ω-Oxidation of Fatty Acids

Genomic analysis of the interactions between social environment and social communication systems in honey bees (Apis mellifera)

Social context is often a primary regulator of social behavior, but genes that affect or are affected by social context have rarely been investigated. In social insects, caste specific pheromones are key modulators of social behavior, e.g., in honey bees the queen mandibular gland (MG) pheromone mediates reproductive dominance, its absence prompting ovary activation and queen pheromone production in workers. Here, we investigate the effect of social environment on genome-wide expression patterns in the MG, to determine how social context modulates expression of genes that, in turn alter social environment. We used microarrays to examine the MGs of virgin and mated queens, and queenright (QR) and queenless (QL) workers with or without activated ovaries. Approximately 2554 transcripts were significantly differentially expressed among these groups, with caste and social context being the main regulators of gene expression patterns, while physiological state (ovary activation) only minimally affecting gene expression. Thus, social context strongly regulates expression of genes, which, in turn, shape social environment. Among these, 25 genes that are putatively involved in caste selective production of the fatty-acid derived MG pheromone were differentially expressed in queens and workers. These genes whose functions correspond with enzymatic or transport processes emphasize the occurrence of disparate pheromone biosynthetic pathways for queens and workers, adding another dimension regarding the regulation of these important pheromones. Gene ontology analysis also revealed genes of different functional categories whose expression was impacted by caste or by the social environment, suggesting that the MG has broader functions than pheromone biosynthesis.

Applications of stereospecifically-labeled Fatty acids in oxygenase and desaturase biochemistry

Oxygenation and desaturation reactions are inherently associated with the abstraction of a hydrogen from the fatty acid substrate. Since the first published application in 1965, stereospecific placement of a labeled hydrogen isotope (deuterium or tritium) at the reacting carbons has proven a highly effective strategy for investigating the chemical mechanisms catalyzed by lipoxygenases, hemoprotein fatty acid dioxygenases including cyclooxygenases, cytochromes P450, and also the desaturases and isomerases. This review presents a synopsis of all published studies through 2010 on the synthesis and use of stereospecifically labeled fatty acids (71 references), and highlights some of the mechanistic insights gained by application of stereospecifically labeled fatty acids.

Structural control of cytochrome P450-catalyzed ω-hydroxylation

The regiospecific or preferential ω-hydroxylation of hydrocarbon chains is thermodynamically disfavored because the ease of C-H bond hydroxylation depends on the bond strength, and the primary C-H bond of a terminal methyl group is stronger than the secondary or tertiary C-H bond adjacent to it. The hydroxylation reaction will therefore occur primarily at the adjacent secondary or tertiary C-H bond unless the protein structure specifically enforces primary C-H bond oxidation. Here we review the classes of enzymes that catalyze ω-hydroxylation and our current understanding of the structural features that promote the ω-hydroxylation of unbranched and methyl-branched hydrocarbon chains. The evidence indicates that steric constraints are used to favor reaction at the ω-site rather than at the more reactive (ω-1)-site.

1-Phenylethyl isocyanate is a powerful reagent for the chiral analysis of secondary alcohols and hydroxy fatty acids with remote stereogenic centres

1-phenylethyl isocyanate (1-PEIC), a chiral derivatisation reagent for the resolution of secondary alcohols is a powerful tool to determine the configuration and enantiomeric excess of medium- to long-chain secondary alcohols by capillary gas chromatography. The separation of 1-phenylethylcarbamates (1-PECs) of secondary alcohols was systematically evaluated depending on the position of the stereogenic centre in the molecule, namely in alkanols (C(15)-C(18)), alkenols (C(15)-C(18)) and hydroxy fatty acids (C(14)-C(18)). The successful separation of the diastereomeric carbamates of (+/-)-heptadecan-7-ol or (+/-)-12-hydroxyoctadecanoic acid methyl ester by gas liquid chromatography demonstrates the unique separation power for 1-PECs for analytes with remote stereogenic centres. Saturated derivatives showed consistently higher resolution factors than the corresponding unsaturated derivatives.

