Alteration of mouse cytochrome P450coh substrate specificity by mutation of a single amino-acid residue

The P450 superfamily: update on new sequences, gene mapping, and recommended nomenclature

We provide here a list of 154 P450 genes and seven putative pseudogenes that have been characterized as of October 20, 1990. These genes have been described in a total of 23 eukaryotes (including nine mammalian and one plant species) and six prokaryotes. Of 27 gene families so far described, 10 exist in all mammals. These 10 families comprise 18 subfamilies, of which 16 and 14 have been mapped in the human and mouse genomes, respectively; to date, each subfamily appears to represent a cluster of tightly linked genes. We propose here a modest revision of the initially proposed (Nebert et al., DNA 6, 1-11, 1987) and updated (Nebert et al., DNA 8, 1-13, 1989) nomenclature system based on evolution of the superfamily. For the gene we recommend that the italicized root symbol CYP for human (Cyp for mouse), representing cytochrome P450, be followed by an Arabic number denoting the family, a letter designating the subfamily (when two or more exist), and an Arabic numeral representing the individual gene within the subfamily. A hyphen should precede the final number in mouse genes. We suggest that the human nomenclature system be used for other species. This system is consistent with our earlier proposed nomenclature for P450 of all eukaryotes and prokaryotes, except that we are discouraging the future use of cumbersome Roman numerals.

The heterologous expression of the cytochromes P450: a new approach for the study of enzyme activities and regulation

The superfamily of cytochrome P450s encompasses a vast arena of biologically important reactions. The ever-increasing numbers of P450s and the diversity of their enzymatic properties dictate the need to develop new approaches for studying their chemical, physical and catalytic properties. The heterologous expression of P450s in various cell systems (e.g., COS cells, yeast, E. coli, etc.) now provides a means of producing recombinant proteins for such studies. The example is presented of the expression of P450(17)alpha in COS cells and the use of this technique for the comparison of the enzymatic properties of the rat, bovine and human enzymes. Further, studies are described whereby cotransfection results in the simultaneous expression of more than one P450 permitting the construction of 'designer membranes' for assessing protein-protein interactions and the reconstruction of complex pathways of metabolism. Recent advances with genetically engineered systems point to the power of the transfection technique for the study of structure-function relationships with this class of important hemoproteins.

Immunochemical detection of human liver cytochrome P450 forms related to phenobarbital-inducible forms in the mouse

Polyclonal antibodies generated to four distinct mouse liver phenobarbital-inducible cytochrome P450 isoforms were used to analyse related forms in human liver. N-terminal sequence analysis and biochemical properties of the P450s used as antigens suggest that they belong to P450 subfamilies IIB (P450PBI), IA (P450PBII), IIC (P450PBIII) and IIA (P450Coh). In immunoblot analysis, anti-P450PBII detected a single protein presumed to be P450IA2 in all the human livers tested. No proteins corresponding with P450IA1 could be detected. Anti-PBIII and anti-P450Coh antibodies each detected one band (54 and 48 kDa, respectively) in the liver samples. No bands were revealed by anti-P450PBI antibody. Protein dot-immunobinding analysis showed that P450s immunodetectable by anti-P450PBII, anti-P450PBIII and anti-P450Coh antibodies are expressed in human liver (range 9 to 69 pmol P450/mg protein). In immunoinhibition experiments the activity of 7-ethoxyresorutin O-deethylase (EROD) was blocked up to 90% by the anti-P450PBII antibody. Aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) was inhibited only by anti-P450PBIII, and coumarin 7-hydroxylase (COH) only by anti-P450Coh antibody. Testosterone hydroxylations in positions 6 beta, 7 alpha, 15 alpha and 16 alpha were not affected significantly by any of the antibodies. These data suggest that the human liver P450IA2 is responsible for most of the elevated EROD activity, P450s in the IIC subfamily for constitutive AHH and P450s in the IIA subfamily for all of COH activity.

cDNA and deduced amino acid sequences of a dog hepatic cytochrome P450IIB responsible for the metabolism of 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl

