Human P450 3A4 Research Articles

Resveratrol Is a Selective Human Cytochrome P450 1A1 Inhibitor

Resveratrol (trans-3,4′,5-trihydroxystilbene) is a phytoalexin compound found in juice and wine produced from dark-skinned grape cultivars and reported to have anti-inflammatory and anticarcinogenic activities. To investigate the mechanism of anticarcinogenic activities of resveratrol, the effects on cytochrome P450 (P450) were determined in human liver microsomes and Escherichia coli membranes coexpressing human P450 1A1 or P450 1A2 with human NADPH-P450 reductase (bicistronic expression system). Resveratrol slightly inhibited ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation (EROD) activity in human liver microsomes with an IC50 of 1.1 mM. Interestingly, resveratrol exhibited potent inhibition of human P450 1A1 in a dose-dependent manner with IC50 of 23 μM for EROD and IC50 of 11 μM for methoxyresorufin O-demethylation (MROD). However, the inhibition of human P450 1A2 by resveratrol was not so strong (IC50 1.2 mM for EROD and 580 μM for MROD). Resveratrol showed over 50-fold selectivity for P450 1A1 over P450 1A2. The activities of human NADPH-P450 reductase were not significantly changed by resveratrol. In a human P450 1A1/reductase bicistronic expression system, resveratrol inhibited human P450 1A1 activity in a mixed-type inhibition (competitive-noncompetitive) with a Ki values of 9 and 89 μM. These results suggest that resveratrol is a selective human P450 1A1 inhibitor, and may be considered for use as a strong cancer chemopreventive agent in humans.

Nefazodone, meta-chlorophenylpiperazine, and their metabolites in vitro: cytochromes mediating transformation, and P450-3A4 inhibitory actions.

Understanding of the mechanisms of biotransformation of antidepressant drugs, and of their capacity to interact with other medications, is of direct relevance to rational clinical psychopharmacology. To determine the human cytochromes P450 mediating the metabolism of nefazodone, and the inhibitory activity of nefazodone and metabolites versus human P450-3A. Biotransformation of nefazodone to its metabolic products, and of meta-chlorophenylpiperazine (mCPP) to para-hydroxy-mCPP, was studied in vitro using human liver microsomes and heterologously expressed human cytochromes. Nefazodone and metabolites were also tested as inhibitors of alprazolam hydroxylation, reflecting activity of cytochrome P450-3A isoforms. mCPP and two hydroxylated derivatives were the principal metabolites formed from nefazodone by liver microsomes. Metabolite production was strongly inhibited by ketoconazole or troleandomycin (relatively specific P450-3A inhibitors), and by an anti-P450-3A antibody. Only heterologously expressed human P450-3A4 mediated formation of nefazodone metabolites from the parent compound. Nefazodone, hydroxy-nefazodone, and para-hydroxy-nefazodone were strong 3A inhibitors, being more potent than norfluoxetine and fluvoxamine, but less potent than ketoconazole. The triazoledione metabolite and mCPP had weak or negligible 3A-inhibiting activity. Formation of parahydroxy-mCPP from mCPP was mediated by heterologously expressed P450-2D6; in liver microsomes, the reaction was strongly inhibitable by quinidine, a relatively specific 2D6 inhibitor. The complex parallel biotransformation pathways of nefazodone are mediated mainly by human cytochrome P450-3A, whereas clearance of mCPP is mediated by P450-2D6. Nefazodone and two of its hydroxylated metabolites are potent 3A inhibitors, accounting for pharmacokinetic drug interactions of nefazodone with 3A substrate drugs such as triazolam and alprazolam.

Inter-individual differences in the metabolism of environmental toxicants: cytochrome P450 1A2 as a prototype

Cytochrome P450 ( P450) 1A2 provides an interesting paradigm for inter-individual differences in the metabolism of pro-carcinogens. The enzyme is known to vary 40-fold among individuals and may contribute to cancers caused by heterocyclic amines and other chemicals. Rat and human P450 1A2 are known to be 75% identical and were compared for several catalytic activities. The human enzyme was an order of magnitude more efficient in the N-hydroxylation of two heterocyclic amines. Further, the levels of P450 1A2 expressed in human livers show a 40-fold variation, with some as high as 0.25 nmol P450 1A2 per milligram microsomal protein. Some human liver samples are more active (than those isolated from polychlorinated biphenyl-treated rats) in the activation of heterocyclic amines. A bacterial genotoxicity assay has been developed in which human P450 1A2 and NADPH- P450 reductase are expressed within Escherichia coli and bacterial mutants can be assayed using reversion to lac prototrophy. A random mutagenesis strategy for human P450 1A2 has been developed and used to examine the changes in catalytic activity seen with many single-amino acid substitutions. These results may be of relevance in consideration of genetic polymorphisms. Further, the findings pose a challenge to molecular epidemiology effort in that results with one substrate do not necessarily predict those for others. Some dinitropyrenes are P450 1A2 substrates but others are not. 6-Nitrochrysene can be activated by human P450 1A2 but the (mono) nitropyrenes examined were not; these were oxidized by P450 3A4 instead.