A comparison of substrate dynamics in human CYP2E1 and CYP2A6

Considering the dynamic nature of CYPs, methods that reveal information about substrate and enzyme dynamics are necessary to generate predictive models. To compare substrate dynamics in CYP2E1 and CYP2A6, intramolecular isotope effect experiments were conducted, using deuterium labeled substrates: o-xylene, m-xylene, p-xylene, 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene, and 4,4'-dimethylbiphenyl. Competitive intermolecular experiments were also conducted using d(0)- and d(6)-labeled p-xylene. Both CYP2E1 and CYP2A6 displayed full isotope effect expression for o-xylene oxidation and almost complete suppression for dimethylbiphenyl. Interestingly, (k(H)/k(D))(obs) for d(3)-p-xylene oxidation ((k(H)/k(D))(obs)=6.04 and (k(H)/k(D))(obs)=5.53 for CYP2E1 and CYP2A6, respectively) was only slightly higher than (k(H)/k(D))(obs) for d(3)-dimethylnaphthalene ((k(H)/k(D))(obs)=5.50 and (k(H)/k(D))(obs)=4.96, respectively). One explanation is that in some instances (k(H)/k(D))(obs) values are generated by the presence of two substrates-bound simultaneously to the CYP. Speculatively, if this explanation is valid, then intramolecular isotope effect experiments should be useful in the mechanistic investigation of P450 cooperativity.

Stereoselective analysis of 2-hydroxysebacic acid in urine of patients with Zellweger syndrome and of premature infants fed with medium-chain triglycerides

The chiral metabolite 2-hydroxysebacic acid (2-HS) is considered to be an important diagnostic marker for peroxisomal disorders. The pathway of formation of 2-HS, excreted in increased amounts in patients with peroxisomal diseases, is not absolutely clear. Moreover, there is no information about the enantiomeric distribution of 2-HS in human urine. Here, we describe the stereodifferentiation of 2-HS in urine samples of nine patients with Zellweger syndrome (ZS), and for the first time in urine samples of premature infants fed a medium-chain triglyceride (MCT)-containing diet. Using enantioselective multidimensional gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, an increased excretion of 2R-HS was observed in all investigated ZS patients. 2-HS was also present in urine samples of premature infants fed MCT. Analogously to the ZS patients, a dominant 2R-HS excretion in the urine samples of the premature infants was identified. The formation of 2-HS is expected to result from the same or similar pathways as described for ZS patients. Additionally, we determined the absolute configuration of urinary 3-hydroxysebacic acid (3-HS) in the cases investigated. The enantioselective analysis provides further information for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with impaired peroxisomal fatty acid oxidation. Further insight into the metabolic origin and the biochemical pathway leading to these urinary metabolites is provided.

Myoglobin-catalyzed bis-allylic hydroxylation and epoxidation of linoleic acid

Linoleic acid was treated with metmyoglobin and cumene hydroperoxide at 0 degrees C under anaerobic conditions. Five major compounds were identified, i.e., 11-hydroxylinoleic acid (29% yield), cis-9,10-epoxy-(12Z)-octadecenoic acid (16%), cis-12,13-epoxy-(9Z)-octadecenoic acid (8%), 9-hydroxy-(10E,12Z)-octadecadienoic acid (4%), and 13-hydroxy-(9Z,11E)-octadecadienoic acid (4%). Steric analysis showed that these compounds were all racemic. The steric course of the formation of the major metabolite, (11R,S)-hydroxylinoleic acid, was studied by incubation of linoleic acids stereospecifically deuterated at C-11. It was found that the (11R)-hydroxylinoleic acid lost most of the deuterium label when formed from [(11R)-2H]linoleic acid but retained the label when formed from [(11S)-2H]linoleic acid. Furthermore, the (11S)-hydroxylinoleic acid retained and lost most of the label when produced from [(11R)-2H]- and [(11S)-2H]linoleic acids, respectively. Thus, although the myoglobin-promoted hydroxylation of linoleic acid into 11-hydroxylinoleic acid lacked apparent stereospecificity and produced equal amounts of the R and S enantiomers, the course of the reaction was stereospecific and involved hydrogen abstraction and oxygen insertion occurring with retention of absolute configuration of the carbon atom hydroxylated.

