Cytochrome P450 Gene Superfamily Research Articles

Renal cytochrome P450-dependent eicosanoids.

Several of the arachidonic acid (AA) products generated by cytochrome P450 monooxygenases have prominent direct effects on vasomotion and ion transport (1). Unlike cyclooxygenases and lipoxygenases, which are dioxygenases and have narrow substrate specificity, P450 oxygenases are monooxygenases and are capable of metabolizing a range of substrates (2). They have absolute requirements for NADPH/NADH and a flavoprotein, either a reductase and/or cytochrome b5. Synthesis of P450-AA metabolites can be characterized according to the arachidonate metabolite (Figure 1)— epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) and hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETEs) — generated by a score of more than 200 isoforms that are encoded by the cytochrome P450 gene superfamily. These oxygenases metabolize drugs, xenobiotics, vitamins, steroids and fatty acids, including AA. Further, unlike prostanoids, EETs and HETEs can be esterified to the Sn-2 position of phospholipids from which storage site they can be released as mediators (3), presumably to participate in transmembrane signaling. While esterified to membrane phospholipids, they may influence the physiochemical properties of cells such as permeability. The wide distribution of the P450 system and the diverse activities of P450-AA metabolites on blood vessels and transporting epithelia make them prime candidates for participation in the regulation of the circulation (4).KeywordsArachidonic AcidVasodilator ResponseArachidonic Acid MetabolismArachidonic Acid MetaboliteCytochrome P450 MonooxygenasesThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

Structure and Mapping of the Human Lanosterol 14α- Demethylase Gene (CYP51) Encoding the Cytochrome P450 Involved in Cholesterol Biosynthesis; Comparison of Exon/Intron Organization with other Mammalian and Fungal CYP Genes

Sterol 14α-demethylase (P45014DM) encoded by CYP51 is a member of the cytochrome P450 (CYP) gene superfamily involved in sterol biosynthesis in fungi, plants, and animals. Constraints imposed by the specific function of CYP51 have severely limited sequence divergence in this family. Consequently, CYP51 is the only P450 family recognizable across all eukaryotic phyla. We have determined the structure of the functional human CYP51 gene, which spans 22 kb, is divided into 10 exons, and maps to 7q21.2–q21.3. The 5′ portion of intron 1 is GC-rich and contains potential binding sites for several transcription factors. Primer extension studies reveal predominant transcription initiation sites in liver, kidney, lung, and placenta 250 and 249 bp upstream from the translation start site and a second major site at −100 bp. Ubiquitous expression of human CYP51 (Strömstedtet al., Arch. Biochem. Biophys.329: 73–81, 1996), the absence of TATA and CAAT patterns, a GC-rich sequence in the promoter region, and initiation of CYP51 transcription at more than one site indicate that CYP51 is a housekeeping gene. The 5′-flanking region, exon 1, and a portion of intron 1 show the characteristics of a CpG island, with the observed/expected CpG ratio of 0.79. Sterol responsive element-like motifs were present in this region, suggesting regulation by oxysterols via a mechanism similar to that associated with other genes involved in cholesterol homeostasis. Comparison of the human CYP51 gene structure with structures of other mammalian and fungal CYP gene families shows that 7 of the 9 CYP51 introns are located at unique positions. More than 80 intron locations exist in mammalian and fungal CYP gene families, and it seems very unlikely that all these introns could have been present in the primordial CYP gene.

The Three Human Cytochrome P450 Lanosterol 14α-Demethylase (CYP51) Genes Reside on Chromosomes 3, 7, and 13: Structure of the Two Retrotransposed Pseudogenes, Association with a Line-1 Element, and Evolution of the Human CYP51 Family

