Human Cytochrome B5 Research Articles

Hexa-Histidine, a Peptide with Versatile Applications in the Study of Amyloid-β(1-42) Molecular Mechanisms of Action.

Amyloid β (Aβ) oligomers are the most neurotoxic forms of Aβ, and Aβ(1-42) is the prevalent Aβ peptide found in the amyloid plaques of Alzheimer's disease patients. Aβ(25-35) is the shortest peptide that retains the toxicity of Aβ(1-42). Aβ oligomers bind to calmodulin (CaM) and calbindin-D28k with dissociation constants in the nanomolar Aβ(1-42) concentration range. Aβ and histidine-rich proteins have a high affinity for transition metal ions Cu2+, Fe3+ and Zn2+. In this work, we show that the fluorescence of Aβ(1-42) HiLyteTM-Fluor555 can be used to monitor hexa-histidine peptide (His6) interaction with Aβ(1-42). The formation of His6/Aβ(1-42) complexes is also supported by docking results yielded by the MDockPeP Server. Also, we found that micromolar concentrations of His6 block the increase in the fluorescence of Aβ(1-42) HiLyteTM-Fluor555 produced by its interaction with the proteins CaM and calbindin-D28k. In addition, we found that the His6-tag provides a high-affinity site for the binding of Aβ(1-42) and Aβ(25-35) peptides to the human recombinant cytochrome b5 reductase, and sensitizes this enzyme to inhibition by these peptides. In conclusion, our results suggest that a His6-tag could provide a valuable new tool to experimentally direct the action of neurotoxic Aβ peptides toward selected cellular targets.

Cytochrome B5 Reductase 3 Can Be Approached As A Contemporary Therapeutic Target to Restrain Hypertension

Hypertension or high blood pressure is attributed as a critical health problem. Currently available therapeutics are indeed effective in combating hypertension, but are not always bereft of complications. Hence, to pursue alternate anti‐hypertensive therapeutics, the present study investigated human Cytochrome B5 Reducatse3 (hCYB5R3) enzyme as a “contemporary” therapeutic target, since this enzyme regulates the bioavailability of nitric oxide, a vasodilator involved in governing vascular tone; and hence hypertension. In the present investigation, small molecule databases were virtually screened against the crystal structure of the enzyme to identify potential inhibitors as well as to obtain binding energies and inhibitory constants. The enzyme was purified to homogeneity from recombinant sources and the inhibitors so obtained were tested in vitro using potassium ferricyanide assay in order to calculate IC50 values as a measure of inhibitor efficacy of these compounds against hCYB5R3. Further, the effect of these inhibitors was tested using various biophysical techniques including fluorescence and CD spectroscopy so as to obtain binding affinity, number of binding sites and effect on secondary structure, respectively. Fluorescence analysis has revealed promising binding constants (in micro molar ranges) and stoichiometric ratios (≈1:1) for some of the inhibitors. CD analysis revealed that these inhibitors do not alter the secondary structure of the FAD containing enzyme. Further, selected inhibitors were able to curb hypertension in vivo in spontaneously hypertensive rats. These encouraging findings have poised us to investigate the inhibitors further since overall, the identified and screened leads showed promising potential to be developed as novel anti‐hypertensive drugs against hCYB5R3.Support or Funding InformationThe funding support to conduct this study was provided by Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Government of India. For experiments in rats, ethical clearance was obtained from Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), India (IAEC/2015/23/CCKartha/RGCB/20.05.2015 (Protocol No. IAEC/570/CCK/2016)

Human erythrocytes exposure to juglone leads to an increase of superoxide anion production associated with cytochrome b5 reductase uncoupling

Cytochrome b5 reductase is an enzyme with the ability to generate superoxide anion at the expenses of NADH consumption. Although this activity can be stimulated by cytochrome c and could participate in the bioenergetic failure accounting in apoptosis, very little is known about other molecules that may uncouple the function of the cytochrome b5 reductase. Naphthoquinones are redox active molecules with the ability to interact with electron transfer chains. In this work, we made an inhibitor screening against recombinant human cytochrome b5 reductase based on naphthoquinone properties. We found that 5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (known as juglone), a natural naphthoquinone extracted from walnut trees and used historically in traditional medicine with ambiguous health and toxic outcomes, had the ability to uncouple the electron transfer from the reductase to cytochrome b5 and ferricyanide. Upon complex formation with cytochrome b5 reductase, juglone is able to act as an electron acceptor leading to a NADH consumption stimulation and an increase of superoxide anion production by the reductase. Our results suggest that cytochrome b5 reductase could contribute to the measured energetic failure in the erythrocyte apoptosis induced by juglone, that is concomitant with the reactive oxygen species produced by cytochrome b5 reductase.

