     

Kinetic mechanism of cytochrome P450 reductase from the house fly (Musca domestica).

Recombinant house fly (Musca domestica) cytochrome P450 reductase has been purified by anion exchange and affinity chromatography. Steady-state kinetics of cytochrome c reductase activity revealed a random Bi-Bi mechanism with formation of a ternary P450 reductase-NADPH-electron acceptor complex as catalytic intermediate. NADP(H) binding is essential for fast hydride ion transfer to FAD, as well as for electron transfer from FMN to cytochrome c. Reduced cytochrome c had no effect on the enzyme activity, while NADP+ and 2'-AMP inhibited P450 reductase competitively with respect to NADPH and noncompetitively with respect to cytochrome c. The affinity of the P450 reductase to NADPH is 10 times higher than to NADP+ (Kd of 0.31 and 3.3 microM, respectively). Such an affinity change during catalysis could account for a +30 mV shift of the redox potential of FAD. Cys560 was substituted for Tyr by site-directed mutagenesis. This mutation decreased enzyme affinity to NADPH 35-fold by decreasing the bimolecular rate constant of nucleotide binding with no detectable effect on the kinetic mechanism. The affinity of the C560Y mutant enzyme to NADP+ decreased 9-fold compared to the wild-type enzyme, while the affinity to 2'-AMP was not significantly affected, suggesting that Cys560 is located in the nicotinamide binding site of the active, full-size enzyme in solution.     

Purification and characterization of a cytosolic cytochrome P450 from the yeast Trichosporon cutaneum

A soluble cytochrome P450 from the yeast Trichosporon cutaneum was purified to homogeneity, using ammonium sulfate fractionation followed by fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) with DEAE-cellulose and phenyl-Sepharose columns. This procedure resulted in a 45-fold increase in specific activity with an activity yield of 6.8%. One- and two-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that the purified enzyme was homogeneous and had a molecular mass of 45 kDa. The purified enzyme contained a heme group and had a characteristic absorption peak at 448 nm in the reduced carbon monoxide difference spectrum. This enzyme was a monomeric protein and catalyzed the conversion of salicylic acid to catechol in the presence of NADH or NADPH. The N-terminal amino acid sequence indicated that the Trichosporon cutaneum cytochrome P450 did not show homology to most eukaryotic cytochromes P450, but had a high degree of homology to one cytochrome P450, the nitric oxide reductase, of Fusarium oxysporum.     

Optimization of yeast-expressed human liver cytochrome P450 3A4 catalytic activities by coexpressing NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase and cytochrome b5.

Human liver P450 NF25 (CYP3A4) had been previously expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae using the inducible GAL10-CYC1 promoter and the phosphoglycerate kinase gene terminator [Renaud, J. P., Cullin, C., Pompon, D., Beaune, P. and Mansuy, D. (1990) Eur. J. Biochem. 194, 889-896]. The use of an improved expression vector [Urban, P., Cullin, C. and Pompon, D. (1990) Biochimie 72, 463-472] increased the amounts of P450 NF25 produced/culture medium by a factor of five, yielding up to 10 nmol/l. The availability of recently developed host cells that simultaneously overexpress yeast NADPH-P450 reductase and/or express human liver cytochrome b5, obtained through stable integration of the corresponding coding sequences into the yeast genome, led to biotechnological systems with much higher activities of yeast-expressed P450 NF25 and with much better ability to form P450 NF25-iron-metabolite complexes. 9-fold, 8-fold, and 30-fold rate increases were found respectively for nifedipine 1,4-oxidation, lidocaine N-deethylation and testosterone 6 beta-hydroxylation between P450 NF25-containing yeast microsomes from the basic strain and from the strain that both overexpresses yeast NADPH-P450 reductase and expresses human cytochrome b5. Even higher turnovers (15-fold, 20-fold and 50-fold rate increases) were obtained using P450 NF25-containing microsomes from the yeast just overexpressing yeast NADPH-P450 reductase in the presence of externally added, purified rabbit liver cytochrome b5. This is explained by the fact that the latter strain contained the highest level of NADPH-P450 reductase activity. It is noteworthy that for the three tested substrates, the presence of human or rabbit cytochrome b5 always showed a stimulating effect on the catalytic activities and this effect was saturable. Indeed, addition of rabbit cytochrome b5 to microsomes from a strain expressing human cytochrome b5 did not further enhance the catalytic rates. The yeast expression system was also used to study the formation of a P450-NF25-iron-metabolite complex. A P450 Fe(II)-(RNO) complex was obtained upon oxidation of N-hydroxyamphetamine, catalyzed by P450-NF25-containing yeast microsomes. In microsomes from the basic strain expressing P450 NF25, 10% of the starting P450 NF25 was transformed into this metabolite complex, whereas more than 80% of the starting P450 NF25 led to complex formation in microsomes from the strain overexpressing yeast NADPH-P450 reductase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Immunochemical studies on the contribution of NADPH cytochrome P-450 reductase to the cytochrome P-450-dependent metabolism of arachidonic acid

