Heterologous expression of mammalian P450 in COS cells

Use of a Baculovirus-Mammalian Cell Expression-System for Expression of Drug-Metabolizing Enzymes: Optimization of Infection With a Focus on Cytochrome P450 3A4

Heterologous expression systems are important for analyzing the effects of genetic factors including single nucleotide polymorphisms on the functions of drug-metabolizing enzymes. In this study, we focused on a baculovirus-mammalian cell (Bac-Mam) expression system as a safer and more efficient approach for this purpose. The baculovirus-insect cell expression system is widely utilized in large-scale protein expression. Baculovirus has been shown to also infect certain mammalian cells, although the virus only replicates in insect cells. With this knowledge, baculovirus is now being applied in a mammalian expression system called the Bac-Mam system wherein a gene-modified baculovirus is used whose promotor is replaced with one that can function in mammalian cells. We subcloned open-reading frames of cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4), UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) 1A1, and UGT2B7 into a transfer plasmid for the Bac-Mam system, and prepared recombinant Bac-Mam virus. The obtained virus was amplified in insect Sf9 cells and used to infect mammalian COS-1 cells. Expression of CYP3A4, UGT1A1, and UGT2B7 in COS-1 cell homogenates were confirmed by immunoblotting. Optimum infection conditions including the amount of Bac-Mam virus, culture days before collection, and concentration of sodium butyrate, an enhancer of viral-transduction were determined by monitoring CYP3A4 expression. Expressed CYP3A4 showed appropriate activity without supplying hemin/5-aminolevulinic acid or co-expressing with NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase. Further, we compared gene transfer efficiency between the Bac-Mam system and an established method using recombinant plasmid and transfection reagent. Our results indicate that the Bac-Mam system can be applied to introduce drug-metabolizing enzyme genes into mammalian cells that are widely used in drug metabolism research. The expressed enzymes are expected to undergo appropriate post-translational modification as they are in mammalian bodies. The Bac-Mam system may thus accelerate pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics research.

Progesterone receptor membrane component 1 inhibits the activity of drug-metabolizing cytochromes P450 and binds to cytochrome P450 reductase

Progesterone receptor membrane component 1 (PGRMC1) has been shown to interact with several cytochromes P450 (P450s) and to activate enzymatic activity of P450s involved in sterol biosynthesis. We analyzed the interactions of PGRMC1 with the drug-metabolizing P450s, CYP2C2, CYP2C8, and CYP3A4, in transfected cells. Based on coimmunoprecipitation assays, PGRMC1 bound efficiently to all three P450s, and binding to the catalytic cytoplasmic domain of CYP2C2 was much more efficient than to a chimera containing only the N-terminal transmembrane domain. Down-regulation of PGRMC1 expression levels in human embryonic kidney 293 and HepG2 cell lines stably expressing PGRMC1-specific small interfering RNA had no effect on the endoplasmic reticulum localization and expression levels of P450s, whereas enzymatic activities of CYP2C2, CYP2C8, and CYP3A4 were slightly higher in PGRMC1-deficient cells. Cotransfection of cells with P450s and PGRMC1 resulted in PGRMC1 concentration-dependent inhibition of the P450 activities, and this inhibition was partially reversed by increased expression of the P450 reductase (CPR). In contrast, CYP51 activity was decreased by down-regulation of PGRMC1 and expression of PGRMC1 in the PGRMC1-deficient cells increased CYP51 activity. In cells cotransfected with CPR and PGRMC1, strong binding of CPR to PGRMC1 was observed; however, in the presence of CYP2C2, interaction of PGRMC1 with CPR was significantly reduced, suggesting that CYP2C2 competes with CPR for binding to PGRMC1. These data show that in contrast to sterol synthesizing P450, PGRMC1 is not required for the activities of several drug-metabolizing P450s, and its overexpression inhibits those P450 activities. Furthermore, PGRMC1 binds to CPR, which may influence P450 activity.

