Purified NADPH-cytochrome P-450 Reductase Research Articles

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.

Purification of the major cytochrome P-450 of liver microsomes from rabbits treated with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo- [formula omitted]-dioxin (TCDD)

Cytochrome P-450 was isolated in highly purified form from liver microsomes of adult male rabbits treated with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo- p -dioxin (TCDD). Preparations average 17.8 ± 0.8 nmoles cytochrome P-450 per mg protein and have an estimated molecular weight of 54,500. The visible absorption spectrum of the purified cytochrome displays absorption spectral maxima characteristic of high spin forms of cytochrome P-450. When reconstituted with highly purified NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase, this cytochrome catalyzes the hydroxylation of acetanilide and the O-deethylation of 7-ethoxyresorufin, two activities induced by TCDD.

Multiple forms of cytochrome P-450: Resolution and purification of rabbit liver aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase

We describe the resolution and partial purification of two minor forms of cytochrome P-450 from liver microsomes of rabbits treated with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo- p -dioxin. Both forms have different electrophoretic mobilities when compared to the major form of cytochrome P-450 isolated from this source. The two cytochromes show different activities with several substrates. One form is very active in the hydroxylation of benzo( a )pyrene when reconstituted with highly purified NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase.

18‐Hydroxylation of Deoxycorticosterone by Reconstituted Systems from Rat and Bovine Adrenals

18-Hydroxylation of deoxycorticosterone was studies with rat or bovine adrenal mitochondria or with reconstituted systems obtained from these fractions. The reconstituted systems consisted of a partially purified preparation of cytochrome P-450 from rat adrenals and a partially purified NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase preparation from bovine adrenals. In some experimenta a soluble cytochrome P-450 fraction from bovine adrenals was used. Adrenodoxine and adrenodoxine reductase were shown to be the active components of the NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase preparation. Optimal assay conditions were determined for 18-hydroxylation by the crude mitochondrial fraction as well as by the reconstituted systems. In the presence of excess NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase fraction, the rate of 18-hydroxylation was linear with time and with the amount of cytochrome P-450. In incubations with intact rat adrenal mitochondria to which Ca2+ and an excess NADPH had been added, NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase increased the rate of 18-hydroxylation about 100%, indicating that NADPH-cytochrome P-45o reductase was to some extent rate-limiting. The rate of 18-hydroxylation of deoxycorticosterone by the reconstituted system as well as by intact mitochondrial fraction was much higher than the rat of 18-hydroxylation of corticosterone and progesterone. When the cytochrome P-450 preparation from rat adrenals in the reconstituted system was substituted for cytochrome P-450 from bovine adrenals, the rate of 18-hydroxylation decreased considerably. Under all experimental conditions, the 18-hydroxylation of deoxycorticosterone occurred with a concomitant and efficient 11beta-hydroxylation. Provided the source of cytochrome P-450 was the same, the ratio between 11beta- and 18hydroxylation was constant under all conditions and was not significantly different in the presence of metopirone, carbon monoxide, cytochrome c or different steroids. It is suggested that identical or at least very similar types of cytochrome P-450 are involved in 11beta- and 18-hydroxylation of deoxycorticosterone.

Preparation and Properties of Partially Purified Cytochrome P-450 and Reduced Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate-Cytochrome P-450 Reductase from Rabbit Liver Microsomes

The liver microsomal enzyme system which hydroxylates fatty acids, hydrocarbons, and a variety of drugs and other foreign compounds was previously solubilized and resolved into three components: cytochrome P-450, NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase, and phospholipid. The two enzymes were partially purified from pyrophosphate-treated, cholate-solubilized liver microsomes of phenobarbital-treated rabbits by fractionation with polyethylene glycol 6000 and DEAE-cellulose column chromatography in the presence of Renex-690, a nonionic detergent. These steps were followed by treatment with Amberlite XAD-2 and calcium phosphate gel. Cytochrome P-450 preparations purified to a content as high as 15 nmoles per mg of protein were free of cytochrome b5 and contained no significant amount of NADPH-cytochrome c reductase, NADH-cytochrome c reductase, nonheme iron, other metals as measured by neutron activation analysis, or labile sulfide. The molecular weight was judged to be about 280,000 by gel exclusion chromatography and sucrose density gradient centrifugation. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the partially purified cytochrome P-450 preparation treated with sodium dodecyl sulfate and mercaptoethanol showed the presence of two major polypeptide bands, one with a molecular weight of 47,000 to 49,000 and the other 52,000 to 53,000. The component of lower molecular weight corresponded to the major polypeptide induced by phenobarbital treatment, as shown by electrophoresis of the proteins in normal and induced microsomes. The partially purified preparation accepted 2 electrons from dithionite per molecule of cytochrome P-450 under anaerobic conditions, indicating the presence of another electron acceptor in addition to the iron atom of the hemeprotein. The partially purified NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase preparations, which catalyzed the reduction of 8.6 to 10.0 µmoles of cytochrome c per min per mg of protein at 30°, were free of cytochrome P-450 and contained only a trace of NADH-cytochrome c reductase. FMN and FAD were found to be present in equimolar amounts, and labile sulfide was absent. The reconstituted enzyme system was active in the hydroxylation of fatty acids (laurate), hydrocarbons (hexane, cyclohexane, and octane), drugs (benzphetamine, hexobarbital, and ethylmorphine), and aniline. The presence of both phosphatidylcholine and deoxycholate was necessary for maximal activity.

Evidence that Peroxidation of Lysosomal Membranes Is Initiated by Hydroxyl Free Radicals Produced during Flavin Enzyme Activity

Since evidence had been published that lysosomes are disrupted by a free radical-like agent produced during the oxidation of NADPH by liver microsomes, the nature of this free radical was investigated. The following data are presented. 1. The oxidation of NADPH by liver microsomes in the presence of ADP and Fe3+ produced a factor with properties of a free radical which caused the lysis of lysosomes. The addition of superoxide dismutase enhanced the lysis. 2. Lysis of lysosomes also was mediated by the oxidation of NADPH by a partially purified NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase. 3. The oxidation of xanthine by xanthine oxidase in the presence of ADP and Fe3+ produced a radical capable of causing lysosomal lysis. Here again superoxide dismutase caused an enhancement of this lysis. 4. It was demonstrated that the superoxide free radical per se was not the agent causing lysis. Evidence is presented that the free radical causing the lysis of the lysosomes is the hydroxyl free radical (OH·). 5. During lysosomal lysis by the OH· radical, peroxidation of the lysosomal lipids was observed as assayed by the formation of malondialdehyde. 6. The mechanisms whereby superoxide and hydroxyl free radicals may be produced and interact with lysosomal membranes are discussed.