Metabolism of triacetone triperoxide (TATP) by canine cytochrome P450 2B11

This work is performed to determine if there is a potential for the accumulation and potential toxicity of triacetone triperoxide (TATP) in canines. Additional utility of this information may suggest human toxicity and possibly detection of biomarkers, metabolites or intact molecule of those using this material for nefarious reasons. Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry of dog liver microsome (DLM) incubation samples of TATP was used to measure substrate depletion. Trapping of electrophilic products was performed using glutathione (GSH) and semicarbazide. Comparisons were made to free hydroperoxides found in methyl ethyl ketone peroxides (MEKP). The non-specific Km value of 2.2 μM and a Vmax of 1.1 nmol/min/mg of protein were determined. Canine recombinant cytochrome P450 (rCYP) 2B11 with human cytochrome b5 was found to catalyze the NADPH-dependent metabolism of TATP into its only phase I metabolite, hydroxy-TATP (TATP-OH). No secondary metabolite(s) or degraded products were detected or trapped from microsomal incubations. MEKP subjected to similar conditions was found to undergo significant metabolism, semicarbazide trapping and rapid oxidation of GSH to GSSG. The synthesized TATP-OH metabolite incubated in DLM progressed three times faster than TATP metabolism with no secondary metabolites found or trapped. TATP does not react as MEKP suggesting that TATP does not ring-open to form hydroperoxides. TATP and TATP-OH compete for the same enzyme, with TATP dominating this competition. Failure to detect additional metabolite(s) suggests they may be too small to detect by our system or bound covalently to a protein or polymer in the incubation reaction.

62 - Generation of superoxide radical by human cytochrome b5 reductase is modulated by cytochrome b5

Cytochrome b5 reductase (CYB5R) plays a central role in many diverse metabolic reactions by coupling NAD(P)H oxidation to reduction of proteins, such as cytochrome b5 (CYB5). Together, CYB5R and CYB5 transfer electrons to terminal oxidases, such as the mitochondrial amidoxime reducing component (mARC) or hemoglobin. Previous studies have demonstrated that nitric oxide (NO) production by the mARC/CYB5/CYB5R system is quenched by molecular oxygen (O2) and suggested that superoxide radical production was involved, as the addition of Cu,Zn-superoxide(SOD1) dismutase partially recovered NO production. Flavin proteins are known to generate superoxide, suggesting that the CYB5R was the likely site of superoxide radical production. However, the direct formation of superoxide by human CYB5R had not been studied. Here, studies were performed to understand the related mechanisms of radical generation by CYB5R in the absence and presence of CYB5. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spin trapping studies using 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO) were performed with CYB5R and NADH. An EPR spectrum corresponding to the superoxide radical adduct of DMPO (DMPO-OOH) was obtained. This EPR signal was quenched by the addition of the SOD1. The amount of DMPO-OOH formed from the oxidation of NADH by the CYB5R increased with NADH concentration. Importantly, the formation of DMPO-OOH was abrogated in the presence of CYB5. Spectral kinetics demonstrate that NADH consumption is O2-dependent, as no NADH consumption was observed in the absence of O2. From these results, we propose a mechanism in which NADH-reduced CYB5R catalyzes superoxide radical formation. Our results demonstrate that human CYB5R catalyzes the O2-dependent oxidation of NADH to generate superoxide radical. Additionally, CYB5 may protect biological targets from oxidative damage, by inhibiting CYB5R superoxide radical production. The ability of CYB5R to catalyze superoxide radical production in response to O2 has potential pathophysiological implications for the ischemia/reperfusion induced damages, endothelial dysfunction, and cardiovascular and neurological diseases.

ω-Hydroxylation of α-tocopheryl quinone reveals a dual function for cytochrome P450-4F2 in vitamin E metabolism.

