Site of participation of cytochrome b5 in hepatic microsomal fatty acid chain elongation. Electron input in the first reduction step

Co-exposure health risk of benzo[a]pyrene with aromatic VOCs: Monoaromatic hydrocarbons inhibit the glucuronidation of benzo[a]pyrene

Occupational workers and residents near petrochemical industry facilities are exposed to multiple contaminants on a daily basis. However, little is known about the co-exposure effects of different pollutants based on biotransformation. The study examined benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), a representative polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon related to the petrochemical industry, to investigate changes in toxicity and co-exposure mechanism associated with different monoaromatic hydrocarbons (MAHs). A central composite design method was used to simulate site co-exposure scenarios to reveal biotransformation of BaP when co-exposed with benzene, toluene, chlorobenzene, or nitrobenzene in microsome systems. BaP metabolism depended on MAH concentration, and association of MAH with microsome concentration/incubation time. Particularly, MAH co-exposure negatively affected BaP glucuronidation, an important phase Ⅱ detoxification process. BaP metabolite intensities decreased to 43%-80% for OH-BaP-G, and 32%-71% for diOH-BaP-G in co-exposure system with MAHs, compared with control group. Furthermore, glucuronidation was affected by competitive and time-dependent inhibition. Co-exposure significantly decreased gene expression of UGT 1A10 and BCRP/ABCG2 in HepG2 cells, which are involved in BaP detoxification through metabolism and transmembrane transportation. Therefore, human co-exposure to multiple contaminants may deteriorate toxic effects of these chemicals by disturbing metabolic pathways. This study provides a reference for assessing toxic effects and co-exposure risks of pollutants.

Human cytochrome b5 requires residues E48 and E49 to stimulate the 17,20-lyase activity of cytochrome P450c17

Cytochrome P450c17 (CYP17) catalyzes both the 17alpha-hydroxylase and 17,20-lyase reactions in human steroid biosynthesis. Cytochrome b5 (b5) stimulates the rate of the 17,20-lyase reaction 10-fold with little influence on 17alpha-hydroxylase activity. Studies with apo-b5 suggest that stimulation of 17,20-lyase activity results from an allosteric action on the hCYP17 x POR complex, rather than electron transfer by b5. We hypothesized that specific residues on b5 interact with the hCYP17 x POR complex and that targeted mutation of surface-exposed residues might identify b5 residues critical for stimulating 17,20-lyase activity. We constructed, expressed, and purified 14 single plus 3 double b5 mutations and assayed their ability to stimulate 17,20-lyase activity. Most mutations did not alter the capacity of b5 to stimulate 17,20-lyase activity or appeared to modestly alter the affinity of b5 for the hCYP17 x POR complex. In contrast, mutation of E48, E49, or R52 reduced the maximal stimulation of 17,20-lyase activity. In particular, b5 mutation E48G + E49G lost over 95% of the capacity to stimulate 17,20-lyase activity, yet this mutation retained normal electron transfer properties. In addition, mutation E48G + E49G did not impair stimulation of 17,20-lyase activity by wild-type b5, suggesting that the mutation binds poorly to the site of the hCYP17 x POR complex occupied by b5. These data suggest that a specific allosteric binding site on b5, which includes residues E48, E49, and possibly R52, mediates the stimulation of 17,20-lyase activity.

Reduction of cytochrome b5 by NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase

The reduction of mammalian cytochrome b5 (b5) by NADPH-cytochrome P450 (P450) reductase is involved in a number of biological reactions. The kinetics of the process have received limited consideration previously, and a combination of pre-steady-state (stopped-flow) and steady-state approaches was used to investigate the mechanism of b5 reduction. In the absence of detergent or lipid, a reductase-b5 complex is formed and rearranges slowly to an active form. Electron transfer to b5 is rapid within this complex (>30 s(-1) at 23 degrees C), as fast as to cytochrome c. With excess b5 present, a burst of reduction is observed, consistent with rapid electron transfer to one or two b5 molecules per reductase, followed by a subsequent rate-limiting event. In detergent vesicles, the reductase and b5 interact rapidly but electron transfer is slower (approximately 3 s(-1) at 23 degrees C). Experiments with dimyristyl lecithin vesicles yielded results intermediate between the non-vesicle and detergent systems. These steady-state and pre-steady-state kinetics provide views of the different natures of the reduction of b5 by the reductase in the absence and presence of vesicles. Without vesicles, the encounter of the reductase and b5 is rapid, followed by a slow reorganization of the initial complex (approximately 0.07 s(-1)), very fast reduction, and dissociation. In vesicles, encounter is rapid and the slow step (approximately 3 s(-1)) is reduction within a complex less favorable for reduction than in the non-vesicle systems.