Chemical proteomic probes for profiling cytochrome p450 activities and drug interactions in vivo

The cytochrome P450 (P450) superfamily metabolizes many endogenous signaling molecules and drugs. P450 enzymes are regulated by posttranslational mechanisms in vivo, which hinders their functional characterization by conventional genomic or proteomic methods. Here we describe a chemical proteomic strategy to profile P450 activities directly in living systems. Derivatization of a mechanism-based inhibitor with a "clickable" handle provided an activity-based probe that labels multiple P450s both in proteomic extracts and in vivo. This probe was used to record alterations in liver P450 activities triggered by chemical agents, including inducers of P450 expression and direct P450 inhibitors. The chemical proteomic strategy described herein thus offers a versatile method to monitor P450 activities and small-molecule interactions in any biological system and, through doing so, should facilitate the functional characterization of this large and diverse enzyme class.

Cloning and expression of a pig liver taurochenodeoxycholic acid 6alpha-hydroxylase (CYP4A21): a novel member of the CYP4A subfamily

A cytochrome P450 expressed in pig liver was cloned by polymerase chain reaction using oligonucleotide primers based on amino acid sequences of the purified taurochenodeoxycholic acid 6alpha-hydroxylase. This enzyme catalyzes a 6alpha-hydroxylation of chenodeoxycholic acid, and the product hyocholic acid is considered to be a primary bile acid specific for the pig. The cDNA encodes a protein of 504 amino acids. The primary structure of the porcine taurochenodeoxycholic acid 6alpha-hydroxylase, designated CYP4A21, shows about 75% identity with known members of the CYP4A subfamily in rabbit and man. Transfection of the cDNA for CYP4A21 into COS cells resulted in the synthesis of an enzyme that was recognized by antibodies raised against the purified pig liver enzyme and catalyzed 6alpha-hydroxylation of taurochenodeoxycholic acid. The hitherto known CYP4A enzymes catalyze hydroxylation of fatty acids and prostaglandins and have frequently been referred to as fatty acid hydroxylases. A change in substrate specificity from fatty acids or prostaglandins to a steroid nucleus among CYP4A enzymes is notable. The results of mutagenesis experiments indicate that three amino acid substitutions in a region around position 315 which is highly conserved in all previously known CYP4A and CYP4B enzymes could be involved in the altered catalytic activity of CYP4A21.

Dual targeting property of the N-terminal signal sequence of P4501A1. Targeting of heterologous proteins to endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria

Recent studies from our laboratory showed that the beta-naphthoflavone-inducible cytochrome P4501A1 is targeted to both the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria. In the present study, we have further investigated the ability of the N-terminal signal sequence (residues 1-44) of P4501A1 to target heterologous proteins, dihydrofolate reductase, and the mature portion of the rat P450c27 to the two subcellular compartments. In vitro transport and in vivo expression experiments show that N-terminally fused 1-44 signal sequence of P4501A1 targets heterologous proteins to both the ER and mitochondria, whereas the 33-44 sequence strictly functions as a mitochondrial targeting signal. Site-specific mutations show that positively charged residues at the 34th and 39th positions are critical for mitochondrial targeting. Cholesterol 27-hydroxylase activity of the ER-associated 1-44/1A1-CYP27 fusion protein can be reconstituted with cytochrome P450 reductase, but the mitochondrial associated fusion protein is functional with adrenodoxin + adrenodoxin reductase. Consistent with these differences, the fusion protein in the two organelle compartments exhibited distinctly different membrane topology. The results on the chimeric nature of the N-terminal signal of P4501A1 coupled with interaction with different electron transport proteins suggest a co-evolutionary nature of some of the xenobiotic inducible microsomal and mitochondrial P450s.

Merits and limitations of recombinant models for the study of human P450-mediated drug metabolism and toxicity: an intralaboratory comparison

A wide variety of pharmacological and toxicological properties of drugs are determined by cytochrome P450-mediated metabolism. Characterization of these pathways and of the P450 isoenzymes involved constitutes an essential part of drug development. Similarly, because P450s are catalyzing the toxication and detoxication of environmental pollutants, an understanding of these reactions facilitates risk assessment in environmental toxicology. Recently, a variety of recombinant expression systems has been employed to study the role of human P450s in these reactions. These include insect, bacterial, yeast, and mammalian models. As these were developed and characterized by different laboratories, evaluation of their merits and limitations is inherently difficult. To resolve this problem, we have established and characterized the latter three systems and present the key results here. In general, the catalytic properties of P450 isozymes in the various models were rather similar. However, taking technical considerations into account as well as the high level of functional expression of P450s achieved in bacteria make this system ideally suited for drug metabolism research, including the generation of milligram quantities of metabolites for structural determinations. For toxicological studies, however, expression of P450s in mammalian cells was most appropriate. This is exemplified here by studies into the role of human P450s in the activation and inactivation of chemotherapeutic drugs.

