Preparation of human metabolites of propranolol using laboratory-evolved bacterial cytochromes P450

Testing the toxicities and biological activities of the human metabolites of drugs is important for development of safe and effective pharmaceuticals. Producing these metabolites using human cytochrome P450s is difficult, however, because the human enzymes are costly, poorly stable, and slow. We have used directed evolution to generate variants of P450 BM3 from Bacillus megaterium that function via the "peroxide shunt" pathway, using hydrogen peroxide in place of the reductase domain, oxygen and NADPH. Here, we report further evolution of the P450 BM3 heme domain peroxygenase to enhance production of the authentic human metabolites of propranolol by this biocatalytic route. This system offers a versatile, cost-effective, and scaleable route to the synthesis of drug metabolites.     

Omega oxygenases: nonheme-iron enzymes and P450 cytochromes

Enzymes that effect with ease one of the most difficult chemical reactions, hydroxylation of an unfunctionalized alkyl group, are of particular interest because highly reactive intermediates must be produced. A typical example, the hydroxylation of fatty acids in the omega position, is now known to occur widely in nature. The catalysts, which can be called "omega-oxygenases," also insert molecular oxygen into a variety of other substrates at positions removed from activating functional groups, as in steroids, eicosanoids, and numerous drugs and other xenobiotics. Progress in the characterization of bacterial nonheme-iron enzymes, and plant, bacterial, and mammalian P450 cytochromes that catalyze fatty acid omega-oxidation, and evidence for multiple functional oxidants are summarized.     

Metabolic activation of the phenothiazine antipsychotics chlorpromazine and thioridazine to electrophilic iminoquinone species in human liver microsomes and recombinant P450s

The phenothiazine-derived antipsychotics, namely chlorpromazine and thioridazine, have been associated with very rare but severe incidences of hepatotoxicity in patients. While the mechanism of idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity remains unknown, it is possible that metabolic activation and subsequent covalently binding of reactive metabolites to cellular proteins play a causative role. Studies were initiated to determine whether chlorpromazine and thioridazine undergo cytochrome P450 (P450)-mediated bioactivation in human liver microsomes to electrophilic intermediates. LC/MS/MS analysis of incubations containing chlorpromazine or thioridazine in the presence of NADPH and glutathione (GSH) revealed the formation of GSH conjugates derived from the addition of the sulfydryl nucleophile to monohydroxy metabolites of chlorpromazine and thioridazine, respectively. Formation of reactive intermediates of chlorpromazine and thioridazine was primarily mediated by heterologously expressed recombinant CYP2D6, and to a less extent, CYP1A2. The 7-hydroxyl metabolites of chlorpromazine and thioridazine were also detected by tandem mass spectrometry. A tentative pathway states that after initial 7-hydroxylation, a bioactivation sequence involves P450-catalyzed oxidation of the phenothiazine core to an electrophilic quinone imine intermediate, which is subsequently attacked by glutathione yielding the sulfydryl conjugates. The results from the current investigation constitute the first report on the cytochrome P450-catalyzed bioactivation of the phenothiazine antipsychotics chlorpromazine and thioridazine.     

Electrochemistry of cytochromes P450: Analysis of current-voltage characteristics of electrodes with immobilized cytochromes P450 for the screening of substrates and inhibitors

In the current study, an approach to elucidating the substrate specificity of cytochromes P450 based on the analysis of current-voltage characteristics of voltammograms and amperograms is proposed. Data on the electrochemical behavior of bioelectrodes with immobilized cytochromes P450 2B4, 1A2, 3A4, 11A1 (P450scc), and 51b1 (Mycobacterium tuberculosis sterol 14α-demethylase or CYP51 MT) in the presence of typical substrates and inhibitors for these hemoprotein forms are reported. Immobilization of the enzymes was accomplished by using graphite screen-printed electrodes modified with gold nanoparticles and with the synthetic membrane-like compound didodecyldimethylammonium bromide. The method of electro-analysis can be applied to the search of potential substrates and inhibitors of cytochromes P450 and to creation of multichannel electrochemical plates (chips, panels) with immobilized cytochromes P450. Published in Russian in Biokhimiya, 2009, Vol. 74, No. 4, pp. 542–549.     

Ambiguous genitalia due to partial activity of cytochromes P450c17 and P450c21.

We describe a patient with male pseudohermaphrodism who has normal basal serum concentrations of cortisol and high basal levels of progesterone and 17 hydroxyprogesterone. Serum concentrations of androstendione, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and testosterone were low. On adequate human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) stimulation, no rise in serum androstendione, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate or testosterone concentrations was observed. After ACTH stimulation there was an excessive rise in progesterone and 17 hydroxyprogesterone with no rise in androstendione, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, testosterone, deoxycorticosterone or cortisol. These clinical and laboratory data suggest that the patient has a combined defect in both cytochromes P450c17 and P450c21. The genes coding for these cytochromes are on different chromosomes, 10 and 6, respectively. Unlike isolated 21 hydroxylase deficiency where all identical HLA siblings suffer from the disease, HLA typing of the patient's family revealed a healthy brother with identical HLA. This suggests that the gene coding for P450c21 on chromosome 6 is not affected and that the lesion might be on a common enzyme which donates an electron to both cytochromes, most probably a flavoprotein.     

