A predicted three-dimensional structure of human cytochrome P450: implications for substrate specificity

A three-dimensional structure for human cytochrome P450IA1 was predicted based on the crystal coordinates of cytochrome P450cam from Pseudomonas putida. As there was only 15% residue identity between the two enzymes, additional information was used to establish an accurate sequence alignment that is a prerequisite for model building. Twelve representative eukaryotic sequences were aligned and a net prediction of secondary structure was matched against the known alpha-helices and beta-sheets of P450cam. The cam secondary structure provided a fixed main-chain framework onto which loops of appropriate length from the human P450IA1 structure were added. The model-built structure of the human cytochrome conformed to the requirements for the segregation of polar and nonpolar residues between the core and the surface. The first 44 residues of human cytochrome P450 could not be built into the model and sequence analysis suggested that residues 1-26 formed a single membrane-spanning segment. Examination of the sequences of cytochrome P450s from distinct gene families suggested specific residues that could account for the differences in substrate specificity. A major substrate for P450IA1, 3-methyl-cholanthrene, was fitted into the proposed active site and this planar aromatic molecule could be accommodated into the available cavity. Residues that are likely to interact with the haem were identified. The sequence similarity between 59 eukaryotic enzymes was represented as a dendrogram that in general clustered according to gene family. Until a crystallographic structure is available, this model-building study identifies potential residues in cytochrome P450s important in the function of these enzymes and these residues are candidates for site-directed mutagenesis.