Synthesis of [9-14C]nonanoic acid via 2-thienyl(14CH3)(cyano)cuprate and its oxidation by newborn piglet muscle strips

To determine if newborn piglet muscle could oxidize propionyl-CoA formed by catabolism of odd-chain fatty acids, an odd-chain fatty acid labeled in the terminal three carbons was needed. The synthetic scheme described is based upon the displacement of a primary alkyl iodide, ethyl 8-iodooctanoate, by a [14C]methyl group via an activated 2-thienyl(14CHa)(cyano)cuprate intermediate, forming ethyl [9-14C]nonanoate. Ethyl [9-14C]nonanoate was hydrolyzed in 6 N KOH and [9-14C]nonanoic acid recovered by ion-exchange chromatography. The yield of [9-14C]nonanoic acid was 40%, based on the initial amount of [14C]methyl iodide. The cuprate and other precursors were commercially available or readily synthesized from available precursors. Mass spectroscopy of commercial and synthesized nonradioactive nonanoate determined an m/z of 159 for the product molecular ion, as expected. The 14C-labeled product phenacyl ester was found to cochromatograph in a C-18 reverse-phase HPLC system with similarly derivatized commercially obtained nonanoic acid. The synthesis should be generally applicable to labeling of compounds by displacement of primary alkyl iodides, where other reactive groups (e.g., carboxylic acid), if present, can be protected (e.g., converted to an ester). Muscle strips isolated from the triceps muscle of newborn piglets oxidized [9-14C]nonanoic acid to 14CO2. Newborn piglet muscle can oxidize propionyl-CoA produced during odd-chain fatty acid oxidation.

Oxygenation of polyunsaturated fatty acids by cytochrome P450 monooxygenases

Polyunsaturated fatty acids can be oxygenated by P450 in different ways--by epoxidation, by hydroxylation of the omega-side chain, by allylic and bis-allylic hydroxylation and by hydroxylation with double bond migration. Major organs for these oxygenations are the liver and the kidney. P450 is an ubiquitous enzyme. It is therefore not surprising that some of these reactions have been found in other organs and tissues. Many observations indicate that P450 oxygenates arachidonic acid in vivo in man and in experimental animals. This is hardly surprising. omega-Oxidation was discovered in vivo 60 years ago. It was more unexpected that biological activities have been associated with many of the P450 metabolites of arachidonic acid, at least in pharmacological doses. Epoxygenase metabolites of arachidonic acid have attracted the largest interest. In their critical review on epoxygenase metabolism of arachidonic acid in 1989, Fitzpatrick and Murphy pointed out some major differences between the PGH synthase, the lipoxygenase and the P450 pathways of arachidonic acid metabolism. Their main points are still valid and have only to be modified slightly in the light of recent results. First, lipoxygenases show a marked regiospecificity and stereospecificity, while many P450 seem to lack this specificity. There are, however, P450 isozymes which catalyse stereospecific epoxidations or hydroxylations. Many hydroxylases and at least some epoxygenases also show regiospecificity, i.e. oxygenate only one double bond or one specific carbon of the fatty acid substrate. In addition, preference for arachidonic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid may occur in the sense that other fatty acids are oxygenated with less regiospecificity. A more important difference is that prostaglandins and leukotrienes affect specific and well characterised receptors in cell membranes, while receptors for epoxides of arachidonic acid or other P450 metabolites have not been characterised. Nevertheless, epoxides of arachidonic acid have been found to induce a large number of different pharmacological effects. In some systems, effects have been noted at pm concentrations which might conceivably be in the physiological concentration range of these epoxides, e.g. after release from phospholipids by phospholipase A2. An intriguing possibility is that the effects of [Ca]i on different ion channels might possibly explain their biological actions. In situations when pharmacological doses are used, metabolism to epoxyprostanoids or other interactions with PGH synthase could also be of importance. Finally, one report on a specific receptor for 14R,15S-EpETrE in mononuclear cell membranes has just been published.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

24-, 25- and 27-hydroxylation of cholesterol by a purified preparation of 27-hydroxylase from pig liver

Pig liver mitochondria were found to catalyze 27-, 25- and 24-hydroxylation of cholesterol at relative rates of about 1:0.2:0.04. An apparently homogeneous preparation of pig liver mitochondrial cytochrome P-450-27 was found to catalyze the same three hydroxylations at about the same relative rates when reconstituted with adrenodoxin and adrenodoxin reductase. The 24-hydroxycholesterol formed was shown to consist of one of the two possible stereoisomers. When using specifically deuterium-labeled substrates a significant isotope effect was observed in the case of 24-hydroxylation (KH/KD > 10), but not 25-hydroxylation (KH/KD = 1.1), or 27-hydroxylation (KH/KD = 1.1). The difference between the 24-hydroxylation and the other two hydroxylations may be due to different interactions between cholesterol and the same enzyme, with a resulting difference with respect to the rate-limiting step in the reaction. The physiological significance of the mitochondrial 24-hydroxylation is discussed.