The three human lanosterol 14α-demethylase (CYP51) genes have been mapped to human chromosomes 3, 7, and 13 using a polychromosomal somatic cell hybrid panel. Two of the genes have been cloned from human chromosome 3-specific (CYP51P1) or from human chromosome 13-containing (CYP51P2) cell hybrids. Both were found to be processed pseudogenes, the first reported in the cytochrome P450 (CYP) gene superfamily. The functional CYP51 gene resides on human chromosome 7. CYP51P1 is 96.5% identical to the human CYP51 coding sequence and is not interrupted with introns but has six in-frame stop codons resulting from point mutations. The intronless CYP51P2 gene is 97.2% identical to the CYP51 cDNA coding region. It has a 1-bp insertion leading to a change of reading frame after codon 9 and a stop codon after amino acid 81. In addition, the CYP51P2 sequence is interrupted with a 5′ truncated 131-bp LINE-1 element after nucleotide 606. The element belongs to the youngest LINE subfamily Sb and is 98.2% identical to the LINE-1 element expressed in human teratocarcinoma cells. CYP51 processed pseudogenes are the only known examples of the reverse flow of genetic information during evolution of the large (more than 480 genes) CYP superfamily, suggesting expression in the germ line and a housekeeping function of the lanosterol 14α-demethylase gene. CYP51 pseudogenes evolved by two independent reverse transcription events of the human CYP51 mRNA ∼9.5 MYR (CYP51P2) and ∼11.7 MYR (CYP51P1) ago and were inactivated soon after the insertion. The truncated L1 element was inserted into CYP51P2 ∼6 MYR ago.

Identification and characterization of transcriptional regulatory elements of the human aromatase cytochrome P450 Gene ( CYP19)

Aromatase cytochrome P450, a member of the cytochrome P450 gene super family, catalyzes conversion of androgens to estrogens in a form of an enzyme-complex with NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase. Transcription of the aromatase cytochrome P450 gene ( CYP19) is regulated in part by tissue-specific promoters coupled with alternative splicing mechanisms. The transcription in human placenta is governed by a promoter activity of the 5′ flanking region of exon I.1, which is mapped more than 40 kb upstream from the translational start codon observed in exon II. Transient expression analyses with chimeric constructs containing the 5′ flanking sequences linked to the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene in human BeWo choriocarcinoma cells localized a cell-type specific enhancer element between −242 and −166 relative to the major cap site. DNase I footprinting and transient expression analyses of the enhancer element indicate that it consists of two sub-elements and that both sub-elements are necessary for the maximum enhancement of the transcription. In addition to the enhancer element, a cis-acting element important for transcriptional enhancement of the gene in response to 12- O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate in BeWo cells is localized between −2141 and −2115. A nuclear factor binding to the element is identified as NF-IL6 (also termed as LAP and C/EBP β). Transient expression analyses using the CAT constructs containing the NF-IL6 binding sites establish involvement of the factor in transcriptional regulation of CYP19.

Correlation between codon usage, regional genomic nucleotide composition, and amino acid composition in the cytochrome P-450 gene superfamily

The codon usage bias of 110 mammalian cytochrome P-450 genes has been determined and analyzed in relation to a variety of genetic, biochemical, and physiological parameters. In those P-450 genes exhibiting biased usage the preferred codons generally do not differ among the four species examined (rat, rabbit, man, and mouse) or from the predominantly used codons identified for all sequenced genes in a recent data base analysis (Wada et al. (1992) Nucleic Acids Res. 20 (Suppl.), 2111–2118). Codon usage bias does not correlate with evolutionary relationships, evolutionary age, or with the extent of evolutionary conservation of orthologous proteins; there is no obvious correlation with the level of expression of a given P-450, with its inducibility, nor with its physiologic role; and neither the preferred codons nor the degree of bias differ for P-450s expressed in different tissues. Codon usage bias does correlate with the C + G content at the codon third position, and thus preferred codons usually end in C or G; for those P-450s for which gene sequences are available this bias also correlates with the C + G content of the intronic and flanking regions of these genes. Moreover, a lesser increase in the C + G content at the codon first and second positions is also evident in genes located in regions of high C + G content; this leads to predictable differences in the amino acid compositions of P-450 enzymes that correlate with genomic nucleotide composition and the degree of bias in codon usage.

The overexpression of int-5/Aromatase, a novel MMTV integration locus gene, is responsible for D2 mammary tumor cell proliferation.

Our recent studies have shown that the cellular gene at the mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) integration site in the int-5 locus in BALB/c D2 precancerous hyperplastic alveolar nodules is identical to the gene encoding aromatase (CYP19), a member of the cytochrome P450 gene superfamily. MMTV integrated within the 3' untranslated region of the aromatase gene is responsible for the overexpression of this gene (int-5/aromatase) in mammary tumors. This paper describes the biological significance of overexpression of int-5/aromatase in D2 tumor cells. Using a cell line derived from the D2 tumor, we have demonstrated the effect of the aromatase substrate, androstenedione, on the proliferation of tumor cells. Proliferative effects of androstenedione were blocked by an aromatase inhibitor, providing evidence for the role of int-5/aromatase in this process. Furthermore, the androstenedione-mediated proliferation was inhibited by the addition of anti-estrogen ICI 164,384, suggesting that the estrogen formed from the conversion of androstenedione by int-5/aromatase acts like a mitogen to stimulate the growth of D2 tumor cells. This model with its known mechanism of aromatase activation should prove useful for studying the role of intra-tumoral estrogen in mammary cancer, for evaluating the effects of aromatase inhibitors, and for comparing breast cancer treatments.

