NADPH oxidase activity of cytochrome P-450 BM3 and its constituent reductase domain

The Ferric-Superoxo Intermediate of the TxtE Nitration Pathway Resists Reduction, Facilitating Its Reaction with Nitric Oxide

TxtE is a cytochrome P450 (CYP) homologue that mediates the nitric oxide (NO)-dependent direct nitration of l-tryptophan (Trp) to form 4-nitro-l-tryptophan (4-NO₂-Trp). A recent report showed evidence that TxtE activity requires NO to react with a ferric-superoxo intermediate. Given this minimal mechanism, it is not clear how TxtE avoids Trp hydroxylation, a mechanism that also traverses the ferric-superoxo intermediate. To provide insight into canonical CYP intermediates that TxtE can access, electron coupling efficiencies to form 4-NO₂-Trp under single- or limited-turnover conditions were measured and compared to steady-state efficiencies. As previously reported, Trp nitration by TxtE is supported by the engineered self-sufficient variant, TB14, as well as by reduced putidaredoxin. Ferrous (Fe^II) TxtE exhibits excellent electron coupling (70%), which is 50-fold higher than that observed under turnover conditions. In addition, two- or four-electron reduced TB14 exhibits electron coupling (∼6%) that is 2-fold higher than that of one-electron reduced TB14 (3%). The combined results suggest (1) autoxidation is the sole TxtE uncoupling pathway and (2) the TxtE ferric-superoxo intermediate cannot be reduced by these electron transfer partners. The latter conclusion is further supported by ultraviolet-visible absorption spectral time courses showing neither spectral nor kinetic evidence for reduction of the ferric-superoxo intermediate. We conclude that resistance of the ferric-superoxo intermediate to reduction is a key feature of TxtE that increases the lifetime of the intermediate and enables its reaction with NO and efficient nitration activity.

An overview of the factors playing a role in cytochrome P450 monooxygenase and ferredoxin interactions

Cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYPs/P450s) are heme-thiolate proteins that are ubiquitously present in organisms, including non-living entities such as viruses. With the exception of self-sufficient P450s, all other P450 enzymes need electrons to perform their enzymatic activity and these electrons are supplied by P450 redox proteins. Different types of P450 redox proteins can be found in organisms and are classified into different classes. Bacterial P450s (class I) receive electrons from ferredoxins which are iron-sulfur cluster proteins. The presence of more than one copy and different types of ferredoxins within a bacterial species poses fundamental questions about the selectivity of P450s and ferredoxins in relation to each other. Apart from transferring electrons, ferredoxins have also been found to modulate P450 functions. Achieving an understanding of the interaction between ferredoxins and P450s is required to harness their biotechnological potential for designing a universal electron transfer protein. A brief overview of factors playing a role in ferredoxin and P450 interactions is presented in this review article.

Peroxidase-like activity of uncoupled cytochrome P450: studies with bilirubin and toxicological implications of uncoupling

The NADPH-dependent consumption of O(2) by cytochrome P450 BM3 was stimulated by either laurate or perfluorolaurate, but the NADPH/O(2) molar consumption ratios were approximately 1 and 2, respectively, indicating that perfluorolaurate does not become oxygenated by BM3 and oxygen undergoes full reduction to water. The nature of this catalytic cycle uncoupled to hydroxylation was explored using bilirubin as a molecular probe. During uncoupling with perfluorolaurate bilirubin was degraded and stimulated O(2) uptake by an approximately equimolar amount. No stimulation of oxygen uptake was caused by bilirubin in presence of NADPH alone or in presence of laurate together with NADPH; under these conditions little degradation of bilirubin was observed. Mesobilirubin was also degraded during uncoupling with perfluorolaurate, whereas biliverdin (which lacks the central methene bridge present in rubins) was unaffected. It is suggested that the CYP ferryl oxygen species abstracts a hydrogen atom from the central methene bridge of bilirubin to generate a radical, which is further dehydrogenated to biliverdin or else binds O(2) and undergoes fragmentation. We conclude that the uncoupled catalytic cycle of cytochrome P450 has properties resembling those of a peroxidase and that bilirubin is rapidly oxidized as a peroxidase substrate. The potential toxicological significance of cytochrome P450 uncoupling is considered.

