Biodegradation of dioxins by recombinant Escherichia coli expressing rat CYP1A1 or its mutant

Plant cytochrome P450s: Role in stress tolerance and potential applications for human welfare

Cytochrome P450s (CYPs) are a versatile group of enzymes and one of the largest families of proteins, controlling various physiological processes via biosynthetic and detoxification pathways. CYPs perform multiple roles through a critical irreversible enzymatic reaction in which an oxygen atom is inserted within hydrophobic molecules, converting them into the reactive and hydro soluble components. During evolution, plants have acquired significantly more number of CYPs and represent about 1% of the encoded genes . CYPs are highly conserved proteins involved in growth, development and tolerance against biotic and abiotic stresses. Furthermore, CYPs reinforce plants' molecular and chemical defense mechanisms by regulating the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, enhancing reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging and controlling biosynthesis and homeostasis of phytohormones, including abscisic acid (ABA) and jasmonates. Thus, they are the critical targets of metabolic engineering for enhancing plant defense against environmental stresses. Additionally, CYPs are also used as biocatalysts in the fields of pharmacology and phytoremediation. Herein, we highlight the role of CYPs in plant stress tolerance and their applications for human welfare.

Possibility of application of cytochrome P450 to bioremediation of dioxins

Dioxins, including polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), dibenzofurans, and coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls, are known to be metabolized by enzymes such as cytochrome (CYP) P450, angular dioxygenase, lignin peroxidase, and dehalogenase. It is noted that all of these enzymes have metal ions in their active centers, and the enzyme systems except for peroxidase each have a distinct electron transport chain. Among these enzyme systems, we have focused on cytochrome P450-dependent metabolism of dioxins from the viewpoint of practical use for bioremediation. Mammalian and fungal cytochromes P450 showed remarkable activity toward low-chlorinated PCDDs. In particular, mammalian cytochromes P450 belonging to the CYP1 family showed high activity. Rat CYP1A1 showed high activity toward 2,3,7-trichloro-dibenzo-p-dioxin but no detectable activity for 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro-dibenzo-p-dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD). On the basis of these results, we assumed that enlarging the space of the substrate-binding pocket of rat CYP1A1 might generate TCDD-metabolizing enzyme. Large-sized amino acids located at putative substrate-recognition sites and F-G loop were substituted for alanine by site-directed mutagenesis. Finally, we successfully generated 2,3,7,8-TCDD-metabolizing enzyme by site-directed mutagenesis of rat CYP1A1. We hope that recombinant microorganisms harboring genetically engineered cytochrome P450 will be used for bioremediation of soil contaminated with PCDDs, polychlorinated dibenzofurans, and coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls in the future.

Effect of histidine-tag and R457H and E580Q mutations on catalytic activity of recombinant human cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase

Cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase (POR) transfers electrons from NADPH to several oxygenase enzymes including cytochrome P450 (CYP). Genetic mutations in the POR gene have recently been identified and associated with an autosomal recessive genetic disease. In this study, Vmax, Km, and Vmax/Km values of cytochrome c reduction and NADPH oxidation activities for R457H variant, histidine-tagged wild-type, and histidine-tagged E580Q were compared with those for wild-type. Vmax/Km values of cytochrome c reduction for the R457H variant and histidine-tagged wild-type were 8% and 26%, respectively, of wild-type, whereas Vmax/Km values of NADPH oxidation for the R457H variant and histidine-tagged wild-type were similar to those for wild-type. The kinetic parameters of the histidine-tagged E580Q variant were similar to those for histidine-tagged wild-type, suggesting that E580Q mutation may be of minor importance in interindividual variation in drug response. These results suggest that R457H but not E580Q is essential for the deficiency of POR activities and that the histidine-tagged system would be inappropriate for POR function.

Comparison of microbial hosts and expression systems for mammalian CYP1A1 catalysis

Mammalian cytochrome P450 enzymes are of special interest as biocatalysts for fine chemical and drug metabolite synthesis. In this study, the potential of different recombinant microorganisms expressing rat and human cyp1a1 genes is evaluated for such applications. The maximum specific activity for 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation and gene expression levels were used as parameters to judge biocatalyst performance. Under comparable conditions, E. coli is shown to be superior over the use of S. cerevisiae and P. putida as hosts for biocatalysis. Of all tested E. coli strains, E. coli DH5α and E. coli JM101 harboring rat CYP1A1 showed the highest activities (0.43 and 0.42 U g⁻¹(CDW), respectively). Detection of active CYP1A1 in cell-free E. coli extracts was found to be difficult and only for E. coli DH5α, expression levels could be determined (41 nmol g⁻¹(CDW)). The presented results show that efficient expression of mammalian cyp1a1 genes in recombinant microorganisms is troublesome and host-dependent and that enhancing expression levels is crucial in order to obtain more efficient biocatalysts. Specific activities currently obtained are not sufficient yet for fine chemical production, but are sufficient for preparative-scale drug metabolite synthesis.

Engineering cytochrome P450 biocatalysts for biotechnology, medicine and bioremediation

IMPORTANCE OF THE FIELD

Cytochrome P450 enzymes comprise a superfamily of heme monooxygenases that are of considerable interest for the: i) synthesis of novel drugs and drug metabolites; ii) targeted cancer gene therapy; iii) biosensor design; and iv) bioremediation. However, their applications are limited because cytochrome P450, especially mammalian P450 enzymes, show a low turnover rate and stability, and require a complex source of electrons through cytochrome P450 reductase and NADPH.

AREAS COVERED IN THIS REVIEW

In this review, we discuss the recent progress towards the use of P450 enzymes in a variety of the above-mentioned applications. We also present alternate and cost-effective ways to perform P450-mediated reaction, especially using peroxides. Furthermore, we expand upon the current progress in P450 engineering approaches describing several recent examples that are utilized to enhance heterologous expression, stability, catalytic efficiency and utilization of alternate oxidants.

WHAT THE READER WILL GAIN

The review provides a comprehensive knowledge in the design of P450 biocatalysts for potentially practical purposes. Finally, we provide a prospective on the future aspects of P450 engineering and its applications in biotechnology, medicine and bioremediation.

TAKE HOME MESSAGE

Because of its wide applications, academic and pharmaceutical researchers, environmental scientists and healthcare providers are expected to gain current knowledge and future prospects of the practical use of P450 biocatalysts.

Tight modulation of Escherichia coli bacterial biofilm formation through controlled expression of adhesion factors

Despite the economic and sanitary problems caused by harmful biofilms, biofilms are nonetheless used empirically in industrial environmental and bioremediation processes and may be of potential use in medical settings for interfering with pathogen development. Escherichia coli is one of the bacteria with which biofilm formation has been studied in great detail, and it is especially appreciated for biotechnology applications because of its genetic amenability. Here we describe the development of two new genetic tools enabling the constitutive and inducible expression of any gene or operon of interest at its native locus. In addition to providing valuable tools for complementation and overexpression experiments, these two compact genetic cassettes were used to modulate the biofilm formation capacities of E. coli by taking control of two biofilm-promoting factors, autotransported antigen 43 adhesin and the bscABZC cellulose operon. The modulation of the biofilm formation capacities of E. coli or those of other bacteria capable of being genetically manipulated may be of use both for reducing and for improving the impact of biofilms in a number of industrial and medical applications.