The nature and expression of int-5, a novel MMTV integration locus gene in carcinogen-induced mammary tumors.

Our previous studies have resulted in the identification and cloning of int-5, a novel site of mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) integration, from BALB/c D2 precancerous hyperplastic alveolar nodules (HAN). This paper presents a detailed characterization of the int-5 locus from both D2 HAN and normal genome and expression of the unique gene from the MMTV integration site. Our results show that the cellular gene at the MMTV integration site in the int-5 locus is identical to the gene encoding aromatase (CYP19), a member of the cytochrome P-450 gene superfamily. MMTV is integrated within exon 10 in the 3' untranslated region of the aromatase gene. This gene (int-5/aromatase) is expressed in normal mammary gland and overexpressed in mammary tumors. These results suggest that the overexpression of this gene may be responsible for mammary tumorigenesis. This is the first demonstration of integration of MMTV in a cellular gene that plays a role in hormone-dependent breast cancers.

A transcriptional regulatory element common to a large family of hepatic cytochrome P450 genes is a functional binding site of the orphan receptor HNF-4.

Hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP) genes, including members of CYP1 to CYP4 families, comprise the majority of the CYP gene superfamily. Previous study has demonstrated that HepG2-specific transcriptional activation of two CYP2C genes was dependent on a common element that bound a HepG2 nuclear protein designated HPF-1 (Venepally, P., Chen, D., and Kemper, B. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 17333-17338). This cis-acting element is highly homologous to the hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 (HNF-4) binding motif and is present in the promoters of more than 20 other CYP2 genes. To investigate the relationship between HPF-1 and HNF-4, we have compared their tissue distribution, DNA binding, and immunochemical characteristics, as well as transcriptional activity of their recognition elements. DNase I footprint analyses and gel-shift assays indicated that HPF-1, like HNF-4, was present in liver and kidney, but not brain and spleen. Both factors bound to either the HPF-1 site in the CYP2C2 promoter or an HNF-4 site in the human apolipoprotein CIII promoter. These complexes could be "supershifted" by an antiserum specific for HNF-4. When the sequence of the HPF-1 site in the CYP2C2 promoter was changed to that of the apolipoprotein CIII HNF-4 site, comparable transcriptional activities were obtained with the wild-type promoter and the HNF-4 mutant in transfected HepG2 cells. Cotransfection of HNF-4 with CYP2C2 promoter-luciferase constructs in COS-1 cells indicated that HNF-4 could trans-activate the promoters containing the HPF-1 site. These results indicate that the HPF-1 motif is a functional HNF-4-binding site, and the common immunological properties indicate that HPF-1 and HNF-4 are closely related and possibly identical. HNF-4, therefore, may act as a common regulator for the liver-specific expression of many CYP2 genes.

Polymorphism in CYP1A1 and CYP2D6 genes: possible association with susceptibility to lung cancer.

Polymorphism of CYP2D6 gene encoding for debrisoquine hydroxylase was determined genotypically for 94 controls and 77 lung cancer patients using a polymerase chain reaction-based application. Both of the point mutations that give rise to deficient alleles of the CYP2D6 gene are detectable by this method. Out of the 94 healthy controls, 3 individuals (3.2%) had poor metabolizer (PM) genotypes, whereas no PM genotypes were detected in the lung cancer patient group. We observed no difference in the allelic frequencies for either homozygous extensive metabolizers (EMs) or heterozygous EMs between the lung cancer patients and the healthy controls. However, the absence of the poor metabolizer genotype (0/77) in the lung cancer patients is compatible with the hypothesis that there is an increased risk of lung cancer for individuals who are extensive metabolizers of debrisoquine. Another member of the cytochrome P450 gene superfamily that has attracted interest for its potential role in human pulmonary carcinogenesis is the CYP1A1 gene. In CYP1A1 gene studies, a polymorphic site assessable to MspI gives rise to two different hybridizable fragments in a Southern blot analysis (alleles C1 and C2, respectively). The C2C2 genotype has previously been associated with an increased risk of lung cancer. So far 74 lung cancer patients, 30 patients with lung diseases other than cancer, and 118 healthy controls have been studied for CYP1A1 gene polymorphism. No association between the MspI restriction fragment length polymorphism in the CYP1A1 gene and lung cancer susceptibility has been found.