Stereochemistry of oxidized fatty acids generated during catalytic oxygenation of lauric acid and unsaturated analogs by plant microsomes

The capacity of microsomes from aminopyrine-induced Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) to oxidize saturated and unsaturated fatty acids has been investigated using lauric acid and a series of unsaturated lauric acid analogs (7-, 8-, 9- and 10-dodecenoic acids) as radiolabeled substrates. In the presence of NADH, lauric acid was mono-hydroxylated principally at carbon 9. Steric analysis of this product showed a low enantiomeric excess of 28%. Mono-hydroxylated and mono-epoxidated reaction products were formed from the unsaturated analogs. The epoxidation/hydroxylation ratio was related to the position of the double bond in the aliphatic chain. The oxidation of 7-dodecenoic acid (7-DDNA) and 10-DDNA produced mainly 9-hydroxy-7-DDNA and 9-hydroxy-10-DDNA plus minor amounts of 7,8-epoxy- or 10,11-epoxylauric acid, respectively. In contrast, 8- and 9-DDNAs yielded essentially 8,9-epoxy- and 9,10-epoxylauric acids and smaller amounts of 10-hydroxy-9-DDNA and 8-hydroxy-9-DDNA, respectively. The optical purity and the absolute configuration of the major metabolites were investigated. Epoxidation of Z 8-DDNA and Z 9-DDNA occurs with high enantiomeric excesses. When the double bond was in the Z configuration, (8S,9R)/(8R,9S) 8,9-epoxylauric acid (93/7) or (9R,10S)/(9S,10R) 9,10-epoxylauric acid (89/11) were produced. In contrast, when the double bond was in the E configuration, steric analysis showed an enantiomeric ratio of 52/48 for E 8,9-epoxide and of 59/41 for E 9,10-epoxide. Z 7-DDNA led to the formation of 98% of the 9(S)-hydroxy-Z 7-DDNA enantiomer, while 9-hydroxy-Z 10-DDNA derived from Z 10-DDNA was 35% (R) and 65% (S).

Metabolism of deuterium-labeled nonanoic acids in the riboflavin-deficient rat model of multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency

Riboflavin-deficient rats are used to study the metabolism of deuterium-labeled nonanoic acids under conditions mimicking the human disorder of multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency in which large amounts of ethyl-malonic, glutaric, adipic, suberic, 4-octenedioic, sebacic and 4-decenedioic acids are excreted. Both control and deficient rats convert the nonanoic acids to labeled azelaic and pimelic acids. The labeling pattern in pimelic acid is consistent with the omega-oxidation of nonanoic acids to azelaic acid followed by beta-oxidation to pimelic acid.

Metabolic origin of urinary 3-hydroxy dicarboxylic acids

3-Hydroxy dicarboxylic acids with chain lengths ranging from 6 to 14 carbons are excreted in human urine. The urinary excretion of these acids is increased in conditions of increased mobilization of fatty acids or inhibited fatty acid oxidation. Similar urinary profiles of 3-hydroxy dicarboxylic acids were also observed in fasting rats. The metabolic genesis of these urinary 3-hydroxy dicarboxylic acids was investigated in vitro with rat liver postmitochondrial and mitochondrial fractions. 3-Hydroxy monocarboxylic acids ranging from 3-hydroxyhexanoic acid to 3-hydroxyhexadecanoic acid were synthesized. In the rat liver postmitochondrial fraction fortified with NADPH, these 3-hydroxy fatty acids with carbon chains equal to or longer than 10 were oxidized to (omega - 1)- and omega-hydroxy metabolites as well as to the corresponding 3-hydroxy dicarboxylic acids. 3-Hydroxyhexanoic (3OHMC6) and 3-hydroxyoctanoic (3OHMC8) acids were not metabolized. Upon the addition of mitochondria together with ATP, CoA, carnitine, and MgCl2, the 3-hydroxy dicarboxylic acids were converted to 3-hydroxyoctanedioic, trans-2-hexenedioic, suberic, and adipic acids. In the urine of children with elevated 3-hydroxy dicarboxylic acid levels, 3OHMC6, 3OHMC8, 3-hydroxydecanoic, 3,10-dihydroxydecanoic, 3,9-dihydroxydecanoic, and 3,11-dihydroxydodecanoic acids were identified. On the basis of these data, we propose that the urinary 3-hydroxy dicarboxylic acids are derived from the omega-oxidation of 3-hydroxy fatty acids and the subsequent beta-oxidation of longer chain 3-hydroxy dicarboxylic acids. These urinary 3-hydroxy dicarboxylic acids are not derived from the beta-oxidation of unsubstituted dicarboxylic acids.