Fentanyl inhibits metabolism of midazolam: competitive inhibition of CYP3A4 in vitro

Fentanyl decreases clearance of midazolam administered i.v., but the mechanism remains unclear. To elucidate this mechanism, we have investigated the effect of fentanyl on metabolism of midazolam using human hepatic microsomes and recombinant cytochrome P450 isoforms (n = 6). Midazolam was metabolized to l'-hydroxymidazolam (l'-OH MDZ) by human hepatic microsomes, with a Michaelis-Menten constant (K(m)) of 5.0 (SD 2.7) mumol litre-1. Fentanyl competitively inhibited metabolism of midazolam in human hepatic microsomes, with an inhibition constant (Ki) of 26.8 (12.4) mumol litre-1. Of the seven representative human hepatic P450 isoforms, CYP1A2, 2A6, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, 2E1 and 3A4, only CYP3A4 catalysed hydroxylation of midazolam, with a K(m) of 3.6 (0.8) mumol liter-1. Fentanyl competitively inhibited metabolism of midazolam to l'-OH MDZ by CYP3A4, with a Ki of 24.2 (6.8) mumol litre-1, comparable with the Ki obtained in human hepatic microsomes. These findings indicate that fentanyl competitively inhibits metabolism of midazolam by CYP3A4.

Evaluation of Escherichia coli DJ4309 expressing human P450 1A2 in mutagenicity testing of complex food mixtures

Heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs) are potent bacterial mutagens and potential human carcinogens formed in heat processed proteins. The Ames test (strain TA98) is a useful mutagenicity test system to screen food products for these compounds. HAAs require activation to their genotoxic forms, and in the Ames test, a rat liver S-9 preparation is normally used. In order to better understand the mechanisms of mutagen activation with respect to human metabolism, new bacterial strains containing human cytochrome P450s and other metabolic enzymes have recently been developed. We have investigated the capacity of one of these strains, DJ4309 [Josephy et al., Chem. Res. Toxicol. 11 (1998) 70–74] as a screening tool for mutagens in food products. DJ4309 expresses the human P450 1A2, human NADPH cytochrome reductase and the bacterial acetyl CoA:arylamine N-acetyltransferase. This strain is as sensitive as the Ames system to the mutagenic effects of the heterocyclic aromatic amines 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5- f]quinoline, 2-amino-3,4-dimethylimidazo[4,5- f]quinoline and 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5- f]quinoxaline, but less sensitive to 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5- b]pyridine. However, the mutagenicity of the arylamine 2-aminofluorene is considerably higher in DJ4309 than in the Ames test system. Meat extracts with a total HAA content ranging from less than 2 ng/g to 20 ng/g are efficiently detected by the Ames TA98 strain with rat liver S-9 activation. DJ4309 is less sensitive, with fewer revertants induced over the same dose range. Unknown compounds present in the meat extracts appear to inhibit the activity of the P450 1A2 enzyme in the DJ4309 strain. We have therefore demonstrated that although DJ4309 is a useful tool for mechanistic studies in chemical carcinogenesis, the screening of complex food matrices for HAAs by this bacterial strain must be conducted with caution.

Proteolytic Degradation of Heme-Modified Hepatic Cytochromes P450: A Role for Phosphorylation, Ubiquitination, and the 26S Proteasome?