Enzymatic and immunological characterization of cytochromes P 450 from ellipticine-treated rat liver

Enzymatic, electrophoretic and immunological characteristics of hepatic cytochrome P 450 were investigated after ellipticine treatment of adult rats. Ellipticine was shown to promote the synthesis of a hemoprotein quite similar to 5,6-benzoflavone-induced cytochrome P 450, since it exhibits a maximal absorption wavelength of the CO spectrum at 448.5 nm, a similar behavior on DEAE-cellulose columns, closely related catalytic activicies towards benzopyrene and ethyxycoumarin, an identical molecular weight and immunological cross-reactivity. This clearly indicates that ellipticine belongs to the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon type of cytochrome P 450 inducers. However, the extent of induction by ellipticine was lower than that by 5,6-benzoflavone.     

Ligand-pKa shifts through metals: potential relevance to ribozyme chemistry

Functional and crystallographic analyses of catalytically active RNA molecules ('ribozymes') have revealed a multitude of different routes by which nature accomplishes cleavage reactions of the RNA sugar-phosphate backbone. While there is agreement that these reactions involve general acid-base chemistry, the choice of 'acid' and of 'base' appears to be quite versatile. Among the numerous surprises that have emerged from these studies in recent years is the phenomenon of 'shifted pK(a) values' of nucleobases, hence, the fact that pK(a) values of isolated nucleobases in H(2)O can be shifted in either direction--upward or downward--into the physiological pH range, and that consequently allows these nucleobases to function as 'acids' or 'bases'. Another change in paradigm in recent years relates to the role of divalent metal ions in these catalytic reactions, which points to the possibility of an indirect involvement in the catalytic cycle rather than necessarily to a direct participation, as in the case with the hepatitis delta virus ribozyme. In this review, basic features of nucleobases and/or aqua ligand pK(a) shifts caused by metal coordination and H-bonding are discussed.     

Identification of human liver cytochromes P450 by using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry

Proteomic approaches have been used for detection and identification of cytochromes P450 forms from highly purified membrane preparations of human liver. These included the protein separation by 2D-and/or 1D-electrophoresis and molecular scanning of a SDS-PAGE gel fragment in a range 45–66 kDa (this area corresponds molecular weights of cytochromes P450). The analysis of protein content was statistically evaluated by means of an original 1D-ZOOMER software package which allowed to carry out the processing of mass spectra mixture instead of individual mass spectra used by standard techniques. In the range 45–66 kDa we identified 13 microsomal membrane proteins including such cytochrome P450 forms as CYPs 1A2, 1B1, 2A6, 2E1, 2C8, 2C9, 2C10, 2D6, 3A4, 4A11, 4F2. Study of enzymatic activities of human liver microsomal cytochrome P450 isoforms CYP 1A, 2B, 3A, and 2E revealed the decrease in the rates of O-dealkylation and N-demethylation catalyzed by CYP 450 1A1/1A2 and 3A4 under pathological conditions, whereas 7-benzyloxyresorufin-O-debenzylase activity (which characterizes the total activity of CYP 2B and CYP 2C), the activities of CYP 2E1 (methanol oxidation), 7-pentoxyresorufin-O-dealkylation (CYP 2B), 7-ethoxy-and 7-methoxycoumarin-O-dealkylases (CYP 2B1) remained basically unchanged.     

Coordination chemistry on the surface of single-walled carbon nanotubes

A facile method to coordinate transition metal complexes (TMCs) on single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) has been developed. Reaction of Zn(OAc)₂ with carboxylic acid functionalized SWNTs (SWNT-COOH) affords SWNT complexes ‘zipped-together’ by zinc carboxylate units (termed SWNT-TMC-1 herein). Reactions of SWNT-TMC-1 with 2,2′-bipyridine or 4,4′-bipyridine gave two new SWNT-TMCs, the former being ‘unzipped’ (SWNT-TMC-2), and the latter involving an additional ligand bridge between the zinc ions (SWNT-TMC-3). Inclusion of 2,2′-bipyridine and 4,4′-bipyridine into the SWNT-TMCs was confirmed by IR spectroscopy. The microstructures of SWNT-TMC-2 and SWNT-TMC-3 were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (Xps), elemental mapping and linear profiles analysis.     

