Liver Microsomal NADPH-cytochrome P-450 Reductase Research Articles

Structure-sensitivity relationship of anthracycline antibiotics to C7-reduction by redox enzymes.

About 30 antitumor anthracycline antibiotics were tested for their susceptibilities to reductive deglycosidation at C-7 catalyzed by rat liver microsomal NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase, xanthine oxidase, cytochrome C reductase and DT-diaphorase. Enzymatic activities to reduce the C-7 position of anthracycline antibiotics were similar among the four redox enzymes although a few exceptions were observed with DT-diaphorase. Among therapeutic use of anthracyclines, aclacinomycin A (ACM-A, aclarubicin) and daunomycin (daunorubicin) were found to be highly sensitive to the redox enzymes tested while adriamycin (ADM, doxorubicin) and THP-ADM (pirarubicin) were resistant to enzymatic reductive deglycosidation. When glycosidic and hydroxylated analogs of ACM-A were compared it was found that anthracyclines with smaller glycoside residues were more sensitive to the redox enzymes and the presence of hydroxyl groups on the aglycone moiety decreased the reductive deglycosidation activities. Thus, the aglycone, aklavinone, was most rapidly reduced to 7-deoxyaklavinone. 1-Hydroxy-, 2-hydroxy-, 11-hydroxy- and 1,11-dihydroaclacinomycins A were more resistant to the redox enzymes that ACM-A. Especially, 2-hydroxyaclacinomycins were completely insensitive to the enzymatic reduction. THP-ADM, 4'-substituted analog of ADM, was more resistant to the redox enzymes than ADM itself. These results show that the presence of a hydroxyl group, its position on aglycone, the presence of 4'-substituent on aminosugar and its length in the anthracycline molecule play important roles on the C-7 reduction by the redox enzymes. Relationship between reductive deglycosidation susceptibilities and cell-growth inhibitory activities of anthracycline antibiotics are also discussed.

Profile of Territrem Metabolism and Cytochrome P-450 3A Expression in Liver Microsomes from Wistar Rats of Both Genders as a Function of Age

This study determined territrem metabolites after incubation of territrem A, B, or C with NADPH and liver microsomes from Wistar rat of both genders aged 2 to 76 wk. The liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 content, NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase activity, and CYP3A1 and CYP3A2 protein and mRNA levels were also analyzed. Male rats had significantly higher liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 content and NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase activities than females at 14 to 26 wk. Microsomal cytochrome P-450 content was decreased in senescence in both genders compared with postpubertal and adulthood stages. The activity of 6β-testosterone hydroxylase in male rats, which was significantly higher than those in females at all ages, decreased after 52 wk. After 26 wk, the levels of CYP3A1 protein markely declined in both genders, which resulted in a large gender difference (male greater than female). The protein levels and mRNA of CYP3A2 were constitutively expressed in 2- to 52-wk-old male rats, but they decreased after 76 wk, and decreased in females after 6 wk. The expression of CYP3A1 or CYP3A2 in males are generally higher than in females. The metabolites of territrems MA1, MAX, MA2, MB2, MB4, and MC were measured by high-performance chromatography (HPLC). Formation of MA1, MAX, and MA2 decreased after 52 wk in males, and MAX and MA2 were not formed after 6 wk in females. The amount of MB2 formed in females was less than in males, but the amount of MC (TRC metabolites) formed in females was higher than in males. The gender differences in metabolism of TRA were related to the protein and mRNA expression of CYP3A2. The protein levels and mRNA expression of CYP3A2 and efficiency of territrems metabolism were decreased after 76 wk. The results suggested that the effects of age and gender on territrem metabolism are due to differences in CYP3A1 and CYP3A2 expression in the liver microsomes. This work is supported by National Science Council (NSC 91-2314-B-109-101 and NSC 92-2314-B-109-101). The authors are indebted to Dr. Ling Kuo Huang and Dr. Thomas Barkas for reading the article and for critical suggestions.

Flavoenzymes inhibited by indomethacin.