The resident integral hepatic endoplasmic reticulum (ER) proteins, cytochromes P450 (P450s), turn overin vivowith widely varying half-lives. We and others (Correiaet al., Arch. Biochem. Biophys.297, 228, 1992; and Tierneyet al., Arch. Biochem. Biophys.293, 9, 1992) have previously shown that in intact animals, the hepatic P450s of the 3A and 2E1 subfamilies are first ubiquitinated and then proteolyzed after their drug-induced suicide inactivation. Our findings with intact rat hepatocytes and ER preparations containing native P450s and P450s inactivated via heme modification of the protein have revealed that the proteolytic degradation of heme-modified P450s requires a cytosolic ATP-dependent proteolytic system rather than lysosomal or ER proteases (Correiaet al., Arch. Biochem. Biophys.297, 228, 1992). Using purified cumene hydroperoxide-inactivated P450s (rat liver P450s 2B1 or 3A and/or a recombinant human liver P450 3A4) as models, we now document that these heme-modified enzymes are indeed ubiquitinated and then proteolyzed by the 26S proteasome, but not by its 20S proteolytic core. In addition, our studies indicate that the ubiquitination of these heme-modified P450s is preceded by their phosphorylation. It remains to be determined whether, in common with several other cellular proteins, such P450 phosphorylation is indeed required for their degradation. Nevertheless, these findings suggest that the membrane-anchored P450s are to be included in the growing class of ER proteins that undergo ubiquitin-dependent 26S proteasomal degradation.

Selection and characterization of human cytochrome P450 1A2 mutants with altered catalytic properties.

Random mutagenesis is an approach that has the potential to provide useful information about cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes but has not been extensively used to date. We applied our previously developed systems for generation of random libraries of human P450 1A2 with the putative substrate recognition sequences mutated (individual residues) and an Escherichia coli genotoxity assay involving reversion to lac prototrophy as a response to activation of the heterocyclic amine 2-amino-3,5-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (MeIQ). A total of 27 mutants were screened from 6000 clones, a small portion of the library. The sequence changes were identified, and E. coli membranes containing each P450 (with NADPH-P450 reductase expressed using a bicistronic vector) were used to determine kcat and Km values for 7-ethoxyresorufin and phenacetin O-deethylation and the (in vitro) activation of MeIQ with another bacterial genotoxicity system (Salmonella typhimurium umu). Within each assay, the values of kcat/Km varied by 2 orders of magnitude, and in some cases these parameters were 3-4-fold higher than for the native enzyme. The profiles of the mutants varied considerably for the three different reactions. Some of the mutants in the Asp-320 region may be compared with site-directed mutants of rat P450 1A2 already reported, with several differences noted. Other mutants have not been studied before in human P450 1A2 or homologues and are of interest; i.e., all Phe-226 mutants showed considerably reduced activity but Glu-225 mutants had increased catalytic activities. In principle, this approach may be applied to random mutagenesis of any enzyme that converts chemicals to mutagens and can be expressed in bacteria.

Metabolic activation of dibenzo[a,l]pyrene by human cytochrome P450 1A1 and P450 1B1 expressed in V79 Chinese hamster cells.

Metabolic activation of the strongly carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) dibenzo[a,l]pyrene (DB[a,l]P) and its trans-8,9-dihydrodiol (trans-8,9-diol) catalyzed by human cytochromes P450 (P450) 1A1 and 1B1 was investigated. DNA binding of DB[a,l]P in mammalian cell lines has previously been shown to be preferentially mediated by fjord region DB[a,l]P-11,12-dihydrodiol 13,14-epoxides (DB[a,l]PDE). In order to elucidate different capabilities of both P450 enzymes for metabolic activation of DB[a, l]P V79 Chinese hamster cells, stably expressing human P450s 1A1 or 1B1 have been exposed to the parent PAH or its racemic trans-8, 9-diol. For this purpose, synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of the trans-DB[a,l]P-8,9-diol and its individual enantiomers have been achieved. Both human P450-expressing cell lines were capable of transforming DB[a,l]P to its fjord region DB[a, l]PDE, but the extent of metabolism to DB[a,l]PDE catalyzed by human P450 1B1 was higher compared to human P450 1A1 at all times measured. On the other hand, cytotoxicity studies performed with the same incubation systems emerged stronger effects by DB[a,l]P and its enantiomeric trans-11,12-diols in human P450 1A1-expressing cells. Both human P450 enzymes stereospecifically catalyzed the formation of the (-)-DB[a,l]P-11,12-diol with R,R-configuration, whereas only the human P450 1A1-expressing cells form small amounts of the K-region trans-8,9-diol with high excess of the (+)-(8R, 9R)-enantiomer. Application of trans-DB[a,l]P-8,9-diol in metabolism studies revealed that this compound is converted by human P450s 1A1 and 1B1 to several diol phenols and bis-diols. However, and even at concentrations as high as 10 microM, in both cell lines the trans-DB[a,l]P-8,9-diol showed no cytotoxicity at all, suggesting that an activation of DB[a,l]P via further oxidation of the K-region trans-8,9-diol plays a minor role.