α-Tocopherol (α-TOH) is the primary lipophilic radical trapping antioxidant in human tissues. Oxidative catabolism of α-tocopherol (αTOH) is initiated by ω-hydroxylation of the terminal carbon (C-13) of the isoprenoid sidechain followed by oxidative transformations that sequentially truncate the chain to yield the 2,5,7,8-tetramethyl(3'carboxyethyl)-6-hydroxychroman (α-CEHC). After conjugation to glucuronic acid, 3'-carboxyethyl-6-hydroxychroman glucuronide is excreted in urine. We report here that the same enzyme that accomplishes this task, the cytochrome P450 monooxygenase CYP-4F2, can also ω-hydroxylate the terminal carbon of α-tocopheryl quinone. A standard sample of ω-OH-α-tocopheryl quinone (ω-OH-α-TQ) was synthesized as a mixture of stereoisomers by allylic oxidation of α-tocotrienol using SeO2 followed by double-bond reduction and oxidation to the quinone. After incubating human liver microsomes or insect cell microsomes expressing only recombinant human CYP-4F2, cytochrome b5, and NADPH P450 reductase with d6-α-tocopheryl quinone (d6-αTQ), we showed that the ω-hydroxylated (13-OH) d6-α-TQ was produced. We further identified the production of the terminal carboxylic acid d6-13-COOH-αTQ. The ramifications of this discovery to the understanding of tocopherol utilization and metabolism, including the quantitative importance of the αTQ-ω-hydroxylase pathway in humans, are discussed.

Preventing the N-terminal processing of human interferon α-2b and its chimeric derivatives expressed in Escherichia coli

We have previously shown that human interferon α-2b (IFN) produced in Escherichia coli (E. coli) is heterogeneous at the N-terminal, with three major species (Ahsan et al., 2014). These are: (a) the direct translation product of the gene retaining the N-terminal methionine, (b) a species from which the methionyl residue has been removed by E. coli methionyl aminopeptidase to give the native interferon α-2b and (c) in which the N-terminal Cys residue of the latter contains an acetyl group. In this paper we overcome this heterogeneity, using engineered interferon derivatives with phenylalanine residue directly downstream of the N-terminal methionine (Met-Phe-IFN). This modification not only prevented the removal of the N-terminal methionine by E. coli methionyl aminopeptidase but also the subsequent N-acetylation. Critically, Met-Phe-IFN had enhanced activity in a biological assay. N-terminal stabilization was also achieved by fusing human cytochrome b5 at the N-terminal of interferon (b5-IFN-chimera). In this case also, the protein was more active than a reciprocal chimera with cytochrome b5 at the C-terminal of interferon (Met-IFN-b5-chimera). This latter protein also had a heterogeneous N-terminal but addition of phenylalanine following Met, (Met-Phe-IFN-b5-chimera), resolved this problem and gave enhanced biological activity.

Fabrication of Annealed Gold Nanostructures on Pre-Treated Glow-Discharge Cleaned Glasses and Their Used for Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR) and Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) Detection of Adsorbed (Bio)molecules.

Metallic nanoparticles are considered as active supports in the development of specific chemical or biological biosensors. Well-organized nanoparticles can be prepared either through expensive (e.g., electron beam lithography) or inexpensive (e.g., thermal synthesis) approaches where different shapes of nanoparticles are easily obtained over large solid surfaces. Herein, the authors propose a low-cost thermal synthesis of active plasmonic nanostructures on thin gold layers modified glass supports after 1 h holding on a hot plate (~350 °C). The resulted annealed nanoparticles proved a good reproducibility of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) and surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) optical responses and where used for the detection of low concentrations of two model (bio)chemical molecules, namely the human cytochrome b5 (Cyt-b5) and trans-1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene (BPE).

Contribution of Electrostatics to the Kinetics of Electron Transfer from NADH-Cytochrome b5 Reductase to Fe(III)-Cytochrome b5.

Brownian dynamics (BD) simulations provide here a theoretical atomic-level treatment of the reduction of human ferric cytochrome b5 (cyt b5) by NADH-cytochrome b5 reductaste (cyt b5r) and several of its mutants. BD is used to calculate the second-order rate constant of electron transfer (ET) between the proteins for direct correlation with experiments. Interestingly, the inclusion of electrostatic forces dramatically increases the reaction rate of the native proteins despite the overall negative charge of both proteins. The role played by electrostatic charge distribution in stabilizing the ET complexes and the role of mutations of several amino acid residues in stabilizing or destabilizing the complexes are analyzed. The complex with the shortest ET reaction distance (d = 6.58 Å) from rigid body BD is further subjected to 1 ns of molecular dynamics (MD) in a periodic box of TIP3P water to produce a more stable complex allowed by flexibility and with a shorter average reaction distance d = 6.02 Å. We predict a docking model in which the following ion-ion interactions are dominant (cyt b5r/cyt b5): Lys162-Heme O1D/Lys163-Asp64/Arg91-Heme O1A/Lys125-Asp70.