We have studied the role of NADPH cytochrome P-450 reductase in the metabolism of arachidonic acid and in two other monooxygenase systems: aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase and 7-ethoxyresorufin-o-deethylase. Human liver NADPH cytochrome P-450 reductase was purified to homogeneity as evidenced by its migration as a single band on SDS gel electrophoresis, having a molecular weight of 71,000 Da. Rabbits were immunized with the purified enzyme and the resulting antibodies were used to evaluate the involvement of the reductase in cytochrome P-450-dependent arachidonic acid metabolism by bovine corneal epithelial and rabbit renal cortical microsomes. A highly sensitive immunoblotting method was used to identify the presence of NADPH cytochrome P-450 reductase in both tissues. We used these antibodies to demonstrate for the first time the presence of cytochrome c reductase in the cornea. Anti-NADPH cytochrome P-450 reductase IgG, but not anti-heme oxygenase IgG, inhibited the NADPH-dependent arachidonic acid metabolism in both renal and corneal microsomes. The inhibition was dependent on the ratio of IgG to microsomal protein where 50% inhibition of arachidonic acid conversion by cortical microsomes was achieved with a ratio of 1:1. A higher concentration of IgG was needed to achieve the same degree of inhibition in the corneal microsomes. The antibody also inhibited rabbit renal cortical 7-ethoxyresorufin-o-deethylase activity, a cytochrome P-450-dependent enzyme. However, the anti-NADPH cytochrome P-450 reductase IgG was much less effective in inhibiting rabbit cortical aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase. Thus, the degree of inhibition of monooxygenases by anti-NADPH cytochrome P-450 reductase IgG is variable. However, with respect to arachidonic acid, NADPH cytochrome P-450 reductase appears to be an integral component for the electron transfer to cytochrome P-450 in the oxidation of arachidonic acid.     

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.     

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.     

Coexpression in yeast of Taxus cytochrome P450 reductase with cytochrome P450 oxygenases involved in Taxol biosynthesis

To maximize redox coupling efficiency with recombinant cytochrome P450 hydroxylases from yew (Taxus) species installed in yeast for the production of the anticancer drug Taxol, a cDNA encoding NADPH:cytochrome P450 reductase from T. cuspidata was isolated. This single-copy gene (2,154 bp encoding a protein of 717 amino acids) resembles more closely other reductases from gymnosperms (approximately 90% similarity) than those from angiosperms (<80% similarity). The recombinant reductase was characterized and compared to other reductases by heterologous expression in insect cells and was shown to support reconstituted taxoid 10beta-hydroxylase activity with an efficiency comparable to that of other plant-derived reductases. Coexpression in yeast of the reductase along with T. cuspidata taxoid 10beta-hydroxylase, which catalyzes an early step of taxoid biosynthesis, demonstrated significant enhancement of hydroxylase activity compared to that supported by the endogenous yeast reductase alone. Functional transgenic coupling of the Taxus reductase with a homologous cytochrome P450 taxoid hydroxylase represents an important initial step in reconstructing Taxol biosynthesis in a microbial host.     

P450 reductase and cytochrome b5 interactions with cytochrome P450: effects on house fly CYP6A1 catalysis