Role of host susceptibility to toxicity and cancer caused by pesticides: cytochromes P450

© 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 19:184–186, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/jbt.20080     

Insect cytochromes P450: topology of structural elements predicted to govern catalytic versatility

Among eukaryotic P450s, the greatest expansion has been in insects, providing useful model systems for the study of enzyme evolution in response to natural and anthropogenic pressures such as the chemical warfare against plant toxins and synthetic insecticides. To better understand diversification of the catalytic properties in the various P450 clades, insight into the molecular principles governing biotransformation of the array of endogenous and exogenous compounds is of paramount importance. Based on a general, CYP102A1-related construct, the majority of prospective substrate-docking residues were found to cluster near the distal heme face within the six known substrate recognition sites (SRSs) made up by the α-helical B′, F, G and I tetrad as well as the B′-C turn and strands of certain β-sheets. Highest proportion of contact sites, having a mean frequency of conservation of not more than 10%, was detected to be housed in the variable SRS-1 and SRS-2 domains, affording conformational mobility to meet the structural diversity in the bulk of substrates. Some key determinants may have a function in governing substrate access, positioning ligands toward the catalytic center to allow regioselective attack, and promoting dioxygen activation. Moreover, non-SRS elements occupying regions on the bowl-like proximal heme face may serve in recognition of electron delivery partners. Physico-chemical factors interfering with substrate anchoring mainly relate to the variably expressed lipophilicity/hydrophilicity profile of the diverse binding sites and bulkiness of the side chains of critical amino acids. Detailed knowledge about structure-function relationships in insect P450s, thus, may offer an incentive to tailoring of novel insecticides and synergistic enzyme inhibitors to more efficiently control insect pests.     

Automated multiple analysis of protein structures: Application to homology modeling of cytochromes P450

A computational strategy for homology modeling, using several protein structures comparison, is described. This strategy implies a formalized definition of structural blocks common to several protein structures, a new program to compare these structures simultaneously, and the use of consensus matrices to improve sequence alignment between the structurally known and target proteins. Applying this method to cytochromes P450 led to the definition of 15 substructures common to P450_cam, P450_BM3, and P450_terp, and to proposing a 3D model of P450_eryF. Proteins 28:388–404, 1997 © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Cyclopropylamine inactivation of cytochromes P450: role of metabolic intermediate complexes

The inactivation of cytochrome P450 enzymes by cyclopropylamines has been attributed to a mechanism involving initial one-electron oxidation at nitrogen followed by scission of the cyclopropane ring leading to covalent modification of the enzyme. Herein, we report that in liver microsomes N-cyclopropylbenzylamine (1) and related compounds inactivate P450 to a large extent via formation of metabolic intermediate complexes (MICs) in which a nitroso metabolite coordinates tightly to the heme iron, thereby preventing turnover. MIC formation from 1 does not occur in reconstituted P450 systems with CYP2B1/2, 2C11 or 2E1, or in microsomes exposed to gentle heating to inactivate the flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO). In contrast, N-hydroxy-N-cyclopropylbenzylamine (3) and N-benzylhydroxylamine (4) generate MICs much faster than 1 in both reconstituted and microsomal systems. MIC formation from nitrone 5 (PhCH = N(O)cPr) is somewhat faster than from 1, but very much faster than the hydrolysis of 5 to a primary hydroxylamine. Thus the major overall route from 1 to a P450 MIC complex would appear to involve FMO oxidation to 3, further oxidation by P450 and/or FMO to nitrone 5' (C2H4C = N(O)CH2Ph), hydrolysis to 4, and P450 oxidation to alpha-nitrosotoluene as the precursor to oxime 2 and the major MIC from 1.     

Evaluation of structural features in fungal cytochromes P450 predicted to rule catalytic diversification

Fungi belong to the large kingdom of lower eukaryotic organisms encompassing yeasts along with filamentous and dimorphic members. Microbial P450 enzymes have contributed to exploration of and adaptation to diverse ecological niches such as conversion of lipophilic compounds to more hydrophilic derivatives or degradation of a vast array of environmental toxicants. To better understand diversification of the catalytic behavior of fungal P450s, detailed insight into the molecular machinery steering oxidative attack on the distinctly structured endogenous and xenobiotic substrates is of preeminent interest. Based on a general, CYP102A1-related template the bulk of predicted substrate/inhibitor-binding determinants were shown to cluster near the distal heme face within the six known substrate recognition sites (SRSs) made up by the α-helical B′/F/G/I tetrad, the B′–C interhelical loop and strands of the β6-sheet, population density being highest in the structurally flexible SRS-1 and SRS-4 domains, showing a low degree of conservation. Reactivity toward ligands favorably coincides with the lipophilicity/hydrophilicity profile and bulkiness of critical amino acids acting as selective filters. Some decisive elements may also serve in maintenance of catalytic competence via their action as gatekeepers directing substrate access/positioning or stabilizers of the heme environment enabling dioxygen activation. Non-SRS residues seem to control spin state equilibria and attract redox partners by electrostatic forces. Of note, the inhibitory potency of azole-type fungicides is likely to arise from perturbation of the complex interplay of the mechanistic principles addressed above. Knowledge-supported exploitation of the topological data will be helpful in the manufacture of commodity/specialty chemicals as well as therapeutic agents. Also, engineered fungal P450s may be used to improve pollutant-specific bioremediation of contaminated soils.     

