Microsomal alcohol oxygenase: purification and characterization of a cytochrome P450 responsible for oxidation of 7-hydroxy-delta 8-tetrahydrocannabinol to 7-oxo-delta 8-tetrahydrocannabinol in guinea pig liver

Tailored nanodisc immobilization for one-step purification and reconstitution of cytochrome P450: A tool for membrane proteins' hard cases

A novel nanodisc-based immobilization method was developed for high-efficient purification and reconstitution of cytochrome P450 in one step. Using membrane scaffold protein containing a histidine tag, charged-nanodiscs were prepared in the form of self-assembly of lipid-protein nanoparticles. Their properties including the particle diameter and its distribution and Zeta potential were controlled well by adjusting molar ratios of phospholipids to membrane scaffold protein. At an optimum lipid-to-membrane scaffold protein molar ratio of 60:1, uniformly regular-shaped and discoidal nanodiscs with an average particle diameter of 10 nm and Zeta potential of -19 mV were obtained. They can be well fractionated by size exclusion chromatography. Charged-nanodiscs were successfully immobilized onto Ni-chelating microspheres via histidine tags with a density of 6.6 mg membrane scaffold protein/mL gel. After being packed in a column, chromatography studies demonstrated that this nanodisc-immobilized chromatographic medium had a specific binding to cytochrome P450 in rat liver microsome. Nanodiscs containing cytochrome P450 can be furthermore eluted from the column with a diameter of about 87.0 nm and height of about 8.0 nm, respectively. The purity of cytochrome P450 after purification increased 25 folds strikingly. This nanodisc-immobilized chromatography method is promising for the one-step purification and reconstitution of membrane protein.

Sex differences in cannabinoid-regulated biology: A focus on energy homeostasis

Considerable strides have been made over the past 20 years in our understanding of the ligands, receptor subtypes, signal transduction mechanisms and biological actions comprising the endocannabinoid system. From the ever-expanding number of studies that have been conducted during this time, it has become increasingly clear that sex differences are the cornerstone of cannabinoid-regulated biology. Available evidence has demonstrated that these sex differences endure in the absence of gonadal steroids, and are modulated by the acute, activational effects of these hormones. This review focuses on select aspects of sexually differentiated, cannabinoid-regulated biology, with a particular emphasis on the control of energy balance. It is anticipated that it will lend impactful insight into the pervasive and diverse disparities in how males and females respond to cannabinoids--from the organismal level down to the molecular level. Additionally, it will furnish a newfound appreciation for the need to recalibrate our thinking in terms of how cannabinoids are used as therapeutic adjuvants for a broad range of clinical disorders and associated comorbidities, including body wasting and obesity.

Cytochrome P450 3As gene expression and testosterone 6 beta-hydroxylase activity in human fetal membranes and placenta at full term

Expression levels of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4, CYP3A5 and CYP3A7 mRNAs in placentas and fetal membranes, which were split into amnion and chorion leave attached decidua (chorion/decidua), obtained from pregnant women with normal delivery (5 subjects) and Caesarean section (15 subjects) were determined. These CYP3A mRNAs were also expressed in amnion and chorion/decidua together with placenta, although the expression level of these mRNAs was strikingly different between subjects. The expression level of the CYP3A4 mRNA in the placenta was about 2-fold higher than those in amnion and chorion/decidua. On the other hand, the expression levels of CYP3A5 and CYP3A7 mRNAs were highest in chorion/decidua. The immunologically related protein(s) with CYP3A7 was detected in all tissues examined. Testosterone 6beta-hydroxylase activity in homogenate of human placenta, amnion and chorion/decidua were 26.6, 3.7 and 4.6 pmol/h/mg protein, respectively. These results suggest that CYP3As in fetal membranes have the metabolic function to protect the fetus from exposure to drugs.