The interactions of protein components of the xenobiotic-metabolizing cytochrome P450 system, CYP6A1, P450 reductase, and cytochrome b5 from the house fly (Musca domestica) have been characterized. CYP6A1 activity is determined by the concentration of the CYP6A1-P450 reductase complex, regardless of which protein is present in excess. Both holo- and apo-b5 stimulated CYP6A1 heptachlor epoxidase and steroid hydroxylase activities and influenced the regioselectivity of testosterone hydroxylation. The conversion of CYP6A1 to its P420 form was decreased by the addition of apo-b5. The effects of cytochrome b5 may involve allosteric modification of the P450 enzyme that modify the conformation of the active site. The overall stoichiometry of the P450 reaction was substrate-dependent. High uncoupling of CYP6A1 was observed with generation of hydrogen peroxide, in excess over the concomitant testosterone hydroxylation or heptachlor epoxidation. Inclusion of cytochrome b5 in the reconstituted system improved efficiency of oxygen consumption and electron utilization from NADPH, or coupling of the P450 reaction. Depending on the reconstitution conditions, coupling efficiency varied from 8 to 25% for heptachlor epoxidation, and from 11 to 70% for testosterone hydroxylation. Because CYP6A1 is a P450 involved in insecticide resistance, this suggests that xenobiotic metabolism by constitutively overexpressed P450s may be linked to significant oxidative stress in the cell that may carry a fitness cost.     

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.     

Uroporphyrinogen oxidation catalyzed by reconstituted cytochrome P450IA2.

Previous work suggested that the oxidation of uroporphyrinogen to uroporphyrin is catalyzed by cytochrome P450IA2. Here we determined whether purified reconstituted mouse P450IA1 and IA2 oxidize uroporphyrinogen. Cytochromes P450IA1 and IA2 were purified from hepatic microsomes from 3-methylcholanthrene (MC)-treated C57BL/6 mice, using a combination of affinity chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography. Reconstituted P450IA1 was more active than P450IA2 in catalyzing ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity, whereas P450IA2 was more active than P450IA1 in catalyzing uroporphyrinogen oxidation (UROX). Both reactions required NADPH, NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase, and either P450IA1 or IA2. Ketoconazole competitively inhibited both EROD and UROX activities, in microsomes from MC-treated mice. Ketoconazole also inhibited UROX catalyzed by reconstituted P450IA2. In contrast, ketoconazole did not inhibit UROX catalyzed by xanthine oxidase in the presence of iron-EDTA. Superoxide dismutase, catalase, and mannitol inhibited UROX catalyzed by xanthine oxidase/iron-EDTA, but did not affect UROX catalyzed by either microsomes or reconstituted P450IA2. These results suggest that UROX catalyzed by P450IA2 in microsomes and reconstituted systems does not involve free reactive oxygen species. Two known substrates of cytochrome P450IA2, 2-amino-3,4-dimethylimidazole[4,5-f]quinoline and phenacetin, were shown to inhibit the microsomal UROX reaction, suggesting that uroporphyrinogen binds to a substrate-binding site on the cytochrome P450.     

Partial purification of human liver cytochrome P 450.

Human liver cytochrome P 450 was partially purified by hydrophobic chromatography on Octyl-Sepharose, followed by ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. Two fractions (A and B) were obtained; cytochrome P 450 of fraction A was purified sixfold, with an overall yield of about 6 %. Its spectral properties were similar to those previously described in animal cytochromes P 450. Moreover, p-nitroanisole-O-demethylase activity could be obtained in a reconstituted system involving cytochrome P 450 of fraction A, human NADPH-cytochrome $\text{c}$ reductase and phospholipids.     

Co-incorporation of heterologously expressed Arabidopsis cytochrome P450 and P450 reductase into soluble nanoscale lipid bilayers

Heterologous expression of CYP73A5, an Arabidopsis cytochrome P450 monooxygenase, in baculovirus-infected insect cells yields correctly configured P450 detectable by reduced CO spectral analysis in microsomes and cell lysates. Co-expression of a housefly NADPH P450 reductase substantially increases the ability of this P450 to hydroxylate trans-cinnamic acid, its natural phenylpropanoid substrate. For development of high-throughput P450 substrate profiling procedures, membrane proteins derived from cells overexpressing CYP73A5 and/or NADPH P450 reductase were incorporated into soluble His(6)-tagged nanoscale lipid bilayers (Nanodiscs) using a simple self-assembly process. Biochemical characterizations of nickel affinity-purified and size-fractionated Nanodiscs indicate that CYP73A5 protein assembled into Nanodiscs in the absence of NADPH P450 reductase maintains its ability to bind its t-cinnamic acid substrate. CYP73A5 protein co-assembled with P450 reductase into Nanodiscs hydroxylates t-cinnamic acid using reduced pyridine nucleotide as an electron source. These data indicate that baculovirus-expressed P450s assembled in Nanodiscs can be used to define the chemical binding profiles and enzymatic activities of these monooxygenases.     