The tomato DWARF enzyme catalyses C-6 oxidation in brassinosteroid biosynthesis

Brassinosteroids (BRs) are steroidal plant hormones essential for normal plant growth and development. Mutants in the biosynthesis or perception of BRs are usually dwarf. The tomato Dwarf gene (D), which was predicted to encode a cytochrome P450 enzyme (P450) with homology to other P450s involved in BR biosynthesis, was cloned previously. Here, we show that DWARF catalyses the C-6 oxidation of 6-deoxocastasterone (6-deoxoCS) to castasterone (CS), the immediate precursor of brassinolide. To do this, we first confirmed that the D cDNA complemented the mutant light- and dark-grown phenotypes of the extreme dwarf (dx) allele of tomato. To identify a substrate for the DWARF enzyme, exogenous application of BR intermediates to dx plants was carried out. C-6 oxoBR intermediates enhanced hypocotyl elongation whereas the C-6 deoxoBR, 6-deoxoCS, had little effect. Quantitative analysis of endogenous BR levels in tomato showed mainly the presence of 6-deoxoBRs. Furthermore, dx plants were found to lack CS and had a high level of 6-deoxoCS in comparison to D plants that had CS and a lower level of 6-deoxoCS. Confirmation that DWARF catalyzed the C-6 oxidation of 6-deoxoCS to CS was obtained by functional expression of DWARF in yeast. In these experiments, the intermediate 6alpha-hydroxycastasterone was identified, indicating that DWARF catalyzes two steps in BR biosynthesis. These data show that DWARF is involved in the C-6 oxidation in BR biosynthesis.

Human cytochrome P450 enzymes expressed in bacteria: reagents to probe molecular interactions in toxicology

1. Phase I metabolism of drugs is accomplished by the concerted actions of a limited number of cytochrome P450 enzymes with wide but often overlapping substrate specificites. Although metabolism generally accelerates the clearance of drugs, reactive products may also be generated that cause toxic effects. 2. Because individuals vary in the range and levels of different P450 forms, it is useful to be able to determine the specific isoforms involved in a particular metabolic reaction, in order to estimate the extent of variation within a population in the pharmacokinetics of specific drugs. Such studies may also allow predictions to be made regarding the relative susceptibility of different individuals to possible adverse effects associated with drug treatment. 3. Human cytochrome P450 enzymes are now routinely expressed as recombinant proteins in many different systems, including mammalian cell culture, yeast, baculovirus and Escherichia coli. The latter system is particularly useful when large amounts of protein are required for biophysical studies, but can also be adapted to routine examination of pathways of drug metabolism and toxicology. 4. The present review provides an analysis of strategies used for enhancing cytochrome P450 expression in bacteria and for examining the activity of the recombinant proteins. The potential applications of recombinant P450 are discussed, with particular emphasis on investigation of the roles of cytochrome P450 forms in the metabolism and the toxicity of drugs.

Differential modulation of CYP2E1 activity by cAMP-dependent protein kinase upon Ser129 replacement