Microsomal cytochromes P450 catalyze the oxidation of low density lipoprotein

Low density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation is a major contributor to foam cell formation during early atherogenesis. Several oxygenases have been implicated in the process of LDL oxidation in the arterial wall, where the environment is relatively low in antioxidants, but the exact mechanism for LDL oxidation in vivo is not known. In the present study we sought to determine the ability of cytochrome P450 2E1 (P450 2E1) and other P450s, located in the liver and in other tissues, to oxidize LDL. Upon incubation of LDL (0.1 mg of protein/ml) with purified, reconstituted rabbit P450 2E1 in the presence of NADPH and the NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase, time- and P450 2E1 concentration-dependent LDL oxidation was observed, as analyzed by determining the formation of peroxides, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and conjugated dienes. Within 1 h of initiating the reaction, almost maximal oxidation was observed. NADPH, and active P450 2E1 enzyme were required for LDL oxidation to occur. The rate of P450 2E1-induced LDL oxidation was also dependent on the lipoprotein concentration. P450 2E1 could also oxidize pure phospholipids and cholesteryl ester, the major lipids in LDL. In the presence of catalase or superoxide dismutase (SOD), LDL oxidation was completely blocked, suggesting that hydrogen peroxide and superoxide are involved in P450 2E1-induced LDL oxidation. The ability of P450 2E1 to oxidize LDL was not unique to this enzyme, and could be observed with some other purified, cytochromes P450 in the reconstituted system such as rat P450 2B1 and human P450 3A4. Finally, microsomal membranes obtained from rats that were induced to express high levels of P450s 2B1, 2E1, and 1A1/2 were able to oxidize LDL, whereas little oxidation was seen with microsomes that were induced to express 3A2. We thus conclude that LDL can be oxidized by some cytochrome P450s and, as some of these enzymes are present in liver and in arterial wall, they may have a physio/pathological relevance to LDL oxidation and atherogenesis.

High yield purification and characterization of engineered human P450 1A2 and generation of immuno-inhibitor antibodies

P450 S12, an engineered human P450 1A2 containing the 88-first amino-acids of the P450 1A1, demonstrates particularly high expression level in yeast while exhibiting catalytic properties very similar to the moderately expressed natural human P450 1A2. To facilitate P450 purification by nickel chelate chromatography, C-terminal extensions including histidine tags were tested. The -G(H)4 extension was found to be particularly efficient for permitting high expression levels without any catalytic alteration. This engineered P450 was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity (18 nmol/mg of protein) at a very high yield (87%) without any detectable formation of P420. P450 S12 activities were reconstituted in the presence of yeast and Arabidopsis thaliana (ATR1) NADPH-P450 reductases. The plant reductase supported better ethoxyresorufin-, methoxyresorufin- and phenacetin-O-dealkylase activities than the yeast reductase in reconstituted systems. Interestingly, polyclonal antibodies raised against purified P450 S12 selectively recognized in Western blot and fully immuno-inhibited the natural or recombinant P450 1A2 with very limited or no cross-reaction with P450 1A1 and other isoenzymes.

Metabolic activation of diclofenac by human cytochrome P450 3A4: role of 5-hydroxydiclofenac.

Cytochrome P450 2C11 in rats was recently found to metabolize diclofenac into a highly reactive product that covalently bound to this enzyme before it could diffuse away and react with other proteins. To determine whether cytochromes P450 in human liver could catalyze a similar reaction, we have studied the covalent binding of diclofenac in vitro to liver microsomes of 16 individuals. Only three of 16 samples were found by immunoblot analysis to activate diclofenac appreciably to form protein adducts in a NADPH-dependent pathway. Cytochrome P450 2C9, which catalyzes the major route of oxidative metabolism of diclofenac to produce 4'-hydroxydiclofenac, did not appear to be responsible for the formation of the protein adducts, because sulfaphenazole, an inhibitor of this enzyme, did not affect protein adduct formation. In contrast, troleandomycin, an inhibitor of P450 3A4, inhibited both protein adduct formation and 5-hydroxylation of diclofenac. These findings were confirmed with the use of baculovirus-expressed human P450 2C9 and P450 3A4. One possible reactive intermediate that would be expected to bind covalently to liver proteins was the p-benzoquinone imine derivative of 5-hydroxydiclofenac. This product was formed by an apparent metal-catalyzed oxidation of 5-hydroxydiclofenac that was inhibited by EDTA, glutathione, and NADPH. The p-benzoquinone imine decomposition product bound covalently to human liver microsomes in vitro in a reaction that was inhibited by GSH. In contrast, GSH did not prevent the covalent binding of diclofenac to human liver microsomes. These results suggest that for appreciable P450-mediated bioactivation of diclofenac to occur in vivo, an individual may have to have both high activities of P450 3A4 and perhaps low activities of other enzymes that catalyze competing pathways of metabolism of diclofenac. Moreover, the p-benzoquinone imine derivative of 5-hydroxydiclofenac probably has a role in covalent binding in the liver only under the conditions where levels of NADPH, GSH, and other reducing agents would be expected to be low.