Cytochrome P450: progress and predictions.

The cytochrome P450 gene superfamily encodes many isoforms that are unusual in the variety of chemical reactions catalyzed and the number of substrates attacked. The latter include physiologically important substances such as steroids, eicosanoids, fatty acids, lipid hydroperoxides, retinoids, and other lipid metabolites, and xenobiotics such as drugs, alcohols, procarcinogens, antioxidants, organic solvents, anesthetics, dyes, pesticides, odorants, and flavorants. Accordingly, it is not surprising that these catalysts have come under intensive study in recent years in fields as diverse as biochemistry and molecular biology, endocrinology, pharmacology, toxicology, anesthesiology, nutrition, pathology, and oncology. In this review, recent advances in our knowledge of the catalytic properties, reaction mechanisms, and regulation of expression and activity of the P450 enzymes are briefly summarized. In addition, the prospects for research in this field are considered, and advances are predicted in four broad areas: improved basic knowledge of enzyme catalysis and regulation; synthesis of fine chemicals, including drug design and screening; removal of undesirable environmental chemicals; and biomedical applications related to steroid, drug, carcinogen, and alcohol metabolism.

Substitution of Ile-172 to Asn in the steroid 21-hydroxylase B (P450c21B) gene in a Finnish patient with the simple virilizing form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia

The steroid 21-hydroxylase enzyme (P450c21) is a member of the cytochrome P450 gene superfamily and is essential in the synthesis of cortisol and aldosterone. Defects in the P450c21B gene cause congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), a common genetic disorder leading to virilization of newborn females. To avoid the standard cloning of mutant P450c21 genes from genomic libraries, we amplified the full-length genomic P450c21 genes by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The amplification was followed by cloning and sequencing of a defective P450c21B gene. The strategy described here is generally applicable, thus making a simple characterization of the complete P450c21B gene possible. The method was tested in one patient suffering from the simple virilizing form of CAH. The sequence of three independent clones originating from the defective P450c21B showed that Ile at position 172 in exon 4 was substituted by Asn. The identical mutation also has been found in other patients with CAH.

Cytochrome P450IIE1 Is Elevated in Lymphocytes from Poorly Controlled Insulin-Dependent Diabetics*

Cytochrome P450IIE1, a member of the cytochrome P450 supergene family, was measured in peripheral lymphocytes of 14 patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus who were in poor metabolic control, as evidenced by elevated hemoglobin A1 levels (mean, 11.9 +/- 2.8%; normal, less than 7.8). Only one major form (mol wt, 48,000 daltons) of cytochrome P450IIE1 was detected with a specific polyclonal antibody against P450IIE1. Levels of cytochrome P450IIE1 were very low to undetectable in human lymphocytes from seven normal subjects. However, levels of P450IIE1 were elevated in lymphocytes from patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Elevated levels of cytochrome P450IIE1 determined by immunoblot analysis correlate positively with the levels of hemoglobin A1 (r = 0.8), a metabolic indicator in diabetic subjects. In one study subject in whom diabetic control was improved, the drop in hemoglobin A1C levels was accompanied by normalization of P450IIE1 levels.

Phosphorylation of hepatic phenobarbital-inducible cytochrome P-450.