Effect of Cytochrome b5 Content on the Activity of Polymorphic CYP1A2, 2B6, and 2E1 in Human Liver Microsomes.

Human cytochrome b5 (Cyt b5) plays important roles in cytochrome P450 (CYP)-mediated drug metabolism. However, the expression level of Cyt b5 in normal human liver remains largely unknown. The effect of Cyt b5 on overall CYP activity in human liver microsomes (HLM) has rarely been reported and the relationship between Cyt b5 and the activity of polymorphic CYP has not been systematically investigated. In this study, we found that the median value of Cyt b5 protein was 270.01 pmol/mg from 123 HLM samples, and 12- and 19-fold individual variation was observed in Cyt b5 mRNA and protein levels, respectively. Gender and smoking clearly influenced Cyt b5 content. In addition, we found that Cyt b5 protein levels significantly correlated with the overall activity of CYP1A2, 2B6, and 2E1 in HLM. However, when the CYP activities were sorted by single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP), the effect of Cyt b5 protein on the kinetic parameters varied greatly. There were significant correlations between Cyt b5 content and Vmax and CLint of CYP1A2 wild-types (3860GG, 2159GG, and 5347CC) as well as homozygous mutants (163AA and 3113GG). In contrast to Vmax and CLint, the Km of CYP2B6 516GG and 785AA genotypes was inversely associated with Cyt b5 content. Correlations between Cyt b5 content and Vmax and CLint of CYP2E1 -1293GG, -1293GC, 7632TT, 7632TA, -333TT, and -352AA genotypes were also observed. In conclusion, Cyt b5 expression levels varied considerably in the Chinese cohort from this study. Cyt b5 had significant impact on the overall activity of CYP1A2, 2B6, and 2E1 in HLM and the effects of Cyt b5 protein on polymorphic CYP1A2, 2B6, and 2E1 activity were SNP-dependent. These findings suggest that Cyt b5 plays an important role in CYP-mediated activities in HLM and may possibly be a contributing factor for the individual variation observed in CYP enzyme activities.

Homogeneous large-scale crystalline nanoparticle-covered substrate with high SERS performance

This article details the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) performance of plasmonic substrates fabricated by a physical metal evaporation technique that uses no precursor or intermediate coating. We outline a cost-effective nanofabrication protocol that uses common laboratory equipment to produce homogeneously covered crystalline nanoparticle substrates. Our fabrication yields a homogeneous SERS response over the whole surface. The platform is tested with methylene blue diluted at various concentrations to estimate the sensitivity, homogeneity, and reproducibility of the process. The capacity of the substrates is also confirmed with spectroscopic investigations of human microsomal cytochrome b5.

Kinetic Analysis of the Processivity of Human Cytochrome P450 17A1

Human cytochrome P450 (P450) 17A1 is one of several P450 monoxygenases involved in the biosynthesis of steroids. Notably, P450 17A1 is responsible for 17α‐hydroxylation of the 21‐carbon steroids pregnenolone and progesterone, which are used in glucocorticoid production. 17α‐Hydroxypregnenolone and 17α‐hydroxyprogesterone are also further oxidized by P450 17A1 in a 17α,20‐lyase reaction generating the 19‐carbon androgens dehydroepiandrosterone and androstenendione, respectively. Selective stimulation of the 17α,20‐lyase reaction is observed with human cytochrome b5 (b5). Inhibition of P450 17A1 is a goal in some cancer therapies because of its role in generating sex hormone precursors through the cleavage reaction. However, complete inhibition of the enzyme concomitantly impedes glucocorticoid synthesis. This issue poses the question of whether the 17α,20‐lyase reaction succeeds 17α‐hydroxylation in a successive or distributive manner. To date, the processivity of human P450 17A1 (with and without b5) has yet to be systematically determined. Steady‐state kinetic parameters have been measured for human P450 17A1 reactions and binding constants have been obtained via spectral titrations. Pulse‐chase assays using radio‐labeled substrates and pre‐steady‐state analyses further elucidate the rate constants of key steps in the two‐reaction mechanism for both steroids. Human P450 17A1 is partially processive with pregnenolone. The kinetic analyses yield data to further model the processivity in the presence and absence of b5 utilizing KinTek Explorer® software.