The nucleotide sequence of a cDNA that codes for the major phenobarbital (PB)-inducible male beagle dog hepatic cytochrome P450 has been determined. Using a rabbit P450IIB cDNA probe (R. Gasser, M. Negishi, and R. M. Philpot, 1988, Mol. Pharmacol, 32, 22-30), a cDNA clone with a 2.6-kilobase pair insert was isolated from a lambda gt11 library prepared from hepatic mRNA from a PB-treated dog. The cloned insert was sequenced and found to contain an open reading frame coding for a polypeptide of 494 amino acids (Mr 56,183). The encoded protein can be assigned to the P450IIB subfamily on the basis of homology to cytochromes P450 from other species. The deduced amino acid sequence is 79% identical to that reported for rabbit P450 BO (P450IIB4) and 75% identical to that for rat P450b (P450IIB1). The sequence identity decreases to less than 52% when the dog sequence is compared with other P450II subfamilies. The deduced NH2-terminal 30 amino acids encoded by the dog cDNA are identical to those determined by sequence analysis of purified dog cytochrome P450 PBD-2, and the amino acid composition concurs with that determined for the PBD-2 protein (D. B. Duignan, I. G. Sipes, T. B. Leonard, and J. R. Halpert, 1987, Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 255, 290-303). Northern blots revealed two mRNA species of approximately 1.9 and 2.9 kilobases in length, which hybridized to the coding region of the dog P450IIB cDNA. The level of total hybridizable mRNA was increased approximately sixfold in livers from PB-treated dogs compared with that in untreated animals. This increase correlates well with the reported nearly sixfold increase in the level of PBD-2 protein and the fivefold increase in the rate of hepatic metabolism of 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl following PB treatment. The two mRNA species may result from the use of different polyadenylation signals located in the 3'-noncoding region or from transcription of more than one gene for PBD-2. Southern blot analysis indicated that the dog P450IIB subfamily contains at least two closely related genes.

Two members of the mouse mdr gene family confer multidrug resistance with overlapping but distinct drug specificities

We report the cloning and functional analysis of a complete clone for the third member of the mouse mdr gene family, mdr3. Nucleotide and predicted amino acid sequence analyses showed that the three mouse mdr genes encode highly homologous membrane glycoproteins, which share the same length (1,276 residues), the same predicted functional domains, and overall structural arrangement. Regions of divergence among the three proteins are concentrated in discrete segments of the predicted polypeptides. Sequence comparison indicated that the three mouse mdr genes were created from a common ancestor by two independent gene duplication events, the most recent one producing mdr1 and mdr3. When transfected and overexpressed in otherwise drug-sensitive cells, the mdr3 gene, like mdr1 and unlike mdr2, conferred multidrug resistance to these cells. In independently derived transfected cell clones expressing similar amounts of either MDR1 or MDR3 protein, the drug resistance profile conferred by mdr3 was distinct from that conferred by mdr1. Cells transfected with and expressing MDR1 showed a marked 7- to 10-fold preferential resistance to colchicine and Adriamycin compared with cells expressing equivalent amounts of MDR3. Conversely, cells transfected with and expressing MDR3 showed a two- to threefold preferential resistance to actinomycin D over their cellular counterpart expressing MDR1. These results suggest that MDR1 and MDR3 are membrane-associated efflux pumps which, in multidrug-resistant cells and perhaps normal tissues, have overlapping but distinct substrate specificities.

Identification of the human liver cytochrome P-450 responsible for coumarin 7-hydroxylase activity

1. We have constructed a full-length human liver cytochrome P450IIA cDNA from a partial-length clone by oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis, and subcloned it into the monkey kidney (COS-7) cell expression vector, pSVL. 2. The cDNA encodes a 49 kDa protein with coumarin 7-hydroxylase (COH) activity which cross-reacts with antisera to the mouse cytochrome P-450 isoenzyme responsible for COH activity and comigrates with a human liver microsomal protein. 3. Western blot analysis of a panel of human livers indicates that the level of the 49 kDa protein, detected using antisera to either the mouse COH P-450 or rat P450IIA1 protein, correlates very highly with COH activity. 4. Antisera to the rat P450IIA1 protein can inhibit COH activity in human liver microsomes. Taken together, these data indicate that a member of the P450IIA subfamily is responsible for most, if not all, of the COH activity in human liver.