The effect of indomethacin on the activity of five different flavoenzymes, three dehydrogenases and six hydrosases, was determined. Indomethacin at concentration 1.0 mM inhibited the activity, in decreasing order of sensitivity, of the following flavoenzymes: D-amino acid oxidase (pig kidney), flavin-containing monooxygenases (pig liver microsomal), cyclohexanone monooxygenase (Acinetobacter), NADPH-quinone reductase (pig liver), and glutathione reductase (yeast), but it had no effect on the activity of glucose oxidase (Aspergillus) or liver microsomal NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase. Indomethacin was competitive with D-alanine for the D-amino acid oxidase (Ki=30 microM) and with NADPH for all other flavoenzymes sensitive to this compound (Kis 170-500 microM). While indomethacin also inhibited two of the three NAD(P)+-dependent dehydrogenases tested, the Kis were relatively high (<1, 500 microM), and of the six different hydrolases tested only one, liver microsomal esterase, was inhibited by indomethacin (Ki=600 microM). Indomethacin also inhibited aminopyrine demethylation catalyzed by the liver microsomal P-450 monooxygenase (Ki=1,000 microM). Although the exact mechanism for the inhibition of functionally different flavoenzymes sensitive to indomethacin is not known, the inhibition is probably not due to the detergent properties of this drug.

Vanadate-dependent NAD(P)H oxidation by microsomal enzymes

Vanadate-dependent NAD(P)H oxidation, catalyzed by rat liver microsomes and microsomal NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase (P450 reductase) and NADH-cytochrome b 5 reductase (b 5 reductase), was investigated. These enzymes and intact microsomes catalyzed NAD(P)H oxidation in the presence of either ortho- or polyvanadate. Antibody to P450 reductase inhibited orthovanadate-dependent NADPH oxidation catalyzed by either purified P450 reductase or rat liver microsomes and had no effect on the rates of NADH oxidation catalyzed by b 5 reductase. NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase catalyzed orthovanadate-dependent NADPH oxidation five times faster than NADH-cytochrome b 5 reductase catalyzed NADH oxidation. Orthovanadate-dependent oxidation of either NADPH or NADH, catalyzed by purified reductases or rat liver microsomes, occurred in an anaerobic system, which indicated that Superoxide is not an obligate intermediate in this process. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) inhibited orthovanadate, but not polyvanadate-mediated, enzyme-dependent NAD(P)H oxidation. SOD also inhibited when pyridine nucleotide oxidation was conducted anaerobically, suggesting that SOD inhibits vanadate-dependent NAD(P)H oxidation by a mechanism independent of scavenging Of O 2 ⨪

Redox cycling of resorufin catalyzed by rat liver microsomal NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase

The O-dealkylation of 7-alkoxyresorufins to the highly fluorescent compound, resorufin (7-hydroxyphenoxazone), provides a rapid, sensitive, and convenient assay of certain forms of liver microsomal cytochrome P450. The results of this study indicate that NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase catalyzes the reduction of resorufin (and the 7-alkoxyresorufins) to a colorless, nonfluorescent compound(s). The reduction of resorufin by NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase was supported by NADPH but not NADH, and was not inhibited by dicumarol, which established that the reaction was not catalyzed by contaminating DT-diaphorase (NAD[P]H-quinone oxidoreductase). In addition to the rate of reduction, the extent of reduction of resorufin was dependent on the concentration of NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase. The maintenance of steady-state levels of reduced resorufin required the continuous oxidation of NADPH, during which molecular O 2 was consumed. When NADPH was completely consumed, the spectroscopic and fluorescent properties of resorufin were fully restored. These results indicate that the reduction of resorufin by NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase initiates a redox cycling reaction. Stoichiometric measurements revealed a 1:1:1 relationship between the amount of NADPH and O 2 consumed and the amount of H 2O 2 formed (measured fluorometrically). The amount of O 2 consumed during the redox cycling of resorufin decreased ~50% in the presence of catalase, whereas the rate of O 2 consumption decreased in the presence of Superoxide dismutase. These results suggest that, during the reoxidation of reduced resorufin, O 2 is converted to H 2O 2 via superoxide anion. Experiments with acetylated cytochrome c further implicated superoxide anion as an intermediate in the reduction of O 2 to H 2O 2. However, the ability of reduced resorufin to reduce acetylated cytochrome c directly (i.e., without first reducing O 2 to superoxide anion) precluded quantitative measurements of superoxide anion formation. Superoxide dismutase, but not catalase, increased the steady-state level of reduced resorufin and considerably delayed its reoxidation. This indicates that superoxide anion is not only capable of reoxidizing reduced resorufin, but is considerably more effective than molecular O 2 in this regard. Overall, these results suggest that NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase catalyzes the one-electron reduction of resorufin (probably to the corresponding semiquinoneimine radical) which can either undergo a second, one-electron reduction (presumably to the corresponding dihydroquinoneimine) or a one-electron oxidation by reducing molecular O 2 to superoxide anion. The superoxide anion formed is then converted to hydrogen peroxide, either by a second, one-electron oxidation of reduced resorufin or by dismutation. In the accompanying paper, we show that the redox cycling of the 7-alkoxyresorufins by NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase significantly affects their 0-dealkylation by purified isozymes of rat liver microsomal cytochrome P450.

Reconstituted microsomal lipid peroxidation: ADP-Fe 3+-dependent peroxidation of phospholipid vesicles containing NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase and cytochrome P450

A reconstituted lipid peroxidation system consisting of rat liver microsomal NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase and cytochrome P450 incorporated into phospholipid vesicles was developed and characterized. Peroxidation of the vesicles required NADPH and ADP-Fe 3+, just as in the NADPH-dependent peroxidation of microsomes. The peroxidation of the vesicles was inhibited 30–50% by superoxide dismutase, depending upon their cytochrome P450 content: those with higher cytochrome P450 contents exhibited greater rates of malondialdehyde formation which were less sensitive to inhibition by superoxide dismutase. When cytochrome P450 was incorporated into vesicles, EDTA-Fe 3+ was not required for lipid peroxidation distinguishing this system from the one previously described by Pederson and Aust [ Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 48, 789; 1972]. Since at least 50% of the malondialdehyde formation in the vesicular system was not inhibited by superoxide dismutase, alternative means of iron reduction (O 2 ▪ -independent) were examined. It was found that rat liver microsomes or a reconstituted mixed function oxidase system consisting of NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase and cytochrome P450 in dilauroylphosphatidylcholine micelles reduced ADP-Fe 3+ under anerobic conditions.

Oxygen radical formation and DNA damage due to enzymatic reduction of bleomycin-Fe(III)

Aerobic incubations of bleomycin, FeCl3, DNA, NADPH, and isolated liver microsomal NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase resulted in NADPH and oxygen consumption and malondialdehyde formation, indicating that the deoxyribose moiety of DNA was split. All parameters measured depended on the active enzyme, bleomycin and FeCl3. In the absence of oxygen malondialdehyde formation was very low. When bleomycin, FeCl3 and the reductase were incubated with methional ethene (ethylene) was formed, suggesting that during the enzyme-catalyzed redox cycle of bleomycin-Fe(III/II) hydroxyl radicals were formed. Ethene formation also depended on oxygen, NADPH, the enzyme, bleomycin, and FeCl3. During aerobic incubations of bleomycin, FeCl3, NADPH, and isolated liver nuclei oxygen and NADPH were consumed and malondialdehyde was formed. Oxygen and NADPH consumption and malondialdehyde formation depended on bleomycin and FeCl3. In the absence of oxygen malondialdehyde was not formed. These results indicate that nuclear NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase redox cycles the bleomycin-Fe(III/II) complex and that the reduced complex activates oxygen, whereby hydroxyl radicals are formed which damage the deoxyribose of nuclear DNA.

No evidence for lysophospholipid formation during peroxidation of phospholipids by NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase and iron ions.

