Stereoselective formation and hydration of 12-methylbenz[a]anthracene 5,6-epoxide enantiomers by rat liver microsomal enzymes

CCN1 is an opsonin for bacterial clearance and a direct activator of Toll-like receptor signaling

Expression of the matricellular protein CCN1 (CYR61) is associated with inflammation and is required for successful wound repair. Here, we show that CCN1 binds bacterial pathogen-associated molecular patterns including peptidoglycans of Gram-positive bacteria and lipopolysaccharides of Gram-negative bacteria. CCN1 opsonizes methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and accelerates their removal by phagocytosis and increased production of bactericidal reactive oxygen species in macrophages through the engagement of integrin α_vβ₃. Mice with myeloid-specific Ccn1 deletion and knock-in mice expressing CCN1 unable to bind α_vβ₃ are more susceptible to infection by S. aureus or P. aeruginosa, resulting in increased mortality and organ colonization. Furthermore, CCN1 binds directly to TLR2 and TLR4 to activate MyD88-dependent signaling, cytokine expression and neutrophil mobilization. CCN1 is therefore a pattern recognition receptor that opsonizes bacteria for clearance and functions as a damage-associated molecular pattern to activate inflammatory responses, activities that contribute to wound healing and tissue repair.

CCN1 is a matricellular protein with a variety of functions, including an effect on wound healing and an association with inflammation. Here, the authors identify a possible mechanism by showing that CCN1 mediates the clearance of bacterial infections in mice and activates TLR signalling.

Stereoselective epoxidation and hydration at the K-region of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by cDNA-expressed cytochromes P450 1A1, 1A2, and epoxide hydrolase

Stereoselective epoxidation by cytochrome P450s (P450s) and regioselective hydration by epoxide hydrolase determine the carcinogenic potency of some polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). In this report, cDNA-expressed human and mouse P450s 1A1 and 1A2 and epoxide hydrolase were used to characterize the stereoselective epoxidation and regioselective hydration at the K-region of benz[a]-anthracene (BA), 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA), chrysene (CR), benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), dibenz[a,h]anthracene (DB[a,h]A), and benzo[c]phenanthrene (B[c]Ph) by direct chiral stationary-phase HPLC (CSP-HPLC) analyses. Our results indicated that all P450 isoforms preferentially produced major K-region, S,R-epoxides of BA (95-98%), DMBA (94-97%), B[a]P (91-96%), DB[a,h]A (94-98%), and B[c]Ph (87-92%), and major R,S-epoxide of CR (74-85%) in the presence of 3,3,3-trichloropropylene 1,2-oxide (TCPO), an inhibitor of epoxide hydrolase, suggesting that P450 enzymes exhibited the high stereoselectivity toward one of two stereoheterotopic faces of K-region double bond of the PAHs. Epoxide hydrolase either expressed from recombinant vaccinia virus or contained in human hepatoma G2 cells (HepG2) hydrated the C-O bond of epoxy-ring at the S-carbon of major metabolically-formed K-region epoxide enantiomers of BA, CR, DMBA, B[a]P, and DB[a,h]A to yield 80-98% dihydrodiols enriched in R,R-form and that at the R-carbon of B[c]Ph epoxide to yield 77-92% dihydrodiol enriched in S,S-form, suggesting that epoxide hydrolase was highly regioselective. The various enantiomeric components of dihydrodiol products in the metabolism of PAHs were apparently due to the combined effect of stereoselectivity of the P450s and regioselectivity of epoxide hydrolase. Our results provide a clear understanding of how these enzymes catalyze overall stereoselective metabolism at the K-region of the PAHs.

Selective biotransformations. Patents and literature

Stereo- and regioselective biotransformations is an area of intense research interest. The ability to take advantage of microorganisms and isolated enzyme systems to perform selective organic syntheses is well known. In recent years, several new methodologies have caused a rapid growth in the area of selective biotransformations. These novel techniques include genetic and protein engineering, biocatalysis in organic media, improved screening procedures, as well as an increased awareness of the value of biotechnology to solve important problems in organic synthesis. Recent US patents and scientific literature on stereo- and regioselective biotransformations are surveyed. Patent abstracts are summarized individually and a list of literature references are given.

