Coumarin 7-hydroxylation Activity Research Articles

Catalytic roles of rat and human cytochrome P450 2A enzymes in testosterone 7α- and coumarin 7-hydroxylations

Differences in the catalytic roles of rat and human cytochrome P450 2A enzymes in testosterone 7α- and coumarin 7-hydroxylase activities were examined. Liver microsomes from 18 human samples catalyzed coumarin 7-hydroxylation at a mean rate of about 60pmol/min/nmol P450, but did not show any measurable activity for testosterone 7α-hydroxylation. In rats, both activities were found to be developmentally regulated; 3-week-old rats had the highest activities for these two reactions. Anti-P450 2A1 antibodies and methoxsalen, a potent inhibitor of P450 2A-dependent monooxygenase activities in several animal species, inhibited almost completely both testosterone 7α- and coumarin 7-hydroxylations catalyzed by liver microsomes prepared from 3-week-old male rats. Interestingly, although K m values for coumarin 7-hydroxylation activities in liver microsomes from 3-week-old rats were not different from those of adult humans, the V max value in rats was only 1/30 of that obtained in 18 human samples. Thus, the present results support the view that marked differences exist in the catalytic roles of rat and human P450 2A enzymes, which, in turn, may sometimes cause species-related differences in susceptibilities toward drug actions and toxicities.

Purification and Characterization of Two Forms of Hepatic Microsomal Cytochrome P450 from Untreated Cynomolgus Monkeys

Two forms of cytochrome P450, referred to as P450 CMLb and P450 CMLc, were purified and characterized from hepatic microsomes of untreated cynomolgus monkeys ( Macaca irus). The final preparations were apparently homogeneous as judged by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The minimum molecular weights of P450 CMLb and P450 CMLc estimated from the mobilities on the gel were 48 and 50 kDa, respectively. The N-terminal amino acid sequences of P450 CMLb and P450 CMLc (first 13 residues) were identical, respectively, with those of P450 FI isolated from baboons and P450 MK-2, which has been characterized as a P450 3A enzyme in cynomolgus monkeys. P450 CMLb showed coumarin 7-hydroxylation and 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylation activities. This P450 enzyme reacted with anti-P450 2A6 antibody and acts as a coumarin 7-hydroxylase in hepatic microsomes. On the basis of these results P450 CMLb was classified into the 2A subfamily. P450 CMLb is expressed constitutively as one of the minor forms of P450 in liver microsomes of untreated cynomolgus monkeys and is inducible by phenobarbital. P450 CMLc reacted with anti-P450 3A4 antibody and hydroxylated testosterone at the 6β-position. The testosterone 6β-hydroxylation activities in hepatic microsomes of cynomolgus monkeys, common squirrel monkeys, and humans were strongly inhibited by the anti-P450 CMLc antibody. These results demonstrate that this P450 enzyme is in the P450 3A subfamily.

Roles of residues 129 and 209 in the alteration by cytochrome b5 of hydroxylase activities in mouse 2A P450S.

Cytochrome b5 stimulates the coumarin 7-hydroxylation activity of P450coh. A mutation of Arg-129 in P450coh, however, abolishes the stimulation. Moreover, this mutant P450coh binds loosely to cytochrome b5-conjugated Sepharose 4B, whereas wild-type P450coh binds tightly. Consistent with this, the mutation increases the Ka value for b5 binding approximately 6-fold. The identity of residue 209 also alters the stimulation of the activity of P450coh depending on the type of the substrates used and products formed. Coumarin 7-hydroxylation activity is greatly stimulated by cytochrome b5 only when Phe is at position 209, while cytochrome b5 stimulates testosterone hydroxylation activity of P450coh in which Phe, Asn, Ser or Lys substitutes residue 209. P450coh changes its rate of hydrogen peroxide formation depending on the identity of residue 209 and substrate used. Cytochrome b5 decreases the hydrogen peroxide formation of some P450coh whose activities are stimulated by the cytochrome; however, the decrease does not always result in stimulating the activity. The results indicate, therefore, that residues 129 and 209 play different roles in stimulating P450coh activity by cytochrome b5; Arg-129 is a key residue in the cytochrome b5-binding domain and is essential for the stimulation. Residue 209, however, alters the efficiency of electron transport for substrate oxidation as a residue which resides near the sixth ligand of heme and in the substrate-binding site.

Catalytic and immunological comparison of coumarin 7-hydroxylation in different species

1. 1. Coumarin 7-hydroxylation activities were determined in the liver microsomes of eight different species: pig, mouse (three strains), rat, hamster, guinea-pig, rabbit, rainbow trout and crayfish. 2. 2. A high coumarin 7-hydroxylase activity was found in the microsomes of D2 mouse, rabbit, hamster and pig, an intermediate activity in case of B6 and AKR mice, rat and guinea-pig and a very low activity in rainbow trout and crayfish. 3. 3. In Ouchterlony immunodiffusion analysis our antibody against coumarin 7-hydroxylase specific cytochrome P-450 from D2 mice was able to form a weak precipitin line only with rat and hamster microsomes in addition to the three strains of mice (D2, B6, AKR) where the band was very sharp. 4. 4. Strongest inhibition by the antibody (50% or more) of microsomal coumarin 7-hydroxylase was found in the case of the three strains of mice and rabbit. In the case of the other species the inhibition was very weak or did not exist.