Liposomes comprised of liver microsomal phospholipids and radioactive phosphatidylcholine or phosphatidylethanolamine as tracers were incubated with isolated liver microsomal NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase, NADPH and ADP-EDTA-chelated iron ions, a system which stimulates peroxidation of unsaturated fatty acids of phospholipids. Phospholipids and their reaction products were extracted and chromatographed on HPLC. Phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine considerably decreased after 30 min incubation, depending on the enzyme and NADPH as measured by UV absorbance and radioactivity. However, neither a lysophospholipid peak nor a lysophospholipid-like peak were detectable. We suggest that lysophospholipid formation during microsomal lipid peroxidation is exclusively due to phospholipase A2 and not due to peroxidative breakdown of the unsaturated fatty acid in the beta-position of glycerol.

Localization of cytochrome c-binding domain on NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase.

A covalent complex between purified rat liver microsomal NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase and horse cytochrome c was formed through cross-linking studies with 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide at low ionic strength. The purified cross-linked derivative shows that this product is a 1:1 complex containing one molecule each of the flavoprotein and cytochrome. The covalent complex had almost completely blocked the electron transfer from NADPH to exogenous cytochrome c or the rabbit liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 induced by phenobarbital, indicating that the cross-linked cytochrome c covers the electron-accepting site of the reductase. These results suggest that the covalently cross-linked derivative is a valid model of the noncovalent electron transfer complex. Although the exact number and site of the cross-linked location were not determinable, in cytochrome c the amide bond originates from Lys-13 and in reductase it might be at any one of six different side chain carboxyl groups in the two neighboring cluster acidic residues, Asp-207, -208, and -209, and Glu-213, Glu-214, and Asp-215. It is therefore proposed that the six clustered carboxyl groups on reductase are in an exposed location near the area where one heme edge comes close to the molecular surface.

NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase-cytochrome b5 interactions: Crosslinking of the phospholipid vesicle-associated proteins by a water-soluble carbodiimide

Detergent-solubilized and purified rabbit liver microsomal NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase and cytochrome b 5 were coreconstituted into phospholipid vesicles. When the proteoliposomes were incubated with a water-soluble carbodiimide, 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC), a new higher-molecular-weight band was seen by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The band was purified by chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B, 2′,5′-ADP-Sepharose 4B, and Sephadex G-100. The heme absorption spectrum and fluorophotometric assay of flavin of the purified material demonstrate that this product is a 1:1 crosslinked complex containing one molecule each of the flavoprotein and cytochrome. Proteolysis of the crosslinked form indicates that the hydrophilic catalytic domains participate in the covalent attachment, and that the hydrophobic membrane-attachment peptide is necessary for the protein interaction. The purified crosslinked derivative showed no activities for reduction of either cytochrome c or ferricyanide. About half of the enzyme-associated flavin was reduced rapidly by NADPH, as was 20–30% of the crosslinked cytochrome, indicating that, in at least some of the complexes, the flavin-mediated pathway for reduction of cytochrome by pyridine nucleotide was intact. These data suggest that the output- rather than the input-electron transfer site(s) in the flavoprotein was (were) blocked by the covalently attached cytochrome.

Flavins of NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase: evidence for structural alteration of flavins in their one-electron-reduced semiquinone states from resonance Raman spectroscopy.

