Phenobarbital-induced increase of NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase activity in rat liver microsomes

Induction by Phenobarbital of Phase I and II Xenobiotic-Metabolizing Enzymes in Bovine Liver: An Overall Catalytic and Immunochemical Characterization

In cattle, phenobarbital (PB) upregulates target drug-metabolizing enzyme (DME) mRNA levels. However, few data about PB's post-transcriptional effects are actually available. This work provides the first, and an almost complete, characterization of PB-dependent changes in DME catalytic activities in bovine liver using common probe substrates and confirmatory immunoblotting investigations. As expected, PB increased the total cytochrome P450 (CYP) content and the extent of metyrapone binding; moreover, an augmentation of protein amounts and related enzyme activities was observed for known PB targets such as CYP2B, 2C, and 3A, but also CYP2E1. However, contradictory results were obtained for CYP1A, while a decreased catalytic activity was observed for flavin-containing monooxygenases 1 and 3. The barbiturate had no effect on the chosen hydrolytic and conjugative DMEs. For the first time, we also measured the 26S proteasome activity, and the increase observed in PB-treated cattle would suggest this post-translational event might contribute to cattle DME regulation. Overall, this study increased the knowledge of cattle hepatic drug metabolism, and further confirmed the presence of species differences in DME expression and activity between cattle, humans, and rodents. This reinforced the need for an extensive characterization and understanding of comparative molecular mechanisms involved in expression, regulation, and function of DMEs.

Identification and expression analysis of NADH-cytochrome b₅ reductase gene in the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera

NADH-cytochrome b(5) reductase (CBR) is one of the most important components of cytochrome P450s, which play an essential role in the detoxification of xenobiotics as well as insecticide resistance in insect pest. In the present study, two novel full-length cDNAs of CBR of the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) were amplified by means of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) techniques. The sequencing results showed that the transcripts were 1809bp and 1518bp for HaCBR1 and HaCBR2, respectively, including 969bp and 939bp of complete open reading frame (ORF), which encoded 322 and 312 amino acids respectively. The putative structure and function of HaCBR1 and HaCBR2 were preliminarily analyzed by SMART program. HaCBR1 and HaCBR2 (GenBank accession numbers: HQ638220 and HQ190046HQ638220HQ190046) showed high identities with CBRs of other species. The expression of HaCBR1 and HaCBR2 mRNA was detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) in most developmental stages of H. armigera with the exception of eggs, as well as in tissues such as cuticle, fatbody and midgut. The expression level of the two genes was significantly induced by phenobarbital (PB). These results would contribute to the understanding of CBR function in H. armigera and provide information for further study on the interactions of different components of cytochrome P450 enzyme systems.

Metabolism of territrem a by liver microsomes of Wistar rats: identification of the metabolites and their metabolic sequence

The metabolism of territrem A (TRA) was investigated in liver microsomes of male Wistar rats. The results indicated that three metabolites were produced from TRA and these metabolic reactions were inhibited by metyrapone, an inhibitor of cytochrome P-450. Based on analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), mass, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic techniques, the structure of these metabolites were identified as 4beta-hydroxymethyl-4beta-demethylterritrem A (MA1), 4beta-oxo-4beta-demethylterritrem A (MAX), and 2-dihydro-4beta-demethylterritrem A (MA2). It was proposed that reactions proceeded by three sequential oxidative reactions in the pyran moiety of TRA: first, hydroxylation at the 4beta-C methyl group of TRA to form MA1; second, oxidation at the 4beta hydroxyl group of MA, to form MAX; and third, decarbonylation at the 4beta-C oxo group of MAX to form MA2.

Biochemical and morphological comparison of microsomal preparations from rat, quail, trout, mussel, and water flea

Differential centrifugation methods already in use were applied to purify rat, quail, and trout liver microsomes and modified as necessary to purify microsomes from mussel digestive gland and whole water flea. All these microsomal preparations were comparatively characterized with respect to protein and RNA content, levels of markers of subcellular contaminants, ultrastructural morphology, differential spectra of cytochromes P-450 and b5, monoxygenase activity, and in vitro metabolism of p-dichlorobenzene. Yields of microsomal proteins of the tested organisms differed widely, with mussel showing the lowest yield. Very low levels of nuclear and mitochondrial contaminants were detected in all microsomal preparations, but cell membrane contaminants were clearly present in most preparations. Daphnia microsomes were significantly contaminated by plasma membranes, and hepatopancreas microsomes contained significant amounts of partially disrupted secretory granules and plasma membrane. From a qualitative standpoint differential spectra of cytochrome b5 were very similar for all the preparations, whereas cytochrome P-450 spectra were largely dependent on the microsomal preparation as well as on the assay method used. The content of cytochrome P-450 was highest for rat liver microsomes and very low or absent in Daphnia and mussel preparations; the range of cytochrome b5 contents was much narrower. Significant differences were observed among monoxygenase activities of the different preparations. In Daphnia and mussel microsomes, aniline hydroxylase was absent and benzo[a]pyrene hydroxylase activity was much lower than in rat and quail microsomes. Benzo[a]pyrene hydroxylase activity of trout liver microsomes was similar to that of rat and quail microsomes, whereas hydroxylation of substrates which in rat liver are preferentially metabolized by phenobarbital-inducible forms of cytochrome P-450 was much lower in trout microsomes.