Identification of the heme-modified peptides from cumene hydroperoxide-inactivated cytochrome P450 3A4.

Cumene hydroperoxide-mediated (CuOOH-mediated) inactivation of cytochromes P450 (CYPs) results in destruction of their prosthetic heme to reactive fragments that irreversibly bind to the protein. We have attempted to characterize this process structurally, using purified, 14C-heme labeled, recombinant human liver P450 3A4 as the target of CuOOH-mediated inactivation, and a battery of protein characterization approaches [chemical (CNBr) and proteolytic (lysylendopeptidase-C) digestion, HPLC-peptide mapping, microEdman sequencing, and mass spectrometric analyses]. The heme-peptide adducts isolated after CNBr/lysylendopeptidase-C digestion of the CuOOH-inactivated P450 3A4 pertain to two distinct P450 3A4 active site domains. One of the peptides isolated corresponds to the proximal helix L/Cys-region peptide 429-450 domain and the others to the K-region (peptide 359-386 domain). Although the precise residue(s) targeted remain to be identified, we have narrowed down the region of attack to within a 17 amino acid peptide (429-445) stretch of the 55-amino acid proximal helix L/Cys domain. Furthermore, although the exact structures of the heme-modifying fragments and the nature of the adduction remain to be established conclusively, the incremental masses of approximately 302 and 314 Da detected by electrospray mass spectrometric analyses of the heme-modified peptides are consistent with a dipyrrolic heme fragment comprised of either pyrrole ring A-D or B-C, a known soluble product of peroxidative heme degradation, as a modifying species.

Metabolic activation of racemic and enantiomeric trans-8, 9-dihydroxy-8,9-dihydrodibenzo[a,l]pyrene (dibenzo[def,p]chrysene) to dibenzo[a,l]pyrene-bis-dihydrodiols by induced rat liver microsomes and a recombinant human P450 1A1 system: the role of the K-region-derived metabolic intermediates in the formation of dibenzo[a,l]pyrene-DNA adducts.

Metabolic activation studies of dibenzo[a,l]pyrene (DB[a,l]P) (dibenzo[def,p]chrysene), an extremely potent environmental carcinogen, have been focused on metabolism at the fjord region, a region associated with high mutagenic and carcinogenic activities of the corresponding fjord-region DB[a,l]P-11,12-diol-13,14-epoxides. DB[a,l]P is metabolized by beta-naphthoflavone (BNF)- and 3-methylcholanthrene-induced rat liver microsomes and a recombinant human P450 1A1 system to two major dihydrodiols, the K-region dihydrodiol, DB[a,l]P-8,9-dihydrodiol (DB[a,l]P-8,9-diol), and the fjord-region dihydrodiol, DB[a,l]P-11,12-dihydrodiol. We have investigated the further metabolic activation of DB[a,l]P-8,9-diol by BNF-induced rat liver microsomes and a recombinant human P450 1A1 system with epoxide hydrolase to DB[a,l]P-bis-diols and to DNA adducts. (+/-)-trans-DB[a,l]P-8,9-diol was synthesized and resolved into its enantiomers. Racemic trans-DB[a,l]P-8,9-diol was metabolized by BNF-induced rat liver microsomes to six metabolites: two diastereomers of trans,trans-DB[a,l]P-8,9:11,12-bis-diol, two diastereomers of trans,cis-DB[a,l]P-8,9:11,12-bis-diol, and two diastereomers of trans-DB[a,l]P-8,9:13,14-bis-diol as characterized by NMR, MS, and UV spectroscopy. Metabolic studies using both enantiomeric (-)- and (+)-trans-DB[a,l]P-8,9-diol further demonstrated that each diastereomer of trans,trans-DB[a,l]P-8,9:11, 12-bis-diol and trans-DB[a,l]P-8,9:13,14-bis-diol was comprised of two enantiomers. Similarly, incubations of enantiomeric or racemic trans-DB[a,l]P-8,9-diol with a recombinant human P450 1A1 system and epoxide hydrolase also gave the same two enantiomeric mixtures of diastereomers of trans,trans-DB[a,l]P-8,9:11,12-bis-diol and the same two enantiomeric mixtures of diastereomers of trans-DB[a,l]P-8, 9:13,14-bis-diol. This suggested that the microsomal oxidations of (-)- and (+)-trans-DB[a,l]P-8,9-diol were stereospecific. The stereospecific formation of enantiomers of trans-DB[a,l]P-8,9-diol from DB[a,l]P was examined using both BNF-induced rat liver microsomes and a recombinant human P450 1A1 system with epoxide hydrolase. Stereospecificity was observed as both metabolic systems favored the formation of (-)-trans-DB[a,l]P-8,9-diol by 8-9-fold. DNA adduct studies were undertaken using TLC/HPLC 32P-postlabeling techniques. In the presence of a recombinant human P450 1A1 system with epoxide hydrolase, DB[a,l]P gave two groups of calf thymus DNA adducts. The group of later-eluting adducts were identified as arising from syn- and anti-DB[a,l]P-11,12-diol-13,14-epoxides, while the more polar early-eluting adducts were derived, in part, from the further activation of trans-DB[a,l]P-8,9-diol. Our data indicate that, in P450 1A1-mediated microsomal incubations, DB[a,l]P is metabolized to trans-DB[a,l]P-8,9-diol which is further metabolized to DB[a,l]P-bis-diols. trans-DB[a,l]P-8,9-diol is metabolically activated to intermediates that can bind to DNA and give DNA adducts similar to those observed with DB[a,l]P. These results indicate that DB[a,l]P can be metabolically activated by both fjord-region and K-region pathways.