The mechanism of electron transfer from NADPH to cytochrome P-450 through FAD and FMN of the reductase is largely unknown. In this paper, we report the resonance Raman spectral properties of the oxidized and the semiquinonoid states of the flavins in the holoenzyme and the FMN-depleted forms, respectively, of detergent-solubilized rabbit liver microsomal NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase. The resonance Raman spectra of the oxidized forms [FAD; FMN] and [FAD;-] were essentially identical, indicating similar binding interactions of these flavins with the protein. To the contrary, the spectra of the semiquinonoid FADH. and FMNH. forms revealed significant spectral differences. Both O2-unstable species, characterized as [FADH.; FMNH2] and [FADH.;-] excited at 568.2 nm, have dominant spectral peaks at approximately 1611, 1539-1543, 1377, 1305, 1263, and 1226 cm-1. However, in the O2-stable [FAD; FMNH.] species, resonance Raman bands were located at 1611, 1532, 1388, 1304, 1268, and 1227 cm-1 when excited at the same wavelength. The approximately 10-cm-1 shifts of the 1532- and 1388-cm-1 bands suggest that the environments surrounding rings II and III of the isoalloxazines change upon reduction to semiquinonoid forms. It is proposed that N1 of FADH. (as a hydrogen-bond acceptor) and N5 of FMNH. (as donor) provide the distinguishing flavin-protein interactions in the semiquinonoid states. Furthermore, the resonance Raman spectra of the semiquinonoid species appear to be missing a number of bands assigned to ring I vibrations in the spectra of the oxidized flavins.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Mechanisms of hydroxyl radical formation and ethanol oxidation by ethanol-inducible and other forms of rabbit liver microsomal cytochromes P-450.

The hydroxyl radical-mediated oxidation of 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide, benzene, ketomethiolbutyric acid, deoxyribose, and ethanol, as well as superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide formation was quantitated in reconstituted membrane vesicle systems containing purified rabbit liver microsomal NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase and cytochromes P-450 LM2, P-450 LMeb , or P-450 LM4, and in vesicle systems devoid of cytochrome P-450. The presence of cytochrome P-450 in the membranes resulted in 4-8-fold higher rates of O-2, H2O2, and hydroxyl radical production, indicating that the oxycytochrome P-450 complex constitutes the major source for superoxide anions liberated in the system, giving as a consequence hydrogen peroxide and also, subsequently, hydroxyl radicals formed in an iron-catalyzed Haber-Weiss reaction. Depletion of contaminating iron in the incubation systems resulted in small or negligible rates of cytochrome P-450-dependent ethanol oxidation. However, small amounts (1 microM) of chelated iron (e.g. Fe3+-EDTA) enhanced ethanol oxidation specifically when membranes containing the ethanol and benzene-inducible form of cytochrome P-450 (cytochrome P-450 LMeb ) were used. Introduction of the Fe-EDTA complex into P-450 LMeb -containing incubation systems caused a decrease in hydrogen peroxide formation and a concomitant 6-fold increase in acetaldehyde production; consequently, the rate of NADPH consumption was not affected. In iron-depleted systems containing cytochrome P-450 LM2 or cytochrome P-450 LMeb , an appropriate stoichiometry was attained between the NADPH consumed and the sum of hydrogen peroxide and acetaldehyde produced. Horseradish peroxidase and scavengers of hydroxyl radicals inhibited the cytochrome P-450 LMeb -dependent ethanol oxidation both in the presence and in the absence of Fe-EDTA. The results are not consistent with a specific mechanism for cytochrome P-450-dependent ethanol oxidation and indicate that hydroxyl radicals, formed in an iron-catalyzed Haber-Weiss reaction and in a Fenton reaction, constitute the active oxygen species. Cytochrome P-450-dependent ethanol oxidation under in vivo conditions would, according to this concept, require the presence of non-heme iron and endogenous iron chelators.

Drug residue formation from ronidazole, a 5-nitroimidazole. II. Involvement of microsomal NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase in protein alkylation in vitro

Purified liver microsomal NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase is able to catalyze the activation of [ 14C]ronidazole to metabolite(s) which bind covalently to protein. Like the reaction catalyzed by microsomes, protein alkylation catalyzed by the reductase is (1) sensitive to oxygen, (2) requires reducing equivalents, (3) is inhibited by sulfhydryl-containing compounds and (4) is stimulated several fold by either flavin mononucleotide (FMN) or methylviologen. A cytochrome P-450 dependent pathway of ronidazole activation can be demonstrated as judged by the inhibition of the reaction by carbon monoxide, metyrapone and 2,4-dichloro-6-phenylphenoxy-ethylamine but the involvement of specific microsomal cytochrome P-450 isozymes has not been definitively established. Milk xanthine oxidase is also capable of catalyzing ronidazole activation. Polyacrylamide sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-gel electrophoresis reveals that the reactive intermediate(s) of ronidazole does not alkylate proteins selectively.