Cytochrome b5, its functions, structure and membrane topology

The first part of the present communication reviews recent advances in our understanding of the known physiological functions of cytochrome b5. In addition, one section is devoted to a description of a recently discovered function of cytochrome b5, namely its involvement in the synthesis of the oncofetal antigen N-glycolylneuraminic acid. The second part of the article summarizes site-directed mutagenesis studies, primarily conducted in the author's laboratory, in both the catalytic heme-binding and membrane-binding domain of cytochrome b5. These studies have shown that: 1) the membrane binding domain of cytochrome b5 spans the bilayer; 2) cytochrome b5 lacking 19 COOH-terminal amino acids does not bind to membrane bilayers; and 3) specific amino acids in the membrane binding domain have been mutated and shown not to be essential for the function of cytochrome b5 with its redox partners.

A model system for studying membrane biogenesis. Overexpression of cytochrome b5 in yeast results in marked proliferation of the intracellular membrane

Cytochrome b5 is an amphipathic microsomal protein that is anchored to the endoplasmic reticulum by a single hydrophobic transmembrane alpha-helix located near the carboxyl terminus of the protein. In yeast, cytochrome b5 provides electrons for fatty acid desaturation and ergosterol biosynthesis. High level expression of cytochrome b5 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae was achieved using the yeast metallothionein promoter and a synthetic cytochrome b5 gene. In order to accommodate the markedly increased amount of the membrane-bound cytochrome b5, the yeast cell proliferated its nuclear membrane. As many as 20 pairs of stacked membranes could be observed to partially encircle the nucleus. This morphological arrangement of membrane around the nucleus is known as a karmella. In an effort to understand which part of the cytochrome b5 molecule, i.e. the membrane anchor or the soluble heme domain, which is competent in electron transfer, provided the signal for the de novo membrane biogenesis, a series of studies, including site-directed mutagenesis, was undertaken. The results of these experiments demonstrated that the inactive hemedeficient apo form of the membrane-bound protein stimulates membrane proliferation to the same extent as the holo wild-type protein, whereas cytosolic forms of cytochrome b5 did not induce membrane synthesis. These data demonstrate that membrane proliferation is a consequence of the cell's ability to monitor the level of membrane proteins and to compensate for alterations in these levels rather than the result of the ability of the extra cytochrome b5 to catalyze synthesis of extra lipid that had to be accommodated in new membrane. Site-directed mutagenesis studies of the membrane binding domain of cytochrome b5 provided additional clues about the nature of the signal for membrane proliferation. Replacement of the membrane anchor by a non-physiological nonsense sequence of 22 leucines gave rise to a mutant protein that triggered membrane biosynthesis. The conclusion from these experiments is clear; the signal for membrane proliferation does not reside in some specific amino acid sequence but instead in the hydrophobic properties of the proliferant. Interestingly, these membranes are somewhat diminished in quantity and have a slightly altered morphology compared to those induced by the wild-type protein. It was also observed that disruption of the putative alpha helix of the membrane anchor by an Ala116Pro mutation, which gives rise to two sequential prolines at positions 115 and 116 results in a protein with diminished capacity to induce membrane formation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