Stereochemistry of the biotransformation of 1-hexene and 2-methyl-1-hexene with rat liver microsomes and purified P450s of rats and humans.

The epoxidation of 1-hexene (1a) and 2-methyl-1-hexene (1b), two hydrocarbons present in the ambient air as pollutants, is catalyzed by some human and rat P450 enzymes. The enantioselectivities of these processes, when the reactions were carried out using rat and human liver microsomal preparations, were modest and dependent on both P450 composition and substrate concentrations. Various P450 isoforms (rat P450 2B1 and human P450 2C10 and 2A6) catalyzed the double bond oxidation of 1a and 1b with different product enantioselectivities. In the case of 1a, a moderately enantioselective hydroxylation at the allylic C(3) with the formation of 1-hexen-3-ol (4a) by microsomes from control or preinduced rats was also observed. The oxidation of this metabolite was, in turn, catalyzed by rat liver microsomes and mainly by rat P450 2C11, leading exclusively to the formation of 1-hexen-3-one, with no double bond epoxidation being observed. The stereochemical course of the microsomal epoxide hydrolase-catalyzed hydrolysis of the epoxy alcohols, threo-(+/-)- and erythro-(+/-)-1, 2-epoxyhexan-3-ol, theoretically expected to be formed from 4a, has been investigated.

Electron Shuttle between Membrane-Bound Cytochrome P450 3A4 andb5Rules Uncoupling Mechanisms

Contradictory mechanisms involving conformational or redox effects have been proposed for the enhancement of cytochrome P450 activities by cytochrome b5 in reconstituted systems. These mechanisms were reinvestigated for human liver P450 3A4 bound to recombinant yeast membranes including human P450 reductase and various levels of human b5. Species conversions were calculated on the basis of substrate, oxygen, and electronic balances in six different substrate conditions. Electron flow from P450 reductase to ferric 3A4 was highly dependent on the nature of substrate but not on the presence of b5. P450 uncoupling by hydrogen peroxide formation was decreased by b5, leading to a corresponding increase in the rate of ferryl-oxo complex formation. Nevertheless, the major b5 effects mainly relied on an increased partition of ferryl-oxo complex to substrate oxidation compared to reduction to water, which could support a conformation change based mechanism. However, further steady-state investigations evidenced that electron carrier properties of b5 were strictly required for this modulation and that redox state of b5 was ruled by the nature and concentration of 3A4 substrates. Moreover, rapid kinetic analysis of b5 reduction following NADPH addition suggested that b5 was reduced by the 3A4 ferrous-dioxygen complex and reoxidized by subsequent P450 oxygenated intermediates. A kinetic model involving a 3A4-b5 electron shuttle within a single productive P450 cycle was designed and adjusted. This model semiquantitatively simulated all presented experimental data and can be made compatible with the effect of the redox-inactive b5 analogue previously reported in reconstituted systems. In this model, synchronization of the b5 and 3A4 redox cycles, binding site overlap between b5 and reductase, and dynamics of the b5-3A4 complex were critical features. This model opened the way for designing complementary experiments for unification of b5 action mechanisms on P450s.