Contribution of CYP3A isoforms to dealkylation of PDE5 inhibitors: a comparison between sildenafil N-demethylation and tadalafil demethylenation.

The aim of this study was to characterize the kinetics of metabolite formation of the phosphodiesterase type-5 (PDE5) inhibitors sildenafil and tadalafil by CYP3A4, CYP3A5, and CYP3A7 isoforms. The formations of N-desmethyl sildenafil and desmethylene tadalafil were examined using CYP3A supersomes co-expressing human P450 oxidoreductase and cytochrome b5. Both sildenafil N-demethylation and tadalafil demethylenation were catalyzed by CYP3A4, CYP3A5, and to a lesser extent by CYP3A7. The kinetics of desalkyl metabolite formation of the two drugs were well fitted to the Hill equation; however, the Hill coefficients (n) suggested CYP3A-mediated negative cooperativity. Next, we analyzed the kinetics with a two binding sites model assuming two reaction steps: reaction 1 with high-affinity and low-capacity metabolism and reaction 2 with low-affinity and high-capacity metabolism. The kinetics of desalkyl metabolite formation were also fitted to the two binding sites model. The intrinsic clearance (CLint) values of reactions 1 and 2 for sildenafil N-demethylation were 0.733 and 0.033 µL/min/pmol P450 for CYP3A4, 0.788 and 0.019 µL/min/pmol P450 for CYP3A5, and 0.079 and 0.004 µL/min/pmol P450 for CYP3A7, respectively. The CLint values of reactions 1 and 2 for tadalafil demethylenation were 0.187 and 0.014 µL/min/pmol P450 for CYP3A4, 0.050 and <0.001 µL/min/pmol P450 for CYP3A5, and 0.004 and <0.001 µL/min/pmol P450 for CYP3A7, respectively. These results may provide the basis not only for understanding the metabolic properties of the two PDE5 inhibitors, but also for one possible explanation of the mechanisms of CYP3A-mediated negative cooperativity.

Highly sensitive protein detection by combination of atomic force microscopy fishing with charge generation and mass spectrometry analysis.

An approach combining atomic force microscopy (AFM) fishing and mass spectrometry (MS) analysis to detect proteins at ultra-low concentrations is proposed. Fishing out protein molecules onto a highly oriented pyrolytic graphite surface coated with polytetrafluoroethylene film was carried out with and without application of an external electric field. After that they were visualized by AFM and identified by MS. It was found that injection of solution leads to charge generation in the solution, and an electric potential within the measuring cell is induced. It was demonstrated that without an external electric field in the rapid injection input of diluted protein solution the fishing is efficient, as opposed to slow fluid input. The high sensitivity of this method was demonstrated by detection of human serum albumin and human cytochrome b5 in 10(-17) -10(-18) m water solutions. It was shown that an external negative voltage applied to highly oriented pyrolytic graphite hinders the protein fishing. The efficiency of fishing with an external positive voltage was similar to that obtained without applying any voltage.

Two surfaces of cytochrome b5 with major and minor contributions to CYP3A4-catalyzed steroid and nifedipine oxygenation chemistries

Conserved human cytochrome b5 (b5) residues D58 and D65 are critical for interactions with CYP2E1 and CYP2C19, whereas E48 and E49 are essential for stimulating the 17,20-lyase activity of CYP17A1. Here, we show that b5 mutations E48G, E49G, D58G, and D65G have reduced capacity to stimulate CYP3A4-catalyzed progesterone and testosterone 6β-hydroxylation or nifedipine oxidation. The b5 double mutation D58G/D65G fails to stimulate these reactions, similar to CYP2E1 and CYP2C19, whereas mutation E48G/E49G retains 23–42% of wild-type stimulation. Neither mutation impairs the activity stimulation of wild-type b5, nor does mutation D58G/D65G impair the partial stimulation of mutations E48G or E48G/E49G. For assays reconstituted with a single phospholipid, phosphatidyl serine afforded the highest testosterone 6β-hydroxylase activity with wild-type b5 but the poorest activity with b5 mutation E48G/E49G, and the activity stimulation of mutation E48G/E49G was lost at [NaCl]>50mM. Cross-linking of CYP3A4 and b5 decreased in the order wild-type>E48G/E49G>D58G/D65G and varied with phospholipid. We conclude that two b5 acidic surfaces, primarily the domain including residues D58–D65, participate in the stimulation of CYP3A4 activities. Our data suggest that a minor population of CYP3A4 molecules remains sensitive to b5 mutation E48G/E49G, consistent with phospholipid-dependent conformational heterogeneity of CYP3A4.