The fatty acid chain elongation system of mammalian endoplasmic reticulum

Much has been learned about FACES of the endoplasmic reticulum since its discovery in the early 1960s. FACES consists of four component reactions, requires the fatty acid to be activated in the form of a CoA derivative, utilizes reducing equivalents in the form of NADH or NADPH, is induced by a fat-free diet, resides on the cytoplasmic surface of the endoplasmic reticulum, appears to function in concert with the desaturase system and appears to exist in multiple forms (either multiple condensing enzymes connected to a single pathway or multiple pathways). FACES has been found in all tissues investigated, namely, liver, brain, kidney, lung, adrenals, retina, testis, small intestine, blood cells (lymphocytes and neutrophils) and fibroblasts, with one exception--the heart has no measurable activity. Yet, much more needs to be learned. The critical, inducible and rate-limiting condensing enzyme has resisted solubilization and purification; the purification of the other components has met with limited success. We know nothing about the site of synthesis of each component of FACES. How is each component enzyme integrated into the endoplasmic reticulum membrane? Is there a single mRNA directing synthesis of all four components or are there four separate mRNAs? How are elongation and desaturation coordinated? What is (are) the physiological regulator(s) of FACES--ADP, AMP, IP3, G-proteins, phosphorylation, CoA, Ca2+, cAMP, none of these? The molecular biology of FACES is only in the fetal stage of development. We are only scratching the surface--it is an undiscovered country.

Evidence against cytochrome b5 involvement in liver microsomal fatty acid elongation

This study provides strong evidence against cytochrome b5 participation in the first reduction step-beta-ketoreduction-of rat liver microsomal fatty acid chain elongation. Several lines of evidence led to this conclusion: (a) beta-ketoreductase was not inducible by diet conditions since its activity was the same in microsomes from fasted rats and in rats fed a fat-free diet. Consequently, its activity was appreciable in microsomes from fasted rats. Nevertheless, cytochrome b5 reoxidation rate was not stimulated by adding beta-ketopalmitoyl-CoA to the latter microsomes. This suggests that it is not the activated beta-ketoreductase which stimulates the cytochrome b5 reoxidation rate, but another electron acceptor. (b) The delta 9-desaturase, present in microsomes from rats fed a fat-free diet, was totally inhibited by 4 mM KCN; beta-ketopalmitoyl-CoA or malonyl-CoA stimulated the reoxidation rate of cytochrome b5 but this increase was also inhibited by 4 mM KCN. This suggests that delta 9-desaturase is involved in the stimulation and shows that any inhibitor of delta 9-desaturase, including cytochrome b5 antibodies, may induce elongation inhibition. (c) NADH-dependent beta-ketoreductase activity was partially purified from Triton X-100 solubilised microsomes, in a fraction essentially free of cytochrome b5. Furthermore, when the fraction containing cytochrome b5 and NADH-cytochrome-b5 reductase was added to the fraction containing beta-ketoreductase activity, no increase in beta-ketoreductase activity was observed. Stearoyl-CoA desaturase activity which is also present in microsomes from rats fed a fat-free diet led to the results which have been misinterpreted in the conclusions of previous studies.

De novo fatty acid synthesis mediated by acyl-carrier protein in Neurospora crassa mitochondria

The acyl-carrier protein (ACP) in Neurospora crassa mitochondria [Brody, S. & Mikolajczyk, S. (1988) Eur. J. Biochem. 173, 353-359] mediated a cerulenin-sensitive, de novo fatty acid synthesis independent of the fatty acid synthetase complex present in the cytoplasm. Incubation of mitochondria with [2-14C]malonate labeled only the ACP as indicated by autoradiography after SDS/PAGE. Under these in vitro conditions ATP was required for the initial acyl-ACP formation, but further elongation required either magnesium or the direct addition of NADPH. Labeled hexanoic (6:0) and caprylic (8:0) acids were detected as intermediates in the pathway, as well as hydroxymyristic acid. All of the intermediates, and the eventual product of the reaction, myristic acid (14:0), were released from the ACP by alkaline treatment. Pulse-chase experiments demonstrated the incorporation on to, and release of label from, the ACP. In vivo labeling of ACP with [2-14C]malonate was also detected and the label was in the form of hydroxymyristic acid. This newly discovered pathway is discussed from the standpoint of its possible role in providing acyl chains for mitochondrial lipids.