Activation of heterocyclic aromatic amines by rat and human liver microsomes and by purified rat and human cytochrome P450 1A2.

The dietary mutagens 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx) and 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) are activated to genotoxins by rat and human liver cytochrome P450 (P450) 1A1- and 1A2-mediated N-oxidation. Immunoquantitation of 51 human liver samples revealed a wide range in P450 1A2 expression (10-250 pmol/mg of microsomal protein, median 71 pmol/mg), with 39% of the livers containing >100 pmol/mg of protein. There was no evidence for expression of P450 1A1 (<1 pmol/mg of protein). P450 1A2 levels were correlated to MeIQx and PhIP N-oxidation rates (r = 0.83, 0.73, respectively). In male Fischer-344 and Sprague-Dawley rats, hepatic P450 1A2 ranged from 5 to 35 pmol/mg of protein, while P450 1A1 was <1 pmol/mg. Animal pretreatment with 3-methylcholanthrene, beta-naphthoflavone, or polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) resulted inasmuch as 340-fold and >1000-fold induction of P450 1A2 and 1A1, respectively, and a 220-fold increase in N-oxidation activity. Approximately 20% of the human samples were as active in N-oxidation and conversion of MeIQx to bacterial mutagens as microsomes of PCB-pretreated rats [3-4 nmol of NHOH-MeIQx formed min-1 (mg of protein)-1]. In contrast, microsomes from PCB-treated rats displayed higher rates of PhIP N-oxidation and activation to mutagens than the most active human liver microsomes [8-24 vs 2-4 nmol of HNOH-PhIP formed min-1 (mg of protein)-1]. Recombinant human P450 1A2 showed catalytic efficiencies of MeIQx and PhIP N-oxidation that were 10-19-fold higher than purified rat P450 1A2. Cytochrome P450 1A2 expression in rodent and human liver tissue varies greatly and there are considerable differences between the enzymes in the two species in the activation of some heterocyclic aromatic amines, which must be considered when assessing human health risk.

Expression of recombinant human cytochrome P450 1A2 in Escherichia coli bacterial mutagenicity tester strain.

Human cytochrome P450 1A2 is one of the major cytochrome P450s in human liver. It is known to be capable of activating a number of carcinogens such as arylamines and heterocyclic amines. In order to develop the new bacterial mutagenicity test system with human P450, a full length of human P450 1A2 cDNA inserted into pCW bacterial expression vector was introduced to Escherichia coli WP2 uvrA strain which is a well-known E. coli strain for bacterial reverse mutagenicity assay. Expressed human P450 1A2 showed typical P450 hemoprotein spectra. Maximum expression was achieved at 48 hrs after incubating at 30 degrees C in terrific broth containing ampicillin, IPTG and other supplements. High level expression of P 450 1A2 in E. coli WP2 uvrA membranes was determined in SDS-PAGE. The well-known mutagens 2-aminoanthracene and MelQ increased the revertant colonies of E. coli WP2 uvrA expressing human P450 1A2 without an exogenous rat hepatic post-mitochondrial supernatant (S9 fraction) in a dose-dependent manner. The results show that the functional expression of human P450 in bacterial mutagenicity tester strain will provide a useful tool for studying the mechanism of the mutagenesis and carcinogenesis of new drugs and environmental chemicals.

Stable expression of human cytochrome P450 1B1 in V79 Chinese hamster cells and metabolically catalyzed DNA adduct formation of dibenzo[a,l]pyrene.