In vivo effects of 3-methylcholanthrene, phenobarbital, pyrethrum and 2,4,5-T isooctylester on liver, lung and kidney microsomal mixed-function oxidase system of guinea-pig: a comparative study

The optimum conditions (pH, microsomal protein amount and substrate concentration) of guinea-pig liver, lung and kidney microsomal aniline 4-hydroxylase, ethylmorphine N-demethylase and benzo[a]pyrene hydroxylase activities were determined. Male guinea-pigs weighing 500-700 g were administered 3-methylcholanthrene (25 mg/kg, i.p. 3 days), phenobarbital (75 mg/kg, i.p. 3 days), pyrethrum (120 mg/kg, i.p. 2 days) and 2,4,5-T isooctylester (200 mg/kg, i.p. 3 days). 3-Methylcholanthrene treatment caused significant increases in liver microsomal benzo[a]pyrene hydroxylase and kidney microsomal aniline 4-hydroxylase activities. However, with phenobarbital treatment the only significant increase was observed in liver microsomal ethylmorphine N-demethylase activity. Pyrethrum treatment decreased kidney microsomal ethylmorphine N-demethylase activity significantly. 2,4,5-T isooctylester treatment increased liver microsomal aniline 4-hydroxylase and lung microsomal ethylmorphine N-demethylase activities significantly. Liver microsomal NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activity was increased significantly by phenobarbital and pyrethrum treatment. The other treatments did not cause any significant changes in microsomal NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activities of liver, lung and kidney. Cytochrome P-450 content of guinea-pig liver microsomes were increased significantly about 2.5-fold and 2-fold by treatment with 3-methylcholanthrene and phenobarbital, respectively. 3-Methylcholanthrene also caused 1 nm spectral shift in the absorption maxima of CO difference spectrum of the dithionite-reduced liver microsomal cytochrome P-450, forming P-449.

The influence of food flavonoids on the activity of some hepatic microsomal monooxygenases in rats

The effects of several food flavonoids on the activities of some drug-metabolizing enzymes in rat-liver microsomes were determined in vivo. When quercetin, chrysin, hesperetin and (+)-catechin were injected ip at doses of 150 mg/kg body weight/day for 3 days, quercetin and chrysin stimulated aminopyrine demethylase. When quercetin, rutin, hesperetin and (+)-catechin were fed as components (0 . 1%) of purified diets administered to rats for 4 wk, rutin and (+)-catechin increased microsomal cytochrome b5 levels and quercetin and (+)-catechin increased aminopyrine demethylase activity. On the other hand rutin, quercetin and hesperetin inhibited NADH-cytochrome c reductase. Aniline hydroxylase was not affected by any of the flavonoids administered by either route. The results show that each flavonoid affects different components of the monooxygenase system. The fact that some flavonoids give different effects according to the route and/or the duration of administration is discussed.

Soluble NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase from rabbit liver cytosol: partial purification and characterization

A soluble form of NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase (NADH: ferricytochrome b5 oxidoreductase, EC 1.6.2.2) was found in the cytosolic fraction of rabbit liver. The partially purified enzyme was strictly specific for NADH. It catalyzed the reduction of several substrates such as the methemoglobin-ferrocyanide complex (Hegesh, E. and Avron, M. (1967) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 146, 91-101) (apparent Km: 8 micrometer), potassium ferricyanide (apparent Km: 10 micrometer) and ferricytochrome b5 (apparent Km: 15 micrometer). Upon acrylamide gel isoelectro-focusing followed by specific staining, the enzyme was resolved into four bands (isoelectric pH: 7.05, 6.70, 6.50 and 6.30). The optimum pH of activity with ferricytochrome b5 as a substrate was 6.5. The estimated molecular weight was 25 000--30 000. The enzyme was unsensitive to cyanide. It was strongly inhibited by p-hydroxymercuribenzoate. The cytosolic liver cytochrome b5 reductase was immunologically related to the soluble cytochrome b5 reductase from human and rabbit red-cells, and to the microsomal cytochrome b5 reductase from rabbit liver.