Omega-oxidation of fatty acids studied in isolated liver cells

The omega- and beta-oxidation of medium- and long-chain fatty acids (C10-C18) were studied in hepatocytes from fasted, fed and clofibrate-fed rats. The omega-oxidation systems were most active with lauric acid (12:0) and decanoic acid (10:0) as substrates and there was decreasing activity with chain lengths from 14 to 18 carbon atoms. In fed rats no omega-oxidation of fatty acids was detected unless the mitochondrial beta-oxidation was inhibited. In fasted rats the omega-oxidation was less than 2% and preincubation with (+)-decanoylcarnitine increased the omega-oxidation to 15% of the total fatty acid oxidation. Clofibrate feeding did not increase the omega-oxidation in isolated hepatocytes. Inhibition of the alcohol dehydrogenase with 4-methylpyrazole inhibited both the oxidation of omega-hydroxylated fatty acid and the initial hydroxylation of lauric acid to dicarboxylic acid, suggesting the importance of the alcohol dehydrogenase in the omega-oxidation of fatty acids. 95% of the dicarboxylic acids and 80% of the hydroxy-fatty acids were excreted from the cells in the incubations with decanoic acid (10:0). No chain-shortened dicarboxylic acids were detected with [1-14C]decanoic- or [1-14C]lauric acid as substrate, while small amounts C10 and C12 dicarboxylic acids were observed in incubations with [1-14C]myristic acid (14:0).

Metabolism in the rat of potassium nonan-5-sulphate, a symmetrical anionic surfactant

1. The metabolism of potassium nonan-5-[35S]sulphate, a symmetrical secondary alkylsulphate ester, was investigated in the rat. Oral administration of the radiolabelled ester was followed by the elimination of the majority of radioactivity in the urine. 2. Potassium nonan-5-[35S]sulphate is degraded in vivo to produce at least three radiolabelled sulphate esters. 3. The same metabolites were produced by isolated rat livers perfused with potassium nonan-5-[35S]sulphate. 4. The three radioactive metabolites were identified by combined g.l.c.-mass spectroscopy as the unchanged parent ester, nonan-1-ol-5-sulphate and nonanoate-5-sulphate. 5. The nature of the latter two metabolites indicates that potassium nonan-5-sulphate is metabolized by omega-oxidation only and, moreover, the alkylsulphate ester is metabolized only at one end of the molecule.

Influence of a fibric acid type of hypolipidemic agent on the oxidative metabolism of arachidonic acid by liver microsomal cytochrome P-450

The regiospecificity of arachidonic acid oxygenation, catalyzed by rat liver microsomal fractions in the presence of NADPH, can be altered by animal pretreatment with a fibric acid type of hypolipidemic drug, ciprofibrate. While microsomal fractions isolated from either control or phenobarbital-treated animals oxygenate arachidonic acid to mainly epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs), animal pretreatment with ciprofibrate results in an eightfold stimulation of omega and omega-1 oxidation, concomitant with a net decrease in the formation of both HETEs and EETs. The isomeric composition of the EETs and of the omega and omega-1 oxidation products formed is also dependent on the type of animal pretreatment. Associated decreases in the amounts of HETEs and the rate of hydrogen peroxide formation suggests a modification of the "uncoupler action" of arachidonic acid during the function of different cytochromes P-450.