Functional and structural characterisation of a viral cytochrome b5

Cytochrome b5 is a ubiquitous electron transport protein. The sequenced viral OtV-2 genome, which infects Ostreococcus tauri, was predicted to encode a putative cytochrome b5 enzyme. Using purified OtV-2 cytochrome b5 we confirm this protein has identical spectral properties to purified human cytochrome b5 and additionally that the viral enzyme can substitute for yeast cytochrome b5 in yeast cytochrome P450 51 mediated sterol 14α-demethylation. The crystal structure of the OtV-2 cytochrome b5 enzyme reveals a single domain, comprising four β sheets, four α helices and a haem moiety, which is similar to that found in larger eukaryotic cytochrome proteins. As a product of a horizontal gene transfer event involving a subdomain of the host fumarate reductase-like protein, OtV-2 cytochrome b5 appears to have diverged in function and is likely to have evolved an entirely new role for the virus during infection. Indeed, lacking a hydrophobic C-terminal anchor, OtV-2 encodes the first cytosolic cytochrome b5 characterised. The lack of requirement for membrane attachment (in contrast to all other microsomal cytochrome b5s) may be a reflection of the small size of the host cell, further emphasizes the unique nature of this virus gene product and draws attention to the potential importance of cytochrome b5 metabolic activity at the extremes of cellular scale.

Influence of CYP2C8 polymorphisms on the hydroxylation metabolism of paclitaxel, repaglinide and ibuprofen enantiomers in vitro

CYP2C8 plays an important role in the metabolism of various drugs, such as paclitaxel, repaglinide and ibuprofen. Polymorphisms in the CYP2C8 gene were shown to influence interindividual differences in the pharmacokinetics of paclitaxel, repaglinide and ibuprofen enantiomers. In this study, three CYP2C8 allelic variants (CYP2C8.2, CYP2C8.3 and CYP2C8.4) and wild-type CYP2C8 (CYP2C8.1) were co-expressed for the first time with human cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase (POR) and cytochrome b5 by using a baculovirus-assisted insect cell expression system. Further, the effects of genotype-phenotype correlations of CYP2C8 alleles on the metabolism of paclitaxel, repaglinide and ibuprofen enantiomers were evaluated. The CLint values of CYP2C8.2, CYP2C8.3 and CYP2C8.4 for paclitaxel were 47.7%, 64.3% and 30.2% of that of CYP2C8.1 (p<0.01). The CLint values of CYP2C8.2 and CYP2C8.4 for repaglinide were 77.9% and 80.2% of that of CYP2C8.1 (p<0.05), respectively, while the CLint value of CYP2C8.3 was 1.31-fold higher than that of CYP2C8.1 (p<0.05). The relative CLint values of CYP2C8.2, CYP2C8.3 and CYP2C8.4 were 110.5%, 72.3% and 49.7% of that of CYP2C8.1 and were 124.6%, 83.4% and 47.4% of that of CYP2C8.1 for R-ibuprofen and S-ibuprofen, respectively. Comparing hydroxylation by CYP2C8.1 and CYP2C8.3 resulted in higher and lower intrinsic clearance of repaglinide and ibuprofen enantiomers, respectively. These in vitro findings were consistent with the pharmacokinetics in volunteers who were heterozygous or homozygous carriers of CYP2C8*3. The results of this study provide useful information for predicting CYP2C8 phenotypes and may contribute to individualized drug therapy in the future.