Evidence for two separate beta-ketoacyl CoA reductase components of the hepatic microsomal fatty acid chain elongation system in the rat

The hepatic microsomal fatty acid chain elongation system can utilize either NADPH or NADH. Elongation activity, measured as the rate of malonyl CoA incorporation into palmitoyl CoA, was enhanced by a fat-free diet and by bovine serum albumin (BSA) when either cofactor was employed. When the intermediate products were determined, it was observed that in the presence of BSA and NADPH, the predominant product was the saturated elongated fatty acid, whereas in the presence of BSA and NADH, the major intermediate was the beta-ketoacyl derivative. Employing beta-ketostearoyl CoA as substrate, BSA markedly inhibited NADH-supported beta-ketoacyl CoA reductase activity and stimulated NADPH-supported activity. Furthermore, the sum of the NADH-dependent and NADPH-dependent beta-ketoreductase activities approximated the activity obtained when both cofactors were present in the incubation medium, suggesting the existence of two beta-ketoacyl CoA reductases, one using NADH and the other NADPH.

Involvement of cytochrome b5 in the cytotoxic response to Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide

Cytotoxic lesions, induced by Gram-negative lipopolysaccharides (LPS), occur mainly in liver where the microsomal compartment of hepatocytes is involved in the detoxification mechanisms as well as in the biosynthesis of different active metabolites. The alterations induced by LPS from E. coli 0111:B4 on cytochrome b5 and its correlation with cytochrome P450, have been studied using an in vivo reversible endotoxic shock model and 24 h non-replicative hepatocyte monolayers. Results show that cytochrome b5 is directly affected by LPS that induces also a membrane damage with an active release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). The increase of cytochrome b5 levels may enhance the efficiency of the electron transport, thus facilitating the cytochrome P450-associate oxidations and reactions involved in the repair mechanisms of membranes.

Action of Ebselen on rat hepatic microsomal enzyme-catalyzed fatty acid chain elongation, desaturation, and drug biotransformation

In the previous study, the organoselenium-containing anti-inflammatory agent, Ebselen, was found to disrupt both hepatic microsomal NADH- and NADPH-dependent electron transport chains. In the current investigation, we focus on the action of Ebselen on three separate metabolic reactions, namely, fatty acid chain elongation, desaturation, and drug biotransformation, which utilize reducing equivalents via these microsomal electron transport pathways. Both NADH-dependent and NADPH-dependent chain elongation reactions showed (i) that the condensation step was inhibited by Ebselen; all three substrates, palmitoyl CoA (16:0), palmitoleoyl CoA (16:1), and gamma-linolenyl CoA (18:3), were differentially affected by Ebselen; for example, the apparent Ki's of Ebselen for the condensation of 16:0, 16:1, and 18:3 in the absence of bovine serum albumin (BSA) preincubation were 7, 14, and 34 microM, and those in the presence of BSA preincubation were 35, 62, and 150 microM, respectively, supporting earlier data for multiple condensing enzymes; (ii) that the beta-ketoacyl CoA reductase-catalyzed reaction step which appears to receive electrons, at least in part, from the cytochrome b5 system, was also markedly inhibited by varying Ebselen concentrations; and (iii) that similar results were obtained with the dehydrase and the enoyl CoA reductase. Hence, each of the four component steps was significantly inhibited by Ebselen. Another important fatty acid biotransformation reaction, delta 9 desaturation of stearoyl CoA to oleoyl CoA, was significantly inhibited (90%) by 30 microM Ebselen. This effect appeared to be directly related to the NADH-dependent electron transport chain rather than to a direct action on the desaturase enzyme. Last, Ebselen also inhibited both aminopyrine and benzphetamine N-demethylations, two cytochrome P450-catalyzed reactions, in untreated rats, in rats on a high carbohydrate diet, and in phenobarbital-treated rats.