Chinese hamster V79 cell lines were constructed for stable expression of human cytochrome P450 1B1 (P450 1B1) in order to study its role in the metabolic activation of chemicals and toxicological consequences. The new V79 cell lines were applied to studies on DNA adduct formation of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) dibenzo[a,l]pyrene (DB[a,l]P). This compound has been found to be an environmental pollutant, and in rodent bioassays it is the most carcinogenic PAH yet discovered. Activation of DB[a,l]P in various metabolizing systems occurs via fjord region DB[a,l]P-11, 12-dihydrodiol 13,14-epoxides (DB[a,l]PDE): we found that DB[a,l]P is stereoselectively metabolized in human mammary carcinoma MCF-7 cells to the (-)-anti- and (+)-syn-DB[a,l]PDE which both bind extensively to cellular DNA. To follow up this study and to relate specific DNA adducts to activation by individual P450 isoforms, the newly established V79 cells stably expressing human P450 1B1 were compared with those expressing human P450 1A1. DNA adduct formation in both V79 cell lines differed distinctively after incubation with DB[a,l]P or its enantiomeric 11,12-dihydrodiols. Human P450 1A1 catalyzed the formation of DB[a,l]PDE-DNA adducts as well as several highly polar DNA adducts as yet unidentified. The proportion of these highly polar adducts to DB[a,l]PDE adducts was dependent upon both the concentration of DB[a,l]P and the time of exposure. In contrast, V79 cells stably expressing human P450 1B1 generated exclusively DB[a,l]PDE-DNA adducts. Differences in the total level of DNA binding were also observed. Exposure to 0.1 microM DB[a,l]P for 6 h caused a significantly higher level of DNA adducts in V79 cells stably expressing human P450 1B1 (370 pmol/mg of DNA) compared to those with human P450 1A1 (35 pmol/mg of DNA). A 4-fold higher extent of DNA binding was catalyzed by human P450 1B1 (506 pmol/mg of DNA) compared to human P450 1A1 (130 pmol/mg of DNA) 6 h after treatment with 0.05 microM (-)-(11R,12R)-dihydrodiol. In cells stably expressing human P450 1B1 the DNA adducts were derived exclusively from the (-)-anti-DB[a,l]PDE. These results indicate that human P450 1B1 and P450 1A1 differ in their regio- and stereochemical selectivity of activation of DB[a,l]P with P450 1B1 forming a higher proportion of the highly carcinogenic (-)-anti-(11R, 12S,13S,14R)-DB[a,l]PDE metabolite.

Oxidation of Acetaminophen to Its Toxic Quinone Imine and Nontoxic Catechol Metabolites by Baculovirus-Expressed and Purified Human Cytochromes P450 2E1 and 2A6

Acetaminophen (APAP), a widely used analgesic and antipyretic agent, is bioactivated by cytochromes P450 to cause severe hepatotoxicity. APAP is oxidized by two pathways to form a toxic intermediate, N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine (NAPQI), and a nontoxic catechol metabolite, 3-hydroxy-APAP (3-OH-APAP). We investigated the role of P450 2E1 and 2A6 in APAP oxidation by using baculovirus-expressed and highly purified forms of human P450 2E1 and 2A6. An electrochemical HPLC assay was developed to quantify both oxidative metabolites simultaneously. For the first time, it was demonstrated that human P450 2E1 selectively oxidized APAP to NAPQI (assayed as its glutathione conjugate, GS-APAP), whereas human P450 2A6 selectively oxidized APAP to 3-OH-APAP. At 1 mM APAP, the relative ratio for the formation of GS-APAP vs 3-OH-APAP with human P450 2E1 was approximately 6:1, whereas the ratio with human P450 2A6 was 1:3. Apparent Km and Vmax values for the formation of GS-APAP by human P450 2E1 were 1.3 mM and 6.9 nmol/min/nmol of P450, respectively, whereas they were 4.6 mM and 7.9 nmol/min/nmol of P450 for P450 2A6. Apparent Km and Vmax values for the formation of 3-OH-APAP by human P450 2E1 were 4.0 mM and 2.5 nmol/min/nmol of P450, respectively, whereas they were 2.2 mM and 14.2 nmol/min/nmol of P450, respectively, for P450 2A6. Thus, although at toxic doses of APAP P450 2E1 is the more efficient catalyst for the formation of the toxic metabolite NAPQI, P450 2A6 also can contribute significantly to NAPQI production.

Metabolic activation of aromatic amine mutagens by simultaneous expression of human cytochrome P450 1A2, NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase, and N-acetyltransferase in Escherichia coli.

We describe the construction of a new strain of Escherichia coli designed to bioactivate aromatic amines and to detect their mutagenicity with high sensitivity. Strain DJ4309 bears two plasmids, a pACYC184-derived plasmid which expresses Salmonella typhimurium acetyl CoA:arylamine N-acetyltransferase (NAT) and a pBR322-derived plasmid which expresses human cytochrome P450 1A2 and NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase. The combined actions of these enzymes convert aromatic amines into reactive, mutagenic N-acetoxy esters. The strain also carries a mutated copy of the lacZ gene (on an F' factor) which reverts to the wild-type gene by a -(GpC) frameshift mutation. Strain DJ4309 expresses high levels of NAT and cytochrome P450 1A2 and is very sensitive to mutagenesis induced by representative aromatic amines. Mutagenicity of 2-aminoanthracene in strain DJ4309 is higher than can be obtained by rat liver homogenate 9000g supernatant (S9) activation in the parent strain lacking the P450 expression vector. Strain DJ4309 provides a useful system for detecting mutagenic aromatic amines and for studying their metabolism by human P450 1A2.