Many toxic compounds are activated by cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2E1 to reactive metabolites, which represents a potential hazard for cellular homeostasis. Therefore knowledge about CYP2E1 regulation could be of great biological importance. It has been shown that CYP2E1 is controlled transcriptionally and post-translationally by phosphorylation. In the present study we investigated the role of serine-129 (Ser129) in the protein kinase A (PKA) recognition sequence motif Arg-Arg-Phe-Ser129. To gain further insights into the possible relevance of Ser129 for CYP2E1 function, Ser129 was replaced by alanine (Ala) or glycine (Gly) by site-directed mutations of the cDNA coding for CYP2E1. The mutant cDNAs were transfected into Chinese hamster lung fibroblast V79 cells. Despite the mutation in the PKA phosphorylation motif, all strains produced catalytically active CYP2E1. However, there was a marked change in the substrate preference: The Gly129-containing strains hydroxylated p-nitrophenol (PNP) to a markedly higher extent than the wild-type cDNA-containing cells, while they demethylated N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) to a markedly lower extent than the wild-type cells. All the strains activated NDMA to mutagenic products. Treatment with the membrane-permeating cAMP derivative db-cAMP reduced markedly both the PNP hydroxylase and the NDMA demethylase activities as well as the mutation frequency induced by NDMA in the Ser129-containing strain. This decrease in activity was not accompanied by a decrease in CYP2E1 content. In addition, the catalytic activities of CYP2E1 were decreased in microsomes from rat hepatocytes treated with db-cAMP. Also in this case, the decrease in activities was not accompanied by a decrease in enzyme protein. These findings argue that involvement of Ser129 and its phosphorylation is not in determining CYP2E1 protein level, but rather in controlling its catalytic activity. In contrast, in the strains containing Ala129 or Gly129, treatment with db-cAMP caused a marked increase in both PNP hydroxylase and NDMA demethylase. In these strains a similar db-cAMP-mediated increase was also observed in the mutation frequency, resulting from the treatment with the promutagen NDMA, which is activated by CYP2E1. Our results show that CYP2E1 in V79 cells responds in two separate ways to db-cAMP exposure depending on the amino acid residue present in the PKA recognition sequence. The enzyme is committed to a negative regulation by db-cAMP if Ser129 is the target amino acid for PKA, leading to a decrease in the metabolic activation to mutagenic and carcinogenic species. On the other hand, Ala129 or Gly129 substitution directed CYP2E1 toward a positive regulation by increasing its catalytic activities and metabolic activation to mutagenic intermediates in the presence of db-cAMP. We also obtained evidence that cAMP-mediated downregulation of wild-type (Ser129) CYP2E1 was not accompanied by its destruction but instead by its stabilization, which shows that Ser129 is not involved in CYP2E1 degradation but dictates requirements for its specific activities.

Differential catalytic properties in metabolism of endogenous and exogenous substrates among CYP3A enzymes expressed in COS-7 cells

The catalytic properties of CYP3A7 in the metabolism of endogenous and exogenous substrates were compared with those of CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 using COS-7 expressing enzymes. The highest activities of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and dehydroepiandrosterone 3-sulfate (DHEA-S) 16alpha-hydroxylase were observed in COS-7 cells expressing CYP3A7. In contrast, the activity of testosterone 6beta-hydroxylase of CYP3A7 expressed in COS-7 cells was much less than that of CYP3A4 expressed in COS-7 cells. The rate of carbamazepine 10, 11-epoxidation was the greatest in COS-7 cells expressing CYP3A4, followed by CYP3A5 and CYP3A7. On the other hand, the formation of reductive metabolite of zonisamide was the highest in COS-7 cells expressing CYP3A4, followed by CYP3A7 and CYP3A5. Furthermore, the addition of triazolam resulted in a decrease in 6beta-hydroxylation catalyzed by CYP3A7, but not by CYP3A4, whereas the pretreatment of microsomes with triacetyloleandomycin (TAO) resulted in a decrease in the reaction catalyzed by CYP3A4, but not by CYP3A7. Together with these results, it was suggested that CYP3A7 exerts differential catalytic properties not only in metabolism of endogenous substrates but also in drug metabolism compared to CYP3A4 and CYP3A5.

The membrane anchor of microsomal epoxide hydrolase from human, rat, and rabbit displays an unexpected membrane topology

The microsomal epoxide hydrolase (mEH) and cytochrome P450s catalyze the sequential formation of carcinogenic metabolites. According to one algorithm for predicting the membrane topology of proteins, the human, the rabbit, and the rat mEH should adopt a type II topology. The type II topology is also predicted by a recently established neuronal network which is trained to recognize signal peptides with very high accuracy. In contrast to these predictions we find, based on N-glycosylation analysis in a cell-free and in a cellular system, that the membrane anchor of human, rat, and rabbit mEH displays a type I topology. This result is correctly predicted by the positive inside rule in which negatively charged residues, the distribution of which differs in the mEH membrane anchor of these species, have only a modulating role for the membrane topology of proteins. However, our results demonstrate that this role is not strong enough to force the mEHs into a type II topology, not even in the case of the rabbit mEH, in which the only positively charged residue in the C-terminal part of the topogenic sequence is flanked by five negatively charged residues.