Infrared spectroscopic analysis of salt bridge formation between cytochrome b5 and cytochrome c

The infrared spectrum of a solution of a protein contains bands due to both the peptide backbone and the amino acid side chains. Generally, the bands due to the peptide backbone, between 1700 and 1600 cm-1, are analyzed to determine the secondary structure of the protein; the bands due to the amino acid side chains, between 1600 and 1500 cm-1, are largely ignored. When cytochrome b5 is mixed with cytochrome c, under conditions that favor ionic complex formation, changes are seen in protein secondary structure and also in a band at 1562 cm-1. The band at 1562 cm-1 is due to the side-chain carboxyl of Glu residues, rather than those of Asp residues that show a band at 1585 cm-1, and the changes in the band at 1562 cm-1 indicate that when the two proteins interact, three ionized carboxyl groups of Glu become involved in salt bridge formation. This result is identical with that obtained by previous theoretical studies and suggests that infrared spectroscopy may be a rapid and quantitative method for the study of ionic interactions between proteins.

Isoprenoid biosynthesis in multiple sclerosis, II. A possible role of NADPH

Genetic predisposition in MS, influence of fat consumption on the disease, and excretion of lipid metabolites in urine led us to investigate isoprenoid metabolism in this disease. Ubiquinone concentration and biosynthesis was normal in lymphocytes. Cytochrome oxidase, which contains an isoprenoid side chain, was normal in activity. Cholesterol biosynthesis from acetate was found to be elevated in MS, and so was triglyceride biosynthesis. Increased biosynthesis may offer a very simple explanation to all the metabolites excreted (3-methylglutaconic acid, 2-hydroxy-2-methyl-3-butenoic acid and adipic acid). Increased biosynthesis may be caused by an elevated NADPH/NADP ratio, since such an elevation may also account for many other biochemical anomalies in MS. Elevated NADPH/NADP ratio may be of direct importance in the pathogenesis.

Analysis of the condensation step in elongation of very-long-chain saturated and tetraenoic fatty acyl-CoAs in swine cerebral microsomes

The condensation products in the elongation of exogenous arachidoyl-CoA (20:0-CoA) and endogenous fatty acids in adult swine cerebral microsomes were isolated and purified by using HPLC and a radioanalyzer. A saponification product of the condensation reaction of 20:0-CoA with malonyl-CoA was identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry as 2-heneicosanone (21:0-2-one). The endogenous substrates (16:0-CoA and 20:4-CoA) were likewise identified as 2-heptadecanone (17:0-2-one) and 2-heneicosatetraenone (21:4-2-one). Quantitative analysis of condensation activity was performed using electron-impact mass fragmentography. A characteristic fragment ion (m/z 59) of 21:0-2-one was used to estimate the condensation activity for 20:0-CoA, and fragment ions at m/z 58 and 80 were monitored for the endogenous substrates (16:0-CoA and 20:4-CoA, respectively). The molecular ion for each product was detected using chemical ionization. A comparative study of the condensation of 20:0-CoA and endogenous substrates was carried out for microsomes obtained from white matter, gray matter, and isolated neuronal cells; the activity for 20:0-CoA was significantly lower in gray matter and neuronal cells than in white matter, whereas the activity for endogenous substrates was almost the same for microsomes obtained from gray and white matter. This result suggests that the condensation enzyme for 20:0-CoA may be different from that for endogenous 16:0-CoA or 20:4-CoA in swine cerebral microsomes.

Effect of the peroxisomal proliferator di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate on component reactions of the rat hepatic microsomal fatty acid chain elongation system and on other hepatic lipogenic enzymes

The feeding of 2% di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) to rats increased the hepatic microsomal elongation of palmitoyl-CoA by about twofold, while those of palmitoleoyl-CoA and gamma-linolenoyl-CoA decreased to 83 and 63%, respectively, of the control values. When component reactions of the elongation pathway were measured, it was observed that only the activity of condensing enzyme was increased by twofold, while those of beta-ketostearoyl-CoA reductase, beta-hydroxypalmitoyl-CoA dehydrase, and trans-2-hexadecenoyl-CoA reductases were not affected. Furthermore, the time course for induction of both condensation and elongation of palmitoyl-CoA was similar. In vitro addition of DEHP had no effect on either condensation or elongation. Thus, these results indicate that the peroxisomal proliferator induces only the condensing enzyme which is the regulatory and rate-limiting step of elongation sequence. The DEHP treatment also markedly enhanced the cytosolic NADPH-generating activities of glucose-6-PO4 dehydrogenase (2.2-fold) and malic enzyme (7.3-fold). Unexpectedly, the activities of fatty acid synthetase and citrate cleavage enzyme were unaffected. These results are discussed in light of the fact that these lipogenic enzymes are coordinately induced by diet or hormones.