Structural features of liver microsomal NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase. Hydrophobic domain, hydrophilic domain, and connecting region.

Detergent-solubilized liver microsomal NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase is known to retain the ability to transfer electrons to cytochrome P-450, whereas the trypsin-solubilized reductase transfers electrons only to artificial acceptors. Due to the loss of a hydrophobic fragment by the action of trypsin, the altered reductase is no longer capable of binding cytochrome P-450. In the present study the primary tryptic attack on the rabbit reductase was shown to be at the Lys 44-Ile 45 bond to liberate the hydrophilic domain (molecular weight, 71,000) from the intact enzyme (molecular weight, 77,000). The other fragment (molecular weight, 4,800) undergoes tryptic attack at the Lys 34-Lys 35-Lys 36 sequence to yield a polypeptide representing the hydrophobic domain of the reductase and a nona- or decapeptide (Lys 35 or Lys 36 through Lys 44) which serves as the connecting region. The hydrophobic peptide, which is derived from the NH2-terminal end of the reductase, has an acetylated NH2 terminus and a region (Val 16 through Phe 32) which is exceptionally hydrophobic, with a predicted beta-sheet structure, and is believed to be involved in the binding of cytochrome P-450 and phospholipid. The site of attack on the reductase by various proteases is different, but the cleavage points are localized within a short segment of the polypeptide chain. A comparison of the tryptic forms (representing the hydrophilic domains) of the rabbit and rat reductases by terminal sequence analysis showed a high degree of similarity, with about 80% of the residues in exact correspondence and only a short variable region near the Ile NH2 terminus.

The mechanism of cytochrome P-450-dependent oxidation of ethanol in reconstituted membrane vesicles.

The mechanism of cytochrome P-450-dependent oxidation of ethanol has been investigated using reconstituted phospholipid vesicles containing purified preparations of rabbit liver microsomal NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase and cytochrome P-450 LM2. Incorporation of cytochrome b5 into the vesicles resulted in a 5-fold enhancement of cytochrome P-450-catalyzed O-dealkylation of 7-ethoxycoumarin, whereas the cytochrome P-450-dependent ethanol oxidation was slightly inhibited. Superoxide dismutase, added in increasing amounts to the vesicles, inhibited the formation of superoxide anions and, in a concomitant manner, also the production of acetaldehyde from ethanol in the system. Also horseradish peroxidase inhibited ethanol oxidation catalyzed by the vesicles; acetaldehyde formation and H2O2 formation decreased in a concomitant manner as the amount of the peroxidase was increased. Externally added hydrogen peroxide markedly stimulated cytochrome P-450-dependent ethanol oxidation, but not until the concentration of H2O2 reached 0.3 mM, whereas the hydroxyl radical scavenger mannitol completely inhibited the cytochrome P-450-dependent acetaldehyde production. Oxidation of ethanol was also accomplished using vesicles containing cytochrome b5 instead of cytochrome P-450 and in other systems regenerating superoxide anions, e.g. the xanthine-xanthine oxidase system and dihydroxyfumarate. The results are consistent with an iron-catalyzed Haber-Weiss mechanism for regeneration of hydroxyl radicals which subsequently react with ethanol, thereby giving the corresponding aldehyde.