Interactions of mammalian cytochrome P450, NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase, and cytochrome b(5) enzymes

An immobilized system was developed to detect interactions of human cytochromes P450 (P450) with the accessory proteins NADPH-P450 reductase and cytochrome b(5) (b(5)) using an enzyme-linked affinity approach. Purified enzymes were first bound to wells of a polystyrene plate, and biotinylated partner enzymes were added and bound. A streptavidin-peroxidase complex was added, and protein-protein binding was monitored by measuring peroxidase activity of the bound biotinylated proteins. In a model study, we examined protein-protein interactions of Pseudomonas putida putidaredoxin (Pdx) and putidaredoxin reductase (PdR). A linear relationship (r(2)=0.96) was observed for binding of PdR-biotin to immobilized Pdx compared with binding of Pdx-biotin to immobilized PdR (the estimated K(d) value for the Pdx.PdR complex was 0.054muM). Human P450 2A6 interacted strongly with NADPH-P450 reductase; the K(d) values (with the reductase) ranged between 0.005 and 0.1muM for P450s 2C19, 2D6, and 3A4. Relatively weak interaction was found between holo-b(5) or apo-b(5) (devoid of heme) with NADPH-P450 reductase. Among the rat, rabbit, and human P450 1A2 enzymes, the rat enzyme showed the tightest interaction with b(5), although no increases in 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation activities were observed with any of the P450 1A2 enzymes. Human P450s 2A6, 2D6, 2E1, and 3A4 interacted well with b(5), with P450 3A4 yielding the lowest K(d) values followed by P450s 2A6 and 2D6. No appreciable increases in interaction between human P450s with b(5) or NADPH-P450 reductase were observed when typical substrates for the P450s were included. We also found that NADPH-P450 reductase did not cause changes in the P450.substrate K(d) values estimated from substrate-induced UV-visible spectral changes with rabbit P450 1A2 or human P450 2A6, 2D6, or 3A4. Collectively, the results show direct and tight interactions between P450 enzymes and the accessory proteins NADPH-P450 reductase and b(5), with different affinities, and that ligand binding to mammalian P450s did not lead to increased interaction between P450s and the reductase.     

Production of cytochrome P450 reductase yeast-rat hybrid proteins in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

We present a novel strategy for increasing the level of functional mammalian cytochrome P450 (Cyt.P450) and NADPH:cytochrome P450 reductase enzymes produced in yeast. A cDNA encoding the rat P450 reductase was modified by the addition of a sequence coding for the N-terminal region of P450 reductase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The addition of this hydrophobic tail greatly increased the apparent stability of the reductase protein produced in S. cerevisiae, as compared to the unmodified rat P450 reductase. When the rat hybrid reductase was produced simultaneously with one of two mammalian Cyt.P450s, the rat CYP2B1 or the human CYP2A6, there was a significant increase in the specific activity of each of the Cyt.P450s. The optimization of this approach and its extrapolation to other organisms should lead to a marked improvement in our ability to study and exploit the P450 system.     

Isolation and characterization of a cDNA clone from Catharanthus roseus encoding NADPH:cytochrome P-450 reductase, an enzyme essential for reactions catalysed by cytochrome P-450 mono-oxygenases in plants

The membrane-bound flavoprotein NADPH:cytochrome P-450 (cytochrome c) reductase, that functions in electron transfer to cytochrome P-450 mono-oxygenases, was purified from a cell suspension culture of the higher plant Catheranthus roseus . Anti-serum raised against the purified protein was found to inhibit NADPH:cytochrome c reductase activity as well as the activities of the cytochrome P-450 enzymes geraniol 10-hydroxylase and trans -cinnamate 4-hydroxylase, which are involved in alkaloid biosynthesis and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, respectively. Immunoscreening of a C. roseus cDNA expression library resulted in the isolation of a partial NADPH: cytochrome P-450 reductase cDNA clone, which was identified on the basis of sequence homology with NADPH:cytochrome P-450 reductases from yeast and animal species. The identity of the cDNA was confirmed by expression in Escherichia coli as a functional protein capable of NADPH-dependent reduction of cytochrome c and neotetrazolium, two in vitro substrates for the reductase. The N-terminal sequence of the reductase, which was not present in the cDNA clone, was determined from a genomic NADPH: cytochrome P-450 reductase clone. It was demonstrated that the reductase probably is encoded by a single copy gene. A sequence comparison of this plant NADPH:cytochrome P-450 reductase with the corresponding enzymes from yeast and animal species showed that functional domains involved in binding of the cofactors FMN, FAD and NADPH are highly conserved between all kingdoms. In C. roseus cell cultures a rapid increase of the reductase steady state mRNA level was observed after the addition of fungal elicitor preparations that are known to induce cytochrome P-450-dependent biosynthetic pathways.     