Two members of the mouse mdr gene family confer multidrug resistance with overlapping but distinct drug specificities

We report the cloning and functional analysis of a complete clone for the third member of the mouse mdr gene family, mdr3. Nucleotide and predicted amino acid sequence analyses showed that the three mouse mdr genes encode highly homologous membrane glycoproteins, which share the same length (1,276 residues), the same predicted functional domains, and overall structural arrangement. Regions of divergence among the three proteins are concentrated in discrete segments of the predicted polypeptides. Sequence comparison indicated that the three mouse mdr genes were created from a common ancestor by two independent gene duplication events, the most recent one producing mdr1 and mdr3. When transfected and overexpressed in otherwise drug-sensitive cells, the mdr3 gene, like mdr1 and unlike mdr2, conferred multidrug resistance to these cells. In independently derived transfected cell clones expressing similar amounts of either MDR1 or MDR3 protein, the drug resistance profile conferred by mdr3 was distinct from that conferred by mdr1. Cells transfected with and expressing MDR1 showed a marked 7- to 10-fold preferential resistance to colchicine and Adriamycin compared with cells expressing equivalent amounts of MDR3. Conversely, cells transfected with and expressing MDR3 showed a two- to threefold preferential resistance to actinomycin D over their cellular counterpart expressing MDR1. These results suggest that MDR1 and MDR3 are membrane-associated efflux pumps which, in multidrug-resistant cells and perhaps normal tissues, have overlapping but distinct substrate specificities.

Isolation and partial characterization of a cytochrome P-450 isoenzyme (cytochrome P-450tu) from mouse liver tumors

Experimental hepatomas induced with 5,9-dimethyldibenzo[c,g]carbazole in female XVIInc/Z mice display a strong microsomal steroid 15 alpha-hydroxylation activity. A cytochrome P-450 isoenzyme (cytochrome P-450tu), specific for this activity, has been isolated by an HPLC derived method using various Fractogel TSK and hydroxyapatite supports. On SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis the purified protein appeared as one major band with an apparent Mr of 50,000. Its specific cytochrome P-450 content was 7.55 nmol/mg protein. As deduced from the visible spectrum, the heme iron of the isolated P-450tu was to 72% in the high-spin state. The CO-bound reduced form showed an absorption maximum at 450 nm. In addition to the stereospecific 15 alpha-hydroxylation of progesterone (2.3 min-1) and testosterone (2.5 min-1), the enzyme catalyzed also 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylation, benzphetamine N-demethylation and aniline 4-hydroxylation. Its N-terminal amino-acid sequence (21 residues) was identical to that of cytochrome P-450(15) alpha, isolated by Harada and Negishi from liver microsomes of 129/J mice. P-450tu differed from P-450(15) alpha by its higher molecular weight, its 40-times lower steroid 15 alpha-hydroxylation and its 4-times higher benzphetamine N-demethylation.

Replacing the carboxy-terminal 28 residues of rabbit liver P-450 (laurate (omega-1)-hydroxylase) with those of P-450 (testosterone 16 alpha-hydroxylase) produces a new stereospecific hydroxylase activity

cDNA for chimeric P-450 consisting of the amino-terminal 462 residues of P-450 (laurate (omega-1)-hydroxylase) and the remaining 28 residues of P-450 (testosterone 16 alpha-hydroxylase) was constructed and expressed in yeast cells. The resulting chimera could catalyze laurate (omega-1)-hydroxylation and benzphetamine N-demethylation at much higher rates than the parental P-450s, but exhibited the same specificity towards fatty acid substrates as the wild-type laurate hydroxylase. When testosterone was examined as a substrate, the 16 beta-hydroxylated product, which cannot be formed by either of the parental P-450s, was detected, suggesting that the laurate hydroxylase contains a structure that is capable of binding testosterone at a proper orientation so that it can be hydroxylated at the 16 beta position.