Induction and specificity of a (cytochrome P-450)-dependent laurate in-chain-hydroxylase from higher plant microsomes

The substrate and product specifities of the (cytochrome P-450)-dependent laurate monooxygenase from tuber tissues of Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) were investigated. The plant enzyme appeared strictly specific for the C12 free fatty acid and produced a mixture of C-8, C-9 and C-10 hydroxylated lauric acids, the C-9 derivative being predominant. No C-12 or C-11 hydroxylated laurates were detected. The activity of the enzyme, which was not detectable in the intact tuber, was induced by slicing and aging the tissues on water, and strongly superinduced by the addition of manganese and phenobarbital to the aging medium. Regulation of laurate hydroxylase was clearly independent from that of cinnamic acid 4-hydroxylase, another plant cytochrome P-450 enzyme.

Profiles in altered metabolism. II--(omega -- 1)-hydroxyacid excretion in a case of episodic hypoglycemia

A patient with recurrent severe hypoglycemia resembling Reye's syndrome was found to have large accumulations of omega -- 1 hydroxy and keto acids in serum and urine that persisted following clinical recovery. A deficiency of mitochondrial medium chain acyl CoA dehydrogenase activity is proposed on the basis of evidence obtained using gas chromatographic mass spectrometric techniques. Analytical data is presented that will allow the recognition of ths variant presenting in other patients.

A selected bibliography of biomedical and environmental applications of stable isotopes. I--Deuterium 1971-1976

A compilation of selected references to the use of deuterium in biochemical, pharmacological, clinical and environmental applications for the period 1971-1976 is presented. As a further aid, author and subject indices have been compiled.

Fatty acid hydroxylation in rat kidney cortex microsomes

Rat kidney microsomes have been found to catalyze the hydroxylation of medium-chained fatty acids to the omega- and (omego-1)-hydroxy derivatives. This reaction, which requires NADPH and molecular oxygen, is a function of monooxygenase system present in the kidney microsomes, containing NADPH-cytochrome c reductase and cytochrome P-450K. NADH is about half as effective as an electron donor as NADPH and there is an additive effect in the presence of both nucleotides. Cytochrome P-450K absorbs light maximally at 452-3 nm, when it is reduced and bound to carbon monoxide. The extinction coefficient of this complex is 91 mM(-1) cm(-1). Electrons from NADPH are transferred to cytochrome P-450K via the NADPH-cytochrome c reductase. The reduction rate of cytochrome P-450K is stimulated by added fatty acids and the reduction kinetics reveal the presence of endogenous substrates bound to cytochrome P-450K. Both cytochrome P-450K concentration and fatty acid hydroxylation activity in kidney microsomes are increased by starvation. On the other hand, phenobarbital treatment of the rats has no effect on either the hemoprotein or the overall hydroxylation reaction and 3,4-benzpyrene administration induces a new species of cytochrome P-450K not involved in fatty acid hydroxylation. Cytochrome P-450K shows, in contrast to liver P-450, high substrate specificity. The only substances forming enzyme-substrate complexes with cytochrome P-450K are the medium-chained fatty acids and certain derivatives of these acids. The chemical requirements for substrate binding include a carbon chain of medium length and at the end of the chain a carbonyl group and a free electron pair on a neighbouring atom. The distance between the binding site for the carbonyl group and the active oxygen is suggested to be in the order of 16 A. This distance fixes the ratio of omega- and (omega-1)-hydroxylated products formed from a certain fatty acid by the single species of cytochrome P-450K involved. The membrane microenvironment seems also to be of importance for the substrate specificity of cytochrome P-450K, since removal of the cytochrome from the membrane lowers its binding specificity to some extent. A comparison between the liver and kidney cytochrome P-450 systems suggests that the kidney cytochrome P-450K system is specialized for fatty acid hydroxylation.

Microsomal 12alpha-hydroxylation of 7alpha-[12alpha, 12beta-2H2]hydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one

The synthesis of 7alpha-[12alpha, 12beta-2 H2]hydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one is described. It was shown with different techniques that this compound was 12alpha-hydroxylated by the microsomal fraction of a rat liver homogenate without marked isotope effect, indicating that cleavage of the C--H bond is not the rate-limiting step in this hydroxylation. The rate of 12alpha-hydroxylation was decreased by about 20% when performed in a medium containing deuterated water. The findings were discussed with reference to the specific properties of the 12alpha-hydroxylating system and to the results of previous studies on rate-limiting step in microsomal hydroxylation of steroids.