The catalytic activity of the endoplasmic reticulum-resident protein microsomal epoxide hydrolase towards carcinogens is retained on inversion of its membrane topology

Diol epoxides formed by the sequential action of cytochrome P-450 and the microsomal epoxide hydrolase (mEH) in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) represent an important class of ultimate carcinogenic metabolites of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The role of the membrane orientation of cytochrome P-450 and mEH relative to each other in this catalytic cascade is not known. Cytochrome P-450 is known to have a type I topology. According to the algorithm of Hartman, Rapoport and Lodish [(1989) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 86, 5786-5790], which allows the prediction of the membrane topology of proteins, mEH should adopt a type II membrane topology. Experimentally, mEH membrane topology has been disputed. Here we demonstrate that, in contrast with the theoretical prediction, the rat mEH has exclusively a type I membrane topology. Moreover we show that this topology can be inverted without affecting the catalytic activity of mEH. Our conclusions are supported by the observation that two mEH constructs (mEHg1 and mEHg2), containing engineered potential glycosylation sites at two separate locations after the C-terminal site of the membrane anchor, were not glycosylated in fibroblasts. However, changing the net charge at the N-terminus of these engineered mEH proteins by +3 resulted in proteins (++mEHg1 and ++mEHg2) that became glycosylated and consequently had a type II topology. The sensitivity of these glycosylated proteins to endoglycosidase H indicated that, like the native mEH, they are still retained in the ER. The engineered mEH proteins were integrated into membranes as they were resistant to alkaline extraction. Interestingly, an insect mEH with a charge distribution in its N-terminus similar to ++mEHg1 has recently been isolated. This enzyme might well display a type II topology instead of the type I topology of the rat mEH. Importantly, mEHg1, having the natural cytosolic orientation, as well as ++mEHg1, having an artificial huminal orientation, displayed rather similar substrate turnovers for the mutagenic metabolite benzo[a]pyrene 4,5-oxide. To our knowledge this is the first report demonstrating that topological inversion of a protein within the membrane of the ER has only a moderate effect on its enzymic activity, despite differences in folding pathways and redox environments on each side of the membrane. This observation represents an important step in the evaluation of the influence of mEH membrane orientation in the cascade of events leading to the formation of ultimate carcinogenic metabolites, and for studying the general importance of metabolic channelling on the surface of membranes.

Development of an in situ toxicity assay system using recombinant baculoviruses

A new method for experimentally analyzing the role of enzymes involved in metabolizing mutagenic, carcinogenic, or cytotoxic chemicals is described. Spodoptera fugiperda (SF-21) cells infected with recombinant baculoviruses are used for high level expression of one or more cloned enzymes. The ability of these enzymes to prevent or enhance the toxicity of drugs and xenobiotics is then measured in situ. Initial parameters for the system were developed and optimized using baculoviruses engineered for expression of the mouse soluble epoxide hydrolase (msEH, EC 3.3.2.3) or the rat cytochrome P4501A1. SF-21 cells expressing msEH were resistant to trans-stilbene oxide toxicity as well as several other toxic epoxides including: cis-stilbene oxide, 1,2,7,8-diepoxyoctane, allylbenzene oxide, and estragole oxide. The msEH markedly reduced DNA and protein adduct formation in SF-21 cells exposed to [3H]allylbenzene oxide or [3H]estragole oxide. On the other hand, 9,10-epoxyoctadecanoic acid and methyl 9,10-epoxyoctadecanoate were toxic only to cells expressing sEH, suggesting that the corresponding fatty acid diols were cytotoxic. This was confirmed by showing that chemically synthesized diols of these fatty acid epoxides were toxic to control SF-21 cells at the same concentration as were the epoxides to cells expressing sEH. A recombinant baculovirus containing a chimeric cDNA formed between the rat P4501A1 and the yeast NADPH-P450 reductase was also constructed and expressed in this system. A model compound, naphthalene, was toxic to SF-21 infected with the rat P4501A1/reductase chimeric co-infecting SF-21 cells with either a human or a rat microsomal EH virus along with P4501A1/reductase virus. These results demonstrate the usefulness of this new system for experimentally analyzing the role of enzymes hypothesized to metabolize endogenous and exogenous chemicals of human health concern.

