Preliminary electrochemical characterisation of cytochrome P4501A2-clozapine interaction

Electrochemical detection of anti-breast-cancer agents in human serum by cytochrome P450-coated carbon nanotubes

We report on the electrochemical detection of anti-cancer drugs in human serum with sensitivity values in the range of 8–925 nA/μM. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes were functionalized with three different cytochrome P450 isoforms (CYP1A2, CYP2B6, and CYP3A4). A model used to effectively describe the cytochrome P450 deposition onto carbon nanotubes was confirmed by Monte Carlo simulations. Voltammetric measurements were performed in phosphate buffer saline (PBS) as well as in human serum, giving well-defined current responses upon addition of increasing concentrations of anti-cancer drugs. The results assert the capability to measure concentration of drugs in the pharmacological ranges in human serum. Another important result is the possibility to detect pairs of drugs present in the same sample, which is highly required in case of therapies with high side-effects risk and in anti-cancer pharmacological treatments based on mixtures of different drugs. Our technology holds potentials for inexpensive multi-panel drug-monitoring in personalized therapy.

Control of electrochemical and ferryloxy formation kinetics of cyt P450s in polyion films by heme iron spin state and secondary structure

Voltammetry of cytochrome P450 (cyt P450) enzymes in ultrathin films with polyions was related for the first time to electronic and secondary structure. Heterogeneous electron transfer (hET) rate constants for reduction of the cyt P450s depended on heme iron spin state, with low spin cyt P450cam giving a value 40-fold larger than high spin human cyt P450 1A2, with mixed spin human P450 cyt 2E1 at an intermediate value. Asymmetric reduction-oxidation peak separations with increasing scan rates were explained by simulations featuring faster oxidation than reduction. Results are consistent with a square scheme in which oxidized and reduced forms of cyt P450s each participate in rapid conformational equilibria. Rate constants for oxidation of ferric cyt P450s in films by t-butyl hydroperoxide to active ferryloxy cyt P450s from rotating disk voltammetry suggested a weaker dependence on spin state, but in the reverse order of the observed hET reduction rates. Oxidation and reduction rates of cyt P450s in the films are also likely to depend on protein secondary structure around the heme iron.

Site-directed mutations (Asp405Ile and Glu124Ile) in cytochrome P450scc: effect on adrenodoxin binding

Cytochrome P450scc, mitochondrial adrenodoxin (Adx), and adrenodoxin reductase (AdR) are an essential components in a steroid hydroxylation system. In particular, mytochondrial cytochrome P450scc enzyme catalyses the first step in steroid hormones biosynthesis, represented by the conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone. In order to study the effect of single mutations on the Adx binding a model of bovine cytochrome P450scc, previously optimized by molecular modeling, was utilized. It was hypothesized by molecular docking that two residues (Asp405 and Glu124) are involved in Adx binding. By site-directed mutagenesis, two mutants of cytochrome P450scc (Asp405Ile and Glu124Ile) expressed in Escherichia coli, were realized by replacing with isoleucines. The site-directed mutations effect on Adx binding was evaluated by differential spectral titration. The apparent dissociation constant values for Asp405Ile and Glu124Ile cytochrome P450scc show that the mutated residues seem to be at the interaction domain with Adx or at least close to it, as predicted by molecular modeling study. Finally, the engineered enzymes were characterized by biochemical and biophysical techniques such as circular dichroism (CD), UV/Vis spectroscopy, and electrochemical analysis.

Electrochemical reduction of cytochrome P450 as an approach to the construction of biosensors and bioreactors

In the present review an attempt was made to present an up-to-date amount of the data on electrochemical reduction of the hemoprotein cytochrome P450. The concept and potentialities of enzyme electrodes--transducers--as the main element for construction of electrochemical biosensors were discussed. Different types of electrodes for bioelectrochemistry were analysed. New nanotechnological approaches to cytochrome P450 immobilisation were reported. It was shown that nanobiotechnology in electrochemistry has potential application in manufacturing biosensors and bioreactors for clinical medicine and pharmacology.

P450scc mutant nanostructuring for optimal assembly

Molecular modeling and protein engineering were synergically employed to improve the fabrication of cytochrome P450scc mutant nanostructures for biodevice assembly. The optimization of protein three-dimensional structure by molecular modeling was performed using two models: in vacuum and simulating the presence of a polar solvent. Calculations were performed on a model to predict a P450scc mutant which could improve the process of molecules' immobilization onto solid supports. Engineerized cytochrome P450scc thin films were prepared and characterized by various biophysical techniques such as pi-A isotherms, surface potential measurements, Brewster angle microscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy, circular dichroism, nanogravimetry, and electrochemical analysis. This paper takes into consideration biomolecules modified by protein engineering that represent a new and powerful approach for obtaining synthetic simpler artificial structures with new or improved properties (i.e., specificity, stability, sensitivity, etc.) useful for biosensors development.