Cytochrome P450 IIIA1 (P450p) requires cytochrome b5 and phospholipid with unsaturated fatty acids.

In contrast to other P450 enzymes purified from rat liver microsomes, purified P450 IIIA1 (P450p) is catalytically inactive when reconstituted with NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase and the synthetic lipid, dilauroylphosphatidylcholine. However, purified P450 IIIA1 catalyzes the oxidation of testosterone when reconstituted with NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase, cytochrome b5, an extract of microsomal lipid, and detergent (Emulgen 911). The present study demonstrates that the microsomal lipid extract can be replaced with one of several naturally occurring phospholipids, but not with cholesterol, sphingosine, sphingomyelin, ceramide, cerebroside, or cardiolipin. The ratio of the testosterone metabolites formed by purified P450 IIIA1 (i.e., 2 beta-, 6 beta-, and 15 beta-hydroxytestosterone) was influenced by the type of phospholipid added to the reconstitution system. The ability to replace microsomal lipid extract with several different phospholipids suggests that the nature of the polar group (i.e., choline, serine, ethanolamine, or inositol) is not critical for P450 IIIA1 activity, which implies that P450 IIIA1 activity is highly dependent on the fatty acid component of these lipids. To test this possibility, P450 IIIA1 was reconstituted with a series of synthetic phosphatidylcholines. Those phosphatidylcholines containing saturated fatty acids were unable to support testosterone oxidation by purified P450 IIIA1, regardless of the acyl chain length (C6 to C18). In contrast, several unsaturated phosphatidylcholines supported testosterone oxidation by purified P450 IIIA1, and in this regard dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (PC(18:1)2) was as effective as microsomal lipid extract and naturally occurring phosphatidylcholine or phosphatidylserine. These results confirmed that P450 IIIA1 activity is highly dependent on the fatty acid component of phospholipids. A second series of experiments was undertaken to determine whether microsomal P450 IIIA1, like the purified enzyme, is dependent on cytochrome b5. A polyclonal antibody against purified cytochrome b5 was raised in rabbits and was purified by affinity chromatography. Anti-cytochrome b5 caused a approximately 60% inhibition of testosterone 2 beta-, 6 beta-, and 15 beta-hydroxylation by purified P450 IIIA1 and inhibited these same reactions by approximately 70% when added to liver microsomes from dexamethasone-induced female rats. Overall, these results suggest that testosterone oxidation by microsomal cytochrome P450 IIIA1 requires cytochrome b5 and phospholipid containing unsaturated fatty acids.     

Reconstituted microsomal lipid peroxidation: ADP-Fe3+-dependent peroxidation of phospholipid vesicles containing NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase and cytochrome P450

A reconstituted lipid peroxidation system consisting of rat liver microsomal NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase and cytochrome P450 incorporated into phospholipid vesicles was developed and characterized. Peroxidation of the vesicles required NADPH and ADP-Fe3+, just as in the NADPH-dependent peroxidation of microsomes. The peroxidation of the vesicles was inhibited 30-50% by superoxide dismutase, depending upon their cytochrome P450 content: those with higher cytochrome P450 contents exhibited greater rates of malondialdehyde formation which were less sensitive to inhibition by superoxide dismutase. When cytochrome P450 was incorporated into vesicles, EDTA-Fe3+ was not required for lipid peroxidation, distinguishing this system from the one previously described by Pederson and Aust [Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 48, 789; 1972]. Since at least 50% of the malondialdehyde formation in the vesicular system was not inhibited by superoxide dismutase, alternative means of iron reduction (O2-.-independent) were examined. It was found that rat liver microsomes or a reconstituted mixed function oxidase system consisting of NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase and cytochrome P450 in dilauroylphosphatidylcholine micelles reduced ADP-Fe3+ under anaerobic conditions.     