Isolation of rat liver microsomal short-chain beta-ketoacyl-coenzyme A reductase and trans-2-enoyl-coenzyme A hydratase: evidence for more than one hydratase

An enzyme preparation (IIIB) isolated from liver microsomes of untreated male rats was found to contain two activities--short-chain trans-2-enoyl-CoA hydratase and beta-ketoacyl-CoA reductase. The hydratase was purified more than 1000-fold, while the reductase activity was purified over 600-fold. Employing sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, a single band with a molecular weight of 76,000 was observed. Although attempts to separate these two activities have failed, it remains to be established whether the final preparation contains a single enzyme with two activities or two separate enzymes. The hydratase was most active toward crotonyl-CoA, followed by trans-2-hexenoyl-CoA (6:1) and -octenoyl-CoA (8:1); the enzyme was essentially inactive toward substrates containing more than eight carbon atoms. The Vmax for crotonyl-CoA was 2117 mumol/min/mg protein, while the Km was 59 microM. Using acetoacetyl-CoA as substrate, the Vmax for the beta-ketoacyl-CoA reductase was over 60 mumol/min/mg protein and the Km was 37 microM; the Vmax for beta-ketopalmitoyl-CoA was only 15% of that observed with acetoacetyl-CoA, although the Km was 6 microM. During the course of purification, a second short-chain hydratase was discovered (fraction IVA); unlike IIIB, this fraction catalyzed the hydration of 4:1, 6:1, and 8:1 at similar rates. The partially purified preparation yielded maximal activity with 8:1 CoA (apparent Vmax 35 mumol/min/mg), followed by 6:1 CoA, 4:1 CoA, and 10:1 CoA; longer chain CoA's were relatively poor substrates, with trans-2-hexadecenoyl CoA about 0.1 as active as 8:1 CoA. On SDS-gels, fraction IVA contained four bands, all of which were below 60,000 Mr. Proteases, such as trypsin, chymotrypsin, and subtilisin, were found to completely inactivate both enzyme fractions.

Mechanism of interaction between cytochromes P-450 RLM5 and b5: evidence for an electrostatic mechanism involving cytochrome b5 heme propionate groups

The role of cytochrome b5 heme propionate groups in the functional interactions between cytochromes P-450 RLM5 and b5 has been investigated by comparing the capacity of RLM5 to interact with both native b5 and a b5 derivative in which the native heme was replaced with ferric protoporphyrin IX dimethyl ester (DME-b5). Both forms of b5 interacted with RLM5 causing an increase in the RLM5 spin state from 28 to 68% high-spin RLM5 at saturation, as judged using uv-visible spectrophotometry. However, DME-b5 exhibited a 7-fold weaker affinity for RLM5. The apparent dissociation constant (Kd) for the interaction between RLM5 and b5 was also shown to be a strong function of ionic strength, in a manner consistent with the involvement of electrostatic attraction in complex formation. Reconstitution of b5 into an RLM5-dependent monooxygenase system stimulated the p-nitroanisole demethylase rate about 25-fold and 7-ethoxycoumarin deethylase about 6-fold. DME-b5, however, produced only 30% of the stimulation of RLM5-dependent turnover of p-nitroanisole observed at equivalent concentrations of native b5 without a change in Km. With 7-ethoxycoumarin, turnover was 50% diminished. The diminished capacity of DME-b5 to stimulate RLM5-dependent substrate turnover was shown not to be due to impairment of electron flow between NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase and DME-b5, since the Km of reductase for DME-b5 is 2.5-fold lower, and the Vmax is actually increased, but rather to an impairment of some aspect of functional interaction between the DME-b5 and RLM5. The data show that complex formation between cytochrome P-450 and b5 involves electrostatic attraction mediated in part by cytochrome b5 heme propionate groups.