P74: Novel human mitochondrial enzyme can transform nitrite into nitric oxide

Endogenous metabolism of nitrate to nitrite to nitric oxide (NO) affects numerous biological events in humans, such as blood pressure control and hypoxic vasodilation, yet the molecular mechanism of this transformation remains uncertain and controversial. Nitrate and nitrite conversion to NO are reductive processes, requiring electron and proton transfer reactions, suggesting that oxidoreductase enzymes are involved. Nitrate reduction may occur through a combination of endogenous (i.e. human enzymes) and exogenous (i.e. commensal bacteria) nitrate reductase enzymes, while nitrite reduction to nitric oxide is likely catalyzed by endogenous nitrite reductase enzymes. Several mechanisms have been investigated, yet no conclusive data are available to support a single enzyme as an indispensable component for reduction of nitrite to NO in human tissue. It is likely that different enzyme systems are active in specific tissues under differential hypoxia, pH and co-factor regulatory control. We have identified a novel human nitrite reductase enzyme, which we hypothesize may contribute to mitochondrial reduction of nitrite to NO. The mitochondria amidoxime reducing component (mARC) enzyme is widely expressed in human tissue, but has an undefined physiological function. We hypothesize that mARC catalyzes the NADH-dependent reduction of nitrite to NO. To test this hypothesis the kinetics of nitrite reduction to NO by human mARC was investigated. Recombinant mARC was generated using standard molecular biology techniques, and then isolated using metal affinity chromatography. Site directed mutagenesis was used to change the active site cysteine into alanine. Human cytochrome b5 and cytochrome b5 reductase were also isolated to determine if mARC can utilize NADH as an electron source in conjunction with these enzymes. Nitric oxide chemiluminescence spectroscopy was used to measure NO-formation rates under anaerobic conditions. Our study established that mARC can generate NO from nitrite in the presence of NADH, cytochrome b5, and cytochrome b5 reductase at pH 7.4. The maximum velocity (Vmax) of NO-formation measured was 5 nmoles NO s−1 mg−1 protein. Moreover, mutation of the putative active site cysteine residue to alanine, and substitution of tungsten for molybdenum, completely abolished enzyme activity. The kinetic data supports our hypothesis and establishes that human mARC is capable of catalyzing reduction of nitrite to NO. Moreover, these data suggest that cysteine 270 and molybdenum are important in the transformation of nitrite to NO. Disclosure Supported by institution training grant (T32).

Co-expression of human cytochrome b5 increases expression of cytochrome P450 3A4 in Escherichia coli by stabilizing mRNA

CYP3A4 is the most abundant cytochrome P450 in the human liver. The expression level of CYP3A4 when coexpressed with cytochrome b5 (cyt b5) in Escherichia coli was 20–60% higher than that when it was expressed alone over an extended period (48–72h). This time-dependent elevation in coexpression with cyt b5 was a result of an increase in CYP3A4 mRNA half-life; no significant change in CYP3A4 degradation was seen in the bacterial protease fraction. These results suggest that the higher CYP3A4 levels observed upon coexpression with cyt b5 primarily resulted from CYP3A4 mRNA stabilization by cyt b5.

A Missense Mutation in the Human Cytochrome b5 Gene causes 46,XY Disorder of Sex Development due to True Isolated 17,20 Lyase Deficiency

Context:Isolated 17,20 lyase deficiency is commonly defined by apparently normal 17α-hydroxylase activity but severely reduced 17,20 lyase activity of the bifunctional enzyme cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzyme 17A1 (CYP17A1), resulting in sex steroid deficiency but normal glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid reserve. Cytochrome b5 (CYB5A) is thought to selectively enhance 17,20 lyase activity by facilitating the allosteric interaction of CYP17A1 with its electron donor P450 oxidoreductase (POR).Objective:We investigated a large consanguineous family including three siblings with 46,XY disorder of sex development (DSD) presenting with isolated 17,20 lyase deficiency.Design:We investigated the clinical and biochemical phenotype, conducted genetic analyses, and functionally characterized the identified CYB5A mutation in cell-based CYP17A1 coexpression assays.Results:All three siblings presented with 46,XY DSD, sex steroid deficiency, normal mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids, and a urine steroid metabolome suggestive of isolated 17,20 lyase deficiency. CYP17A1 and POR sequences were normal, but we detected a homozygous CYB5A missense mutation (g.28,400A→T; p.H44L). Functional in vitro analysis revealed normal CYP17A1 17α-hydroxylase activity but severely impaired 17,20 lyase activity. In silico analysis suggested the disruption of CYB5A heme binding by p.H44L.Conclusion:We have identified the first human CYB5A missense mutation as the cause of isolated 17,20 lyase deficiency in three individuals with 46,XY DSD. Detailed review of previously reported cases with apparently isolated 17,20 lyase deficiency due to mutant CYP17A1 and POR reveals impaired 17α-hydroxylase activity as assessed by steroid metabolome analysis and short cosyntropin testing. This suggests that truly isolated 17,20 lyase deficiency is observed only in individuals with inactivating CYB5A mutations.