Alternative splicing of mRNA encoding rat liver cytochrome P450e (P450IIB2)

Cytochrome P450e (P450IIB2) is a phenobarbital(PB)-inducible member of the rat liver P450IIB subfamily. Among P450 cDNA clones previously isolated from a cDNA library made from the liver of a single rat were several that contained P450e inserts, including PB13, PB16, and PB22. By nucleotide sequence analysis, the PB16 and PB22 inserts have now been found to contain an additional 24-bp segment not present in the PB13 insert or in previously reported P450e-coding sequences. According to the published P450e genomic sequence, the 24-bp segment is exactly at the junction of the fifth and the sixth exons and its sequence is identical to the first 24 bp of the fifth intron. Translation of this segment would add 8 amino acid residues to the P450e protein. To detect the alternatively spliced P450e mRNA, a synthetic oligodeoxyribonucleotide (oligo) corresponding to 18 of the 24 bp of the intronic sequence found in the PB16 and PB22 inserts was made. This oligo hybridized with a 2.1-kb RNA on Northern blots of liver RNA from PB- or Aroclor 1254-treated rats. Taken together, these results indicate that individual rats can possess both forms of P450e mRNA and that an alternative splicing mechanism is responsible for their formation.

The CYP2A3 gene product catalyzes coumarin 7-hydroxylation in human liver microsomes

Three cDNAs, designated IIA3, IIA3v, and IIA4, coding for P450s in the CYP2A gene subfamily were isolated from a lambda gt11 library prepared from human hepatic mRNA. Only three nucleotide differences and a single amino acid difference, Leu160----His, were found between IIA3 and IIA3v, indicating that they are probably allelic variants. IIA4 displayed 94% amino acid similarity with IIA3 and IIA3v. The three cDNAs were inserted into vaccinia virus, and recombinant viruses were used to infect human hepatoma Hep G2 cells. Only IIA3 was able to produce an enzyme that had a reduced CO-bound spectrum with a lambda max at 450 nm. This expressed enzyme was able to carry out coumarin 7-hydroxylation (turnover number of 15 min-1) and ethoxycoumarin O-deethylation. cDNA-expressed IIA3v and IIA4 failed to incorporate heme and were enzymatically inactive. Analysis of IIA proteins in human liver microsomes, using antibody against rat IIA2, revealed two proteins of 49 and 50 kDa, the former of which appeared to correlate with human microsomal coumarin 7-hydroxylase activity. A more striking correlation was found between IIA mRNA and enzyme activity. The rat antibody was able to completely abolish coumarin 7-hydroxylase activity in 12 liver samples. In addition, kinetics of coumarin metabolism in two livers were monophasic over the substrate concentration tested. Km values obtained from human liver (2.3 microM) were similar to those obtained from lysates of hepatoma cells expressing IIA3 (3.6-7.1 microM).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Redesign of the coenzyme specificity of a dehydrogenase by protein engineering

Directed mutagenesis and molecular modelling have been used to identify a set of amino-acid side chains in glutathione reductase that confer specificity for the coenzyme NADP+. Systematic replacement of these amino acids, all of which occur in a 'fingerprint' structural motif in the NADP+-binding domain, leaves the substrate specificity unchanged but converts the enzyme into one displaying a marked preference for the coenzyme NAD+.

Substrate specificities and functions of the P450 cytochromes

Currently, the major recognized biochemical functions of members of the large superfamily of P450 hemoproteins (referred to commonly as the cytochromes P450) include catalyses of the monooxygenations of a wide variety of endogenous and exogenous lipophilic chemicals. Substrates that have attracted the greatest attention thus far are steroids, fatty acids, eicosanoids, retinoids, other endogenous lipids, therapeutic agents, pesticides/herbicides, chemical carcinogens, industrial chemicals and other environmental contaminants and toxic xenobiotic organics of low molecular weight. Commonly, monooxygenation of such substrates results in the generation of metabolites capable of producing biological effects that are profoundly different (qualitatively as well as quantitatively) from those elicitable by the parent chemical per se. P45OXIX-dependent conversion of testosterone to estradiol-17 beta provides a dramatic example. Thus, these hemoproteins serve as extremely important but, as yet, largely unpredictable regulators of the biological effects producible by endobiotics as well as by xenobiotics. Current focus is on the identification and acquisition of sequence information on hereto unidentified and/or uncharacterized P450 isoforms and ascertainment of the specific functions of specific, individual isoforms. The regulation of quantities and activities of such isoforms in specific species/tissues, understandably, is also of great current interest. This interest has been further intensified by recent results indicating that substrate specificity associated with one P450 may not be the same as the corresponding isoform derived from a different animal species. Recent technological advances promise to greatly hasten the acquisition of knowledge concerning the functions of these important hemoproteins.