Hepatic subcellular distribution of short-chain beta-ketoacyl coenzyme A reductase and trans-2-enoyl coenzyme A hydratase: 25- to 50-fold stimulation of microsomal activities by the peroxisome proliferator, di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate

The present study demonstrates unequivocally the existence of short-chain trans-2-enoyl coenzyme A (CoA) hydratase and beta-ketoacyl CoA reductase activities in the endoplasmic reticulum of rat liver. Subcellular fractionation indicated that all four fractions, namely, mitochondrial, peroxisomal, microsomal, and cytosolic contained significant hydratase activity when crotonyl CoA was employed as the substrate. In the untreated rat, based on marker enzymes and heat treatment, the hydratase activity, expressed as mumol/min/g liver, wet weight, in each fraction was: mitochondria, 684; peroxisomes, 108; microsomes, 36; and cytosol, 60. Following di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) treatment (2% (v/w) for 8 days), there was only a 20% increase in mitochondrial activity; in contrast, peroxisomal hydratase activity was stimulated 33-fold, while microsomal and cytosolic activities were enhanced 58- and 14-fold respectively. A portion of the cytosolic hydratase activity can be attributed to the component of the fatty acid synthase complex. Although more than 70% of the total hydratase activity was associated with the mitochondrial fraction in the untreated rat, DEHP treatment markedly altered this pattern; only 11% of the total hydratase activity was present in the mitochondrial fraction, while 49 and 29% resided in the peroxisomal and microsomal fractions, respectively. In addition, all four subcellular fractions contained the short-chain NADH-specific beta-ketoacyl CoA (acetoacetyl CoA) reductase activity. Again, in the untreated animal, reductase activity was predominant in the mitochondrial fraction; following DEHP treatment, there was marked stimulation in the peroxisomal, microsomal, and cytosolic fractions, while the activity in the mitochondrial fraction increased by only 39%. Hence, it can be concluded that both reductase and hydratase activities exist in the endoplasmic reticulum in addition to mitochondria, peroxisomes, and soluble cytoplasm.

Solubilization and purification of hepatic microsomal trans-2-enoyl-CoA reductase: evidence for the existence of a second long-chain enoyl-CoA reductase

The present study describes the solubilization and purification of a NADPH-specific trans-2-enoyl-CoA reductase from rat liver microsomes. The final preparation was purified to near homogeneity and had a minimal molecular weight of 51,000 +/- 2,000, as judged by sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. This enzyme specifically used NADPH, as cofactor, and was chromatographically (2',5'-ADP-agarose) separated from another trans-2-enoyl-CoA reductase which utilized either NADH or NADPH as cofactor. The NADPH-specific trans-2-enoyl-CoA reductase catalyzed the reduction of trans-2-enoyl-CoAs from 4 to 16 carbon units. The Km values for crotonyl-CoA, trans-2-hexenoyl-CoA, and trans-2-hexadecenoyl-CoA were 20, 0.5, and 1.0 microM, while the Km value for NADPH was 10 microM. Although N-ethylmaleimide, heat treatment, and limited proteolysis with trypsin affected the reduction of short-chain (C4) and long-chain (C16) substrates equally, and in spite of the fact that a single protein band was observed on SDS-gels, at the present time one cannot state unequivocally that the purified preparation contained only one reductase. trans-2-Hexenoyl-CoA, for example, did not inhibit the reduction of trans-2-hexadecenoyl-CoA to palmitoyl-CoA and trans-2-decenoyl-CoA to decanoyl-CoA whereas it strongly inhibited the conversion of crotonyl-CoA to butyryl-CoA. The potential implications of this finding are discussed. Finally, the reductase preparation was shown not to contain either heme, nonheme iron, or a flavin prosthetic group.