Improved enantiomeric separation of dihydrodiols of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on chiral stationary phases by derivatization to O-methyl ethers

K-region trans-dihydrodiol derivatives of phenanthrene, 1-methylphenanthrene, 4,5-methylenephenanthrene, pyrene, 1-bromopyrene, chrysene, benzo[c]phenanthrene, benz[a]anthracene, 1-, 4-, 6-, 7-, 11- and 12-methylbenz[a]anthracenes, 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene, 3-methylcholanthrene, and benzo[a]pyrene, and non-K-region trans-3,4-dihydrodiols of benz[a]anthracene, chrysene, and 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene are converted to O-methyl ethers. Enantiomers of these O-methyl ethers are generally more efficiently separated on Pirkle's chiral stationary phases than the enantiomers of underivatized dihydrodiols. O-Methyl ethers are substantially less polar than dihydrodiols, and O-methyl ethers are eluted with shorter retention times. Eluents of lower polarity can hence be used. This enhances chiral interactions between chiral stationary phase and solutes, allowing improved separation of enantiomers.

Cytochrome P-450-catalyzed asymmetric epoxidation of simple prochiral and chiral aliphatic alkenes: species dependence and effect of enzyme induction on enantioselective oxirane formation

The enantioselectivity of the in vitro conversion of simple prochiral and chiral aliphatic alkenes into oxiranes by liver microsomes of untreated or induced (phenobarbital) rats, of untreated or induced (phenobarbital, benzo[a] pyrene) mice, and of humans was determined by complexation gas chromatography. The enantiomeric excess (ee) of the epoxides extends from 0 (trimethyloxirane) to 50% (ethyloxirane). The configuration (R or S) of the enantiomers formed in excess is consistent for homologous oxiranes but is species dependent and in some cases influenced by enzyme induction. Enantioselectivity differences of aliphatic alkene epoxidation by human liver microsomes of four individuals are negligible.

Stereoselectivity of cytochrome P-450 isozymes and epoxide hydrolase in the metabolism of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Enantiomeric compositions of epoxides formed in the metabolism of planar benz[a]anthracene (BA), benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), and chrysene (CR), and nonplanar benzo[c]phenanthrene (BcPh), 12-methylbenz[a]anthracene (12-MBA) and 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (7,12-DMBA) by liver microsomes from untreated, phenobarbital-treated, and 3-methylcholanthrene-treated rats are determined either by direct chiral stationary phase HPLC analysis or by the enantiomeric compositions of metabolically formed trans-dihydrodiols. Cytochrome P-450 isozymes contained in various liver microsomal preparations have varying degrees of stereoselectivity in catalyzing the epoxidation reactions at various formal double bonds of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons studied. In general, cytochrome P-450c, the major cytochrome P-450 isozyme contained in liver microsomes from 3-methylcholanthrene-treated rats, has the highest degree of stereoselectivity. Regardless of absolute configuration, non-K-region epoxides are converted to trans-dihydrodiols by epoxide hydrolase-catalyzed water attack at the allylic carbon. The S-center of K-region S,R-epoxide enantiomers derived from planar BA, BaP and CR is the major site of epoxide hydrolase-catalyzed water attack. In contrast, the R-center of K-region S,R-epoxide enantiomers derived from nonplanar BcPh, 12-MBA and 7,12-DMBA is the major site of epoxide hydrolase-catalyzed water attack. However, the K-region R,S-epoxide enantiomers of the six polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons studied are hydrated by microsomal epoxide hydrolase with varying degrees of regioselectivity. Thus the enantiomeric composition of a metabolically formed dihydrodiol is determined by (i) the stereoselective epoxidation at a formal double bond of a parent hydrocarbon by microsomal cytochrome P-450 isozymes and (ii) the enantioselective and regioselective hydration of the metabolically formed epoxide by microsomal epoxide hydrolase.