Incorporation of purified components of the rabbit liver microsomal hydroxylase system into phospholipid vesicles

Methods are described for incorporation of purified forms of rabbit liver microsomal NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase and cytochrome P-450 LM 2 , P-450 LM 3 and P-450 LM 4 (LM, liver microsomes) into phospholipid vesicles. It was found that each cytochrome could individually be incorporated into preformed phospholipid vesicles in the absence of cholate. However, NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase prevented incorporation of P-450 by this method, a phenomenon possibly inherent in the formation of complexes between P-450 and the reductase in solution. Using the cholate-gel filtration technique it was possible to prepare monolamellar phosphatidylcholine vesicles containing any of the cytochromes and P-450 reductase in good yields. It was found that P-450 LM 3 -containing vesicles had a mean diameter of 47 nm, whereas vesicles formed under the same conditions but containing P-450 LM 4 were much smaller (mean diameter 33 nm). Vesicles formed with P-450 LM 2 were homogeneous in density (1.04 g/cm 3) according to isopycnic centrifugation in Ficoll but not in size (44–72 nm). These findings, taken together with results obtained from treatment of the cytochromes in soluble form and in reconstituted vesicles with the nonpenetrating reagent, p- diazobenzene sulphonate, indicate a unidirectional, relatively peripheral orientation of P-450 LM 4 with the major part localized on the outside of the vesicles. Experiments with trypsin and cytochrome c- reduction demonstrated a unidirectional orientation of P-450 reductase towards the outside of the vesicles.

Role of a hydrophobic polypeptide in the N-terminal region of NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase in complex formation with P-450 lm

Detergent-solubilized liver microsomal NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase is known to retain the ability to catalyze electron transfer to cytochrome P-450, whereas the trypsin-solubilized reductase does not. In the present study, treatment of the highly purified detergent-solubilized rabbit liver enzyme (m.w. 77,700) with trypsin was shown to yield a small peptide (m.w. 6,100) as well as the large peptide (m.w. 71,200) which retains the flavin prosthetic groups. The small peptide, which is hydrophobic in nature as shown by its amino acid composition and solubility properties, is apparently the moiety in the native reductase involved in binding to cytochrome P-450 and to the microsomal membrane. The C-terminal amino acid sequences of the native reductase and large fragment are identical [-Trp-(Leu, Val)-Asp-Ser-COOH], thereby indicating that the hydrophobic peptide is located in the N-terminal region of the enzyme.

Identification of the high and low potential flavins of liver microsomal NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase.

Identification of the high and low potential flavins of liver microsomal NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase.

Purified liver microsomal NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase. Spectral characterization of oxidation-reduction states.

NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase was isolated from liver microsomes of phenobarbital-induced rats. The enzyme exhibits an apparent minimal molecular weight of 76,000 as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and contains 1 molecule each of FMN and FAD. Trypsin treatment of the reductase yields an enzyme with an apparent minimal molecular weight of 69,000 which retains the ability to reduce cytochrome c but has no activity toward cytochrome P-450. Various spectrophotometric titrations were performed to examine the electron-accepting properties of the purified NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase and, in particular, to determine the oxidation state of the stable semiquinone form produced by air oxidation of NADPH-reduced enzyme. Titration of the air-stable semiquinone form of the reductase with ferricyanide indicated that 1 mol/2 mol of flavin was required for complete oxidation. Furthermore, a spectrum corresponding to that of the air-stable semiquinone form was produced by the addition of approximately 0.5 mol of reductant/2 mol of flavin when the oxidized enzyme was titrate with NADPH or dithionite under anaerobic conditions. The spectral changes which accompanied the overall reduction of oxidized enzyme to the reduced form with dithionite produced four sets of isosbestic points, and the spectrophotometric titration curve consisted of four approximately equal phases. In the titration with NADPH, no significant further reduction was observed after the addition of approximately 1.5 mol/2 mol of flavin. However, the enzyme was fully reduced by NADPH when an NAPH-generating system was used to prevent the accumulation of NADP. Our results establish that the air-stable semiquinone form is a 1-electron-reduced form, rather than a half-reduced (2-electron-reduced) form as maintained by others and are in agreement with earlier studies (Iyanagi, T., Makino, N., and Mason, H.S. (1974) Biochemistry 13, 1701-1710) with the purified trypsin-solubilized reductase. Accordingly, the air-stable species represents a form of the NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase in which one of the two flavins exists in the semiquinone state and the other in the oxidized state.