Molecular cloning and expression of CYP2J2, a human cytochrome P450 arachidonic acid epoxygenase highly expressed in heart

A cDNA encoding a human cytochrome P450 arachidonic acid epoxygenase was isolated from a human liver cDNA library. Sequence analysis revealed that this 1,876-base pair cDNA contained an open reading frame and encoded a new 502-amino acid protein designated CYP2J2. Blot hybridization analysis of RNA prepared from human tissues revealed that CYP2J2 was highly expressed in the heart. Recombinant CYP2J2 protein was prepared using the baculovirus expression system and purified to near electrophoretic homogeneity. The enzyme metabolized arachidonic acid predominantly via olefin epoxidation to all four regioisomeric cis-epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (catalytic turnover 65 pmol of product formed/nmol of cytochrome P450/min at 30 degrees C). Epoxidation of arachidonic acid by CYP2J2 at the 14,15-olefin was highly enantioselective for (14R, 15S)-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (76% optical purity). Immunoblotting of microsomal fractions prepared from human tissues using a polyclonal antibody raised against the recombinant hemoprotein confirmed primary expression of CYP2J2 protein in human heart. The in vivo significance of CYP2J2 was suggested by documenting the presence of epoxyeicosatrienoic acids in the human heart using gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy. Importantly, the chirality of CYP2J2 products matched that of the epoxyeicosatrienoic acid enantiomers present, in vivo, in human heart. We propose that CYP2J2 is one of the enzymes responsible for epoxidation of endogenous arachidonic acid pools in human heart and that epoxyeicosatrienoic acids may, therefore, play important functional roles in cardiac physiology.

Evidence against a role for serine 129 in determining murine cytochrome P450 Cyp2e-1 protein levels

The cytochrome P450 CYP2E subfamily plays a central role in drug and carcinogen metabolism. The cellular content of this protein is regulated at both the transcriptional and posttranslational levels. CYP2E1 is degraded by both rapid and slow acting proteolytic systems. In the presence of a substrate, CYP2E1 becomes stabilized, and the contribution of the rapid actinig proteolytic pathway to its destruction decreases. It has been suggested that phosphorylation at serine 129 acts as a switch to initiate the fast acting degradative pathway. Phosphorylation at serine 129 has also been suggested to be the point at which hormones, such as insulin, exert actions on the stability of this protein. In order to investigate the role of phosphorylation in determining murine Cyp2e-1 levels, serine 129 was changed by site-directed mutagenesis to amino acids that could not be phosphorylated and the recombinant proteins expressed in COS 7 cells. Replacement of serine 129 with alanine and glycine does not lead to Cyp2e-1 accumulation. In the presence of insulin, although Cyp2e-1 levels increase slightly, specific stabilization of the wild-type protein relative to the two mutant forms is not observed. These observations provide evidence that insulin can act by stabilization of Cyp2e-1 protein but suggest that the phosphorylation of serine 129 is not the molecular basis of stabilization observed.

The microsomal epoxide hydrolase has a single membrane signal anchor sequence which is dispensable for the catalytic activity of this protein

The microsomal epoxide hydrolase (mEH) catalyses the hydrolysis of reactive epoxides which are formed by the action of cytochromes P-450 from xenobiotics. In addition it has been suggested that mEH might mediate the transport of bile acids. For the mEH it has been shown that it is co-translationally inserted into the endoplasmic reticulum. Here we demonstrate that the N-terminal 20 amino acid residues of this protein serve as its single membrane anchor signal sequence and that the function of this sequence can also be supplied by a cytochrome P-450 (CYP2B1) anchor signal sequence. The evidence supporting this conclusion is as follows: (i) the rat mEH and a CYP2B1-mEH fusion protein, in which the CYP2B1 membrane anchor signal sequence replaced the N-terminal 20 amino acid residues of mEH, was co-translationally inserted into dog pancreas microsomes in a cell-free translation system, whereas a truncated epoxide hydrolase with a deletion of the 20 N-terminal amino acid residues was not co-translationally inserted. (ii) The mEH and the CYP2B1-mEH fusion protein, but not the truncated epoxide hydrolase, were anchored in microsomes in a cell-free translation system and in membrane fractions derived from fibroblasts which expressed these proteins heterologously. These fibroblasts were also used to evaluate the significance of the mEH membrane anchor for the catalytic activity of mEH. The mEH, the truncated mEH and the CYP-EH fusion protein were found to be enzymically active. This result shows that the membrane anchor signal sequence of mEH is dispensable for the catalytic activity of this protein. However, truncated mEH was only expressed at low levels, which might indicate that this protein is unstable.

