25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 1alpha-hydroxylase and vitamin D synthesis

Parathyroid hormone activation of the 25-hydroxyvitamin D3-1alpha-hydroxylase gene promoter

The DNA flanking the 5' sequence of the mouse 1alpha-hydroxylase gene has been cloned and sequenced. A TATA box has been located at -30 bp and aCCAAT box has been located at -79 bp. The gene's promoter activity has been demonstrated by using a luciferase reporter gene construct transfected into a modified pig kidney cell line, AOK-B50. Parathyroid hormone stimulates this promoter-directed synthesis of luciferase by 17-fold, whereas forskolin stimulates it by 3-fold. The action of parathyroid hormone is concentration-dependent. 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 does not suppress basal promoter activity and marginally suppresses parathyroid hormone-driven luciferase reporter activity. The promoter has three potential cAMP-responsive element sites, and two perfect and one imperfect AP-1 sites, while no DR-3 was detected. These results indicate that parathyroid hormone stimulates 25-hydroxyvitamin D3-1alpha-hydroxylase by acting on the promoter of the 1alpha-hydroxylase gene.

Purification and characterization of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 1alpha-hydroxylase from rat kidney mitochondria

We purified extensively 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 1alpha-hydroxylase (calcidiol, NADPH: oxygen oxidoreductase (1-hydroxylating), EC 1.14.13.13) from kidney mitochondria of rachitic rats and disclosed its peculiar properties as a P450. The final preparation was identified as a 55 kDa protein having an intense absorption at 417 nm characteristic of P450. The specific activity was 4.8 nmol/min/mg of protein indicating a 350-fold purification. Specific content of P450 was 1.1 nmol/mg of protein and turnover number was 4.4 min-1.