Cyanogenic glycosides: a case study for evolution and application of cytochromes P450

Cyanogenic glycosides are ancient biomolecules found in more than 2,650 higher plant species as well as in a few arthropod species. Cyanogenic glycosides are amino acid-derived β-glycosides of α-hydroxynitriles. In analogy to cyanogenic plants, cyanogenic arthropods may use cyanogenic glycosides as defence compounds. Many of these arthropod species have been shown to de novo synthesize cyanogenic glycosides by biochemical pathways that involve identical intermediates to those known from plants, while the ability to sequester cyanogenic glycosides appears to be restricted to Lepidopteran species. In plants, two atypical multifunctional cytochromes P450 and a soluble family 1 glycosyltransferase form a metabolon to facilitate channelling of the otherwise toxic and reactive intermediates to the end product in the pathway, the cyanogenic glycoside. The glucosinolate pathway present in Brassicales and the pathway for cyanoalk(en)yl glucoside synthesis such as rhodiocyanosides A and D in Lotus japonicus exemplify how cytochromes P450 in the course of evolution may be recruited for novel pathways. The use of metabolic engineering using cytochromes P450 involved in biosynthesis of cyanogenic glycosides allows for the generation of acyanogenic cassava plants or cyanogenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants as well as L. japonicus and A. thaliana plants with altered cyanogenic, cyanoalkenyl or glucosinolate profiles.     

Metabolism of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids by recombinant human cytochromes P450

Epoxidation and hydroxylation of arachidonic acid (AA) are both catalyzed by cytochromes P450s (CYPs). The oxidized metabolites are known to be involved in the regulation of vascular tone and renal function. By using a panel of 15 human recombinant CYPs, this study demonstrates that other polyunsaturated long-chain fatty acids (PUFA-LC), especially the ω3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are also epoxidised. The regioselectivity of epoxidation of four PUFA-LC by CYPs was investigated. Among the several CYPs tested, CYP2C9/2C19 and 1A2 were the most efficient in EPA and DHA epoxidations. It ensued that 10 μM of these two ω3 fatty acids decreased by more than 80% and 60%, respectively, the formation by CYP2C9 of AA-epoxidised derivatives. These findings suggest that some physiological effects of ω3 fatty acids may be due to a shift in the generation of active epoxidised metabolites of AA through CYP-mediated catalysis.     

A Link between cholesterol levels and phenobarbital induction of cytochromes P450

Squalestatin1 (SQ1), a potent inhibitor of squalene synthase produced a dose-dependent induction of cytochromes P450 CYP2H1 and CYP3A37 mRNAs in chicken hepatoma cells. The effect of SQ1 was completely reversed by 25-hydroxycholesterol. Bile acids elicited an induction of CYP3A37 and CYP2H1 mRNA. Bile acids also reduced the phenobarbital induction of CYP2H1 but not of CYP3A37 mRNA. The effects of SQ1 and its reversal by 25-hydroxycholesterol and the effects of bile acids were reproduced in reporter gene assays with a phenobarbital-responsive enhancer unit of CYP2H1. These data suggest that an endogenous molecule related to cholesterol homeostasis regulates induction of drug-inducible CYPs.     

New selective inhibitors of cytochromes P450 2B and their application to antimutagenesis of tamoxifen

2-Isopropenyl-2-methyladamantane (2-PMADA) and 3-isopropenyl-3-methyldiamantane (3-PMDIA) showed potent and selective inhibition of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2B6-mediated reactions with K(i) values of 5.27 and 2.17 microM, respectively. No effect on activities of other human CYP was found even at concentrations 100-fold higher than those inhibiting CYP2B6. These results indicate that 2-PMADA and 3-PMDIA belong among the most potent CYP2B6-selective inhibitors discovered to date. Both compounds also inhibited reactions catalyzed by CYP2B2 and CYP2B4 with K(i) values ranging between 0.23 and 2 microM. They are competitive inhibitors of all CYP2B. The activation of the anticancer drug tamoxifen by human and rabbit microsomes generating tamoxifen-DNA adducts, which are responsible for carcinogenic side effects of this drug, was strongly inhibited by both compounds. 2-PMADA and 3-PMDIA are very potent for inhibition of formation of these DNA adducts and warrant consideration as candidates for preventing endometrial cancer development by tamoxifen in humans treated with this anticancer drug.