Liver mitochondrial cytochrome P450 CYP27 and recombinant-expressed human CYP27 catalyze 1 alpha-hydroxylation of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3

A cytochrome P450 catalyzing 1 alpha-hydroxylation of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 was purified from pig liver mitochondria. It also catalyzed 27-hydroxylation of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and 25-hydroxylation of vitamin D3. The ratio between the 1 alpha-, 27-, and 25-hydroxylase activities remained essentially constant during the purification. Substrates for sterol 27-hydroxylase CYP27 inhibited and a monoclonal antibody raised against CYP27 immunoprecipitated the 1 alpha-, 27-, and 25-hydroxylase activities. Apparently homogeneous preparations of CYP27 from pig and rabbit liver mitochondria catalyzed 1 alpha-hydroxylation. Human liver mitochondrial CYP27 was expressed from its cDNA in Escherichia coli. The nucleotide sequence encoding the N terminus of CYP27 was modified in the first eight codons to achieve expression in E. coli. The purified recombinant-expressed CYP27 reconstituted with the electron-transferring system of adrenal mitochondria catalyzed 1 alpha-hydroxylation of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3. Expression of unmodified CYP27 cDNA in simian COS cells confirmed the 1 alpha-hydroxylase activity toward 25-hydroxyvitamin D3.

Heterologous systems for expression of mammalian sulfotransferases

This paper describes the use of both mammalian and bacterial expression systems as tools to study the structural and functional relationships of proteins encoded by cDNAs to both rat and human aryl sulfotransferases. In particular, we describe the use of the mammalian COS cell system for functional expression studies, and the use of Escherichia coli for the expression and purification of a sulfotransferase fusion protein suitable as an antigen for the generation of sulfotransferase antibodies.

Mammalian PC-12 cell genetically engineered for human cytochrome P450 2E1 expression

The stable expression of the human cytochrome CYP2E1 (P450 alcohol) was performed in the mammalian cell line PC-12. This cell line expressed cytochrome b5 (58 +/- 12 pmol/mg microsomal protein vs 528 +/- 80 pmol/mg in microsomal human liver) and a high level of NADPH: cytochrome P450 reductase (140 +/- 20 nmol.min-1.mg microsomal protein-1 vs 68 +/- 48 nmol.min-1.mg-1 in microsomal human liver). An expression plasmid was constructed using the cDNA for the human CYP2E1 mRNA and the Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) promoter. This plasmid was co-transfected with the plasmid RSVneo into PC-12 cells. Clones were selected for resistance to the neomycin analog, G418, and then screened for expression of the CYP2E1 isozyme by testing for 6-hydroxylation of chlorzoxazone, a specific substrate for CYP2E1. Expression of CYP2E1 was confirmed in one clone, DB-7, by Western blot analysis and by measurement of monooxygenase activities which were not detectable in PC-12 cells. Chlorzoxazone 6-hydroxylation, n-butanol oxidation and dimethylnitrosamine N-demethylation were localized in microsomes (62, 60 and 63 pmol.min-1.mg microsomal protein-1, respectively) and were inhibited by carbon monoxide and diethyldithiocarbamate, both inhibitors of P450 enzymes. Although the level of the enzyme activities was about a tenth of that measured in human liver microsomes, CYP2E1 expressed in DB-7 cells has catalytic competence similar to human liver CYP2E1. DB-7 cells metabolized acetaminophen and this metabolic activation was shown to be toxic to these cells by release of lactate dehydrogenase. Construction of recombinant cell lines expressing CYP2E1 provides a useful tool for studying the catalytic properties of this enzyme and the consequent cytotoxic effects of substrates metabolized by this enzyme.

Expression of a catalytically active human cytochrome P-4502E1 in Escherichia coli

The cDNA coding for human cytochrome P-4502E1 has been expressed in Escherichia coli by placing it under the control of the isopropylthiogalactoside inducible trc promoter. Production of P4502E1 was demonstrated by immunoblots and by catalytic activity with dimethylnitrosamine as substrate. Modifications which favor expression in E. coli were made within the first seven codons. This resulted in approx. a 2- to 2.5-fold increase in P4502E1 isolated from the bacterial membranes as detected by immunoblots and catalytic activity. CO-reduced difference spectra of the modified P4502E1 revealed a peak at 452 nm, which is characteristic of hepatic P4502E1, and a molecular weight of 54 kDa. A partially purified preparation of recombinant P450 protein was active with dimethylnitrosamine, a substrate specific for this isozyme, when reconstituted with purified rat liver NADPH-cytochrome P-450 oxidoreductase. This activity was enhanced in the presence of cytochrome b5 and inhibited by the addition of antibody to the P4502E1 purified from pyrazole-treated rats. E. coli were capable of oxidizing p-nitrophenol when transformed with vector containing the human P4502E1 cDNA but not with vector alone. This in vivo metabolism of p-nitrophenol was increased 2-fold when the modified P4502E1 cDNA was used, which corresponds to the increase in P4502E1 content. Expression of human P4502E1 in E. coli appears to be an attractive system for producing large amounts of this isozyme, and for studies on the toxicological properties and structure-function relationship of the human P4502E1.