Reconstitution of testosterone oxidation by purified rat cytochrome P450p (IIIA1)

Cytochrome P450p (IIIA1) has been purified from rat liver microsomes by several investigators, but in all cases the purified protein, in contrast to other P450 enzymes, has not been catalytically active when reconstituted with NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase and dilauroylphosphatidylcholine. We now report the successful reconstitution of testosterone oxidation by cytochrome P450p, which was purified from liver microsomes from troleandomycin-treated rats. The rate of testosterone oxidation was greatest when purified cytochrome P450p (50 pmol/ml) was reconstituted with a fivefold molar excess of NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase, an equimolar amount of cytochrome b5, 200 micrograms/ml of a chloroform/methanol extract of microsomal lipid (which could not be substituted with dilauroylphosphatidylcholine), and the nonionic detergent, Emulgen 911 (50 micrograms/ml). Testosterone oxidation by cytochrome P450p was optimal at 200 mM potassium phosphate, pH 7.25. In addition to their final concentration, the order of addition of these components was found to influence the catalytic activity of cytochrome P450p. Under these experimental conditions, purified cytochrome P450p converted testosterone to four major and four minor metabolites at an overall rate of 18 nmol/nmol P450p/min (which is comparable to the rate of testosterone oxidation catalyzed by other purified forms of rat liver cytochrome P450). The four major metabolites were 6 beta-hydroxytestosterone (51%), 2 beta-hydroxytestosterone (18%), 15 beta-hydroxytestosterone (11%) and 6-dehydrotestosterone (10%). The four minor metabolites were 18-hydroxytestosterone (3%), 1 beta-hydroxytestosterone (3%), 16 beta-hydroxytestosterone (2%), and androstenedione (2%). With the exception of 16 beta-hydroxytestosterone and androstenedione, the conversion of testosterone to each of these metabolites was inhibited greater than 85% when liver microsomes from various sources were incubated with rabbit polyclonal antibody against cytochrome P450p. This antibody, which recognized two electrophoretically distinct proteins in liver microsomes from troleandomycin-treated rats, did not inhibit testosterone oxidation by cytochromes P450a, P450b, P450h, or P450m. The catalytic turnover of microsomal cytochrome P450p was estimated from the increase in testosterone oxidation and the apparent increase in cytochrome P450 concentration following treatment of liver microsomes from troleandomycin- or erythromycin-induced rats with potassium ferricyanide (which dissociates the cytochrome P450p-inducer complex). Based on this estimate, the catalytic turnover values for purified, reconstituted cytochrome P450p were 4.2 to 4.6 times greater than the rate catalyzed by microsomal cytochrome P450p.     

The interaction of microsomal cytochrome P450 2B4 with its redox partners, cytochrome P450 reductase and cytochrome b(5)

Cytochrome P450 2B4 is a microsomal protein with a multi-step reaction cycle similar to that observed in the majority of other cytochromes P450. The cytochrome P450 2B4-substrate complex is reduced from the ferric to the ferrous form by cytochrome P450 reductase. After binding oxygen, the oxyferrous protein accepts a second electron which is provided by either cytochrome P450 reductase or cytochrome b₅. In both instances, product formation occurs. When the second electron is donated by cytochrome b₅, catalysis (product formation) is ∼10- to 100-fold faster than in the presence of cytochrome P450 reductase. This allows less time for side product formation (hydrogen peroxide and superoxide) and improves by ∼15% the coupling of NADPH consumption to product formation. Cytochrome b₅ has also been shown to compete with cytochrome P450 reductase for a binding site on the proximal surface of cytochrome P450 2B4. These two different effects of cytochrome b₅ on cytochrome P450 2B4 reactivity can explain how cytochrome b₅ is able to stimulate, inhibit, or have no effect on cytochrome P450 2B4 activity. At low molar ratios (<1) of cytochrome b₅ to cytochrome P450 reductase, the more rapid catalysis results in enhanced substrate metabolism. In contrast, at high molar ratios (>1) of cytochrome b₅ to cytochrome P450 reductase, cytochrome b₅ inhibits activity by binding to the proximal surface of cytochrome P450 and preventing the reductase from reducing ferric cytochrome P450 to the ferrous protein, thereby aborting the catalytic reaction cycle. When the stimulatory and inhibitory effects of cytochrome b₅ are equal, it will appear to have no effect on the enzymatic activity. It is hypothesized that cytochrome b₅ stimulates catalysis by causing a conformational change in the active site, which allows the active oxidizing oxyferryl species of cytochrome P450 to be formed more rapidly than in the presence of reductase.