The major phenobarbital-inducible cytochrome P-450 purified from rat liver, a member of family II of the cytochrome P-450 gene superfamily, is rapidly phosphorylated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase. The phosphorylation reaches greater than 0.5 mol phosphate/mol P-450 after 5 min and is accompanied by a decrease in enzyme activity. The serine residue in position 128 was shown to be the sole phosphorylation site and a conformational change of the protein was indicated by a shift of the carbon monoxide difference spectrum of the reduced cytochrome from 450 to 420 nm. Comparison of amino acid sequences of various cytochrome P-450 families revealed a highly conserved arginine residue in the immediate vicinity of the phosphorylated serine residue which constitutes the kinase recognition sequence. It also revealed that only the members of the cytochrome P-450 family II carry this kinase recognition sequence. To find out whether this phosphorylation also occurs in vivo, the exchangeable phosphate pool of intact hepatocytes derived from phenobarbital-pretreated rats was labeled with 32Pi followed by an incubation of the cells with the membrane-permeating dibutyryl-cAMP or with the adenylate cyclase stimulator glucagon to activate endogenous kinase. As a result, a microsomal polypeptide with the same electrophoretic mobility as cytochrome P-450 became strongly labeled. Peptide mapping and immunoprecipitation with monospecific antibodies identified this protein as the major phenobarbital-inducible cytochrome P-450. It becomes phosphorylated at the same serine residues as in the cell-free phosphorylation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Antibodies targeted against hypervariable and constant regions of cytochromes P450IIB1 and P450IIB2

Fusion proteins constructed between β-galactosidase and six different segments of either cytochrome P450IIB1 or cytochrome P450IIB2 (ranging from 18 to 33 amino acids in length) were expressed in Escherichia coli. Rabbit antibodies raised against these fusion proteins were first adsorbed through a β-galactosidase column and then immuno-purified on a second column containing the corresponding fusion protein. With the exception of the antibodies directed against the hydrophobic amino-terminal segment of cytochrome P450IIB1, all the antipeptide antibodies recognized the major phenobarbital-inducible cytochromes P450IIB1 and -IIB2 on immunoblots of liver microsomal proteins. Two of the antibodies were raised against regions where cytochromes P450IIB1 and -IIB2 differ in primary structure, and were differentially reactive toward these two highly homologous cytochromes. Several of the antipeptide antibodies were also reactive with a third phenobarbital-inducible microsomal protein expressed in livers of some individual Sprague-Dawley rats which was shown to be more highly related to P450IIB1 than P450IIB2. This P450IIB1-related P450, designated P450IIB1 ∗, was purified to apparent homogeneity and shown to hydroxylate the steroid hormones testosterone and androstenedione with the well-defined regiospecificity and high catalytic activity characteristic of P450IIB1. A fourth microsomal protein detected using the antipeptide antibodies appeared to be more highly related to P450IIB2. Because the segments on the P450 molecules recognized by these antipeptide antibodies are known, it is possible to predict where P450IIB1 ∗ and the P450IIB2-related protein differ from cytochromes P450IIB2 and -IIB1, respectively. These studies demonstrate the utility of site-specific anti-P450 antibodies raised to fusion peptides for studies on the expression of structurally related P450s and polymorphic variants within the cytochrome P450 gene superfamily.

Selective mutagenic activation by cytochrome P3-450 of carcinogenic arylamines found in foods.

Heterocyclic arylamines found in cooked foods including fish and beef are potent mutagens and carcinogens. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the specificity of cytochromes P1-450 and P3-450 toward the metabolic activation of these arylamines. We used a novel mutagenicity test system which combined human cells expressing either recombinant cytochrome P1-450 or P3-450 with Salmonella typhimurium to score mutants. Cytochrome P3-450, a single isoform of the cytochrome P-450 supergene family, bioactivated these food mutagens. Cytochrome P1-450 showed little or no activation of these arylamines but was the isoform predominantly responsible for the activation of the aromatic hydrocarbon benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-diol. This assay system should serve to define the specificities of individual cytochromes P-450 in the metabolic activation of carcinogens.

Isolation of a full-length cDNA insert encoding human aromatase system cytochrome P-450 and its expression in nonsteroidogenic cells.

The isolation and cloning of a full-length cDNA insert complementary to mRNA encoding human aromatase system cytochrome P-450 is reported. The insert contains an open reading frame encoding a protein of 503 amino acids. This gene is clearly a member of the cytochrome P-450 gene superfamily, because the sequence contains regions of marked homology to those of other members, notably a putative membrane-spanning region, I helix, Ozols, and heme-binding regions. The cDNA was inserted into a modified pCMV vector and expressed in COS-1 monkey kidney tumor cells. The expressed protein was similar in size to human placental aromatase system cytochrome P-450, as detected by immunoblot analysis, and catalyzed the aromatization of androstenedione, testosterone, and 16 alpha-hydroxyandrostenedione. This activity was inhibited by the known aromatase inhibitors, 4-hydroxyandrostenedione and econazole. Thus the several steps involved in the aromatization reaction appear to be catalyzed by a single polypeptide chain, which can metabolize the three major physiological substrates.