High-level expression in Escherichia coli of enzymatically active fusion proteins containing the domains of mammalian cytochromes P450 and NADPH-P450 reductase flavoprotein

This report describes the properties of two mammalian cytochromes P450 that have been expressed at high levels in Escherichia coli as enzymatically active fusion proteins containing the flavoprotein domain of rat NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase (EC 1.6.2.4). Fusion proteins were prepared by engineering the cDNAs for the steroid-metabolizing bovine adrenal P450 17A with the cDNA for rat liver NADPH-P450 reductase with the introduction of a Ser-Thr linker to give a protein we have named rF450[mBov17A/mRatOR]L1. Similarly, the cDNA for the omega-hydroxylase of rat liver (P450 4A1) was linked with the cDNA for rat liver NADPH-P450 reductase to give rF450[mRat4A1/mRatOR]L1. A procedure involving disruption of transformed E. coli by sonication, isolation of membranes by differential centrifugation, solubilization with detergent, and affinity chromatography provided significant amounts of purified fusion proteins of approximately 118 kDa. The purified fusion proteins had turnover numbers for the metabolism of steroids (rF450[mBov17A/mRatOR]L1) or fatty acids (rF450[mRat4A1/mRatOR]L1) ranging from 10/min to 30/min in the absence of added phospholipid. Addition of purified rat liver cytochrome b5 stimulated the 17,20-lyase reaction for the conversion of 17-hydroxypregnenolone to dehydroepiandrosterone, and addition of purified rat NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase enhanced the formation of omega--1 metabolites from lauric and arachidonic acids. NADPH oxidation was tightly coupled to substrate hydroxylation with the purified fusion proteins.

Catalytic activities of human debrisoquine 4-hydroxylase cytochrome P450 (CYP2D6) expressed in yeast

A 1.57kb BamH1 fragment containing a full-length human debrisoquine 4-hydroxylase cytochrome P450 (CYP2D6) cDNA was inserted into the BglII site of the yeast expression plasmid pMA91 and the resulting recombinant plasmid, PELT1, introduced into Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain AH22. Microsomes prepared from AH22/pELT1 cells gave an absorption maximum at 448 nm and a P450 content of 67 +/- 31 pmol/mg of microsomal protein. No P450 was detectable in microsomes prepared from AH22/pMA91 control cells. A western blot of microsomes prepared from yeast transformed with pELT1 were probed with a monoclonal antibody to CYP2D6 and revealed a strong band with a molecular mass consistent with that of CYP2D6 from human liver microsomes. No corresponding band was observed with microsomes from control yeast transformed with pMA91 alone. Microsomes from AH22/pELT cells showed catalytic activity towards metoprolol (alpha-hydroxylation and O-demethylation, 0.17 and 0.78 nmol/mg protein/h, respectively); and towards sparteine (2- and 5-dehydrogenation, 1.82 and 0.59 nmol/mg protein/h, respectively). The inhibition of metoprolol metabolism by quinidine (Qd) was 200 times more potent than that of quinine (Qn), both for alpha-hydroxylation (Qd IC50 = 0.05 microM; Qn IC50 = 4 microM) and O-demethylation (Qd IC50 = 0.05 microM; Qn IC50 = 4 microM). Negligible metabolism of tolbutamide and S-mephenytoin, substrates of the 2C sub-family, and of p-nitrophenol, a substrate of CYP2E1, was detected, although a trace of the N-deethylated metabolite of lignocaine, thought to be metabolised by CYP3A4, was detected with microsomes from CYP2D6-expressing yeast cells. The results indicate that yeast cells containing human CYP2D6 cDNA express a functionally active form of the enzyme, the immunochemical and catalytic properties of which are consistent with those of human liver.