P450(BM3) (CYP102A1): connecting the dots

P450(BM3) (CYP102A1), a fatty acid hydroxylase from Bacillus megaterium, has been extensively studied over a period of almost forty years. The enzyme has been redesigned to catalyse the oxidation of non-natural substrates as diverse as pharmaceuticals, terpenes and gaseous alkanes using a variety of engineering strategies. Crystal structures have provided a basis for several of the catalytic effects brought about by mutagenesis, while changes to reduction potentials, inter-domain electron transfer rates and catalytic parameters have yielded functional insights. Areas of active research interest include drug metabolite production, the development of process-scale techniques, unravelling general mechanistic aspects of P450 chemistry, methane oxidation, and improving selectivity control to allow the synthesis of fine chemicals. This review draws together the disparate research themes and places them in a historical context with the aim of creating a resource that can be used as a gateway to the field.

Cytochrome P450/redox partner fusion enzymes: biotechnological and toxicological prospects

Cytochromes P450 (CYPs) are versatile oxidase catalysts that play pivotal roles in drug metabolism. They are highly regarded as biotechnological tools for their capacity to perform regio- and stereo-selective oxidations. Human CYPs source electrons for oxygen activation from one or more separate redox partner enzymes. However, several CYP enzymes are now known in which the CYP is covalently linked to a reductase system. Some of these systems offer distinct advantages over typical CYPs as efficient, self-contained units capable of important biotransformations, including synthesis of high value chemicals and pharmaceuticals. Protein engineering has been widely applied to produce variant CYP fusions with desirable activities. The review focuses on the nature and diversity of CYP/redox partner fusion enzymes and their biocatalytic potential.

Interactions between redox partners in various cytochrome P450 systems: functional and structural aspects

The various types of redox partner interactions employed in cytochrome P450 systems are described. The similarities and differences between the redox components in the major categories of P450 systems present in bacteria, mitochondria and microsomes are discussed in the light of the accumulated evidence from X-ray crystallographic and NMR spectroscopic determinations. Molecular modeling of the interactions between the redox components in various P450 mono-oxygenase systems is proposed on the basis of structural and mutagenesis information, together with experimental findings based on chemical modification of key residues likely to be associated with complementary binding sites on certain typical P450 isoforms and their respective redox partners.

Antioxidant-mediated attenuation of the induction of cytochrome P450BM-3(CYP102) by ibuprofen in Bacillus megaterium ATCC 14581

Bacillus megaterium contains a soluble cytochrome P450 termed BM-3, which is highly inducible by barbiturates, peroxisome proliferators, and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs. In rats and mice, the chronic administration of peroxisome proliferators induces a sustained oxidative stress in hepatic tissue and may be responsible for the nongenotoxic carcinogenesis observed with prolonged treatment. Here it is shown that ibuprofen induces a variety of enzymes associated with the oxidative stress response in Bacillus, including catalase, glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase, and aldehyde reductase in a dose-related manner. Furthermore, evidence is presented to show that the expression of cytochrome P450 in Bacillus is associated with a marked depletion in cellular glutathione levels and that it renders these cells considerably more sensitive to oxidant insult. Finally, this work reports that a variety of structurally diverse antioxidants such as ascorbic acid, reduced glutathione, alpha-tocopherol acetate and the artificial antioxidant, butylated hydroxyanisole, all dramatically attenuate the expression of the cytochrome P450BM-3 gene and its repressor, Bm3R1, following ibuprofen treatment. These observations provide the first evidence that the expression of cytochrome P450 genes can lead to increased oxidant sensitivity but can be strongly modulated by dietary and artificial antioxidants, as well as antioxidant enzymes. The important implications of this phenomenon are also discussed.