Stimulatory effects of testosterone and progesterone on the NADH- and NADPH-dependent oxidation of 7beta-hydroxy-delta8-tetrahydrocannabinol to 7-oxo-delta8-tetrahydrocannabinol in monkey liver microsomes

Microsomal alcohol oxygenase catalyzes the stereoselective oxidation of 7alpha- and 7beta-hydroxy-delta8-tetrahydrocannabinol (7alpha- and 7beta-hydroxy-delta8-THC) to 7-oxo-delta8-THC in monkey liver, and the activity for 7beta-hydroxy-delta8-THC is relatively higher than that for 7alpha-hydroxy-delta8-THC. We previously reported that purified P450JM-E, assumed to be CYP3A8, is a major enzyme responsible for the oxidation of 7-hydroxy-delta8-THC to 7-oxo-delta8-THC in monkey liver and is capable of catalyzing the oxidative reaction by NADH as well as NADPH. In the present study, we demonstrated that some steroids such as testosterone and progesterone stimulated both the NADH- and NADPH-dependent conversions of 7beta-hydroxy-delta8-THC to 7-oxo-delta8-THC in monkey liver microsomes. Kinetic analyses revealed that both the NADH- and NADPH-dependent 7-oxo-delta8-THC formation showed sigmoid kinetics. Testosterone caused a decrease in S50 and an increase in V(max) for the NADH-dependent activity, and resulted in a decrease in S50 without changing the V(max) for the NADPH-dependent activity. On the other hand, NADH-dependent testosterone 6beta-hydroxylation activity showed Michaelis-Menten kinetics and was also inhibited by 7beta-hydroxy-delta8-THC, resulting in a decrease in V(max) with no effect on the K(m). NADPH-dependent testosterone 6beta-hydrozylation activity was also inhibited by 7beta-hydroxy-delta8-THC, resulting in a decrease in both S50 and V(max). In order to explain the metabolic interaction between 7beta-hydroxy-delta8-THC and testosterone, we propose a kinetic model involving at least three binding sites, for the mechanism of activation by testosterone.

Effective NADH-dependent oxidation of 7beta-hydroxy-delta8-tetrahydrocannabinol to the corresponding ketone by Japanese monkey hepatic microsomes

The NADH-dependent activity by hepatic microsomes of Japanese monkeys for 7-oxo-Delta(8)-tetrahydrocannabinol (7-oxo-Delta(8)-THC) formation from 7beta-hydroxy-Delta(8)-THC exhibited about 70% of the NADPH-dependent activity (100%) at the substrate concentration of 72.7 microM, although NADPH was an obligatory cofactor for maximal activity. Both NADH- and NADPH-dependent activities were significantly inhibited by the typical P450 inhibitors, such as SKF525-A and metyrapone. Both activities were almost completely inhibited by the NADPH-P450 reductase inhibitor diphenyliodonium chloride. The ratio of NADH- and NADPH-dependent activities varied significantly according to the substrate concentration. Interestingly, the NADH-dependent activity was higher than that of NADPH at low substrate concentrations of 13-50 microM. The ratio was also affected by the cofactor concentration. In the reconstituted system of CYP3A8 purified from hepatic microsomes of Japanese monkeys as a major enzyme responsible for the NADPH-dependent oxidation, NADH as well as NADPH could sustain the oxidation of 7beta-hydroxy-Delta(8)-THC to the corresponding ketone. The NADH-dependent oxidation of 7beta-hydroxy-Delta(8)-THC by monkey livers is mainly catalyzed by CYP3A8 as well as the NADPH-dependent oxidation. These results indicate that NADH as a cofactor may be also useful for the oxidation of 7beta-hydroxy-Delta(8)-THC, and that the cofactor requirement for the reaction is varied by the concentrations of substrate and/or cofactor.

Marijuana extracts possess the effects like the endocrine disrupting chemicals

The progesterone 17alpha-hydroxylase activity, which is one of the steroidogenic enzymes in rat testis microsomes, was significantly inhibited by crude marijuana extracts from Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA)- and cannabidiolic acid (CBDA)-strains. Delta(9)-Tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol and cannabinol also inhibited the enzymatic activity with relatively higher concentration (100-1000 microM). Testosterone 6beta- and 16alpha-hydroxylase activities together with androstenedione formation from testosterone in rat liver microsomes were also significantly inhibited by the crude marijuana extracts and the cannabinoids. Crude marijuana extracts (1 and 10 microg/ml) of THCA strain stimulated the proliferation of MCF-7 cells, although the purified cannabinoids (THC, CBD and CBN) did not show significant effects, such as the extract at the concentration of 0.01-1000 nM. These results indicate that there are some metabolic interactions between cannabinoid and steroid metabolism and that the constituents showing estrogen-like activity exist in marijuana.

Expression and induction of CYP3As in human fetal hepatocytes

CYP3A4 and CYP3A7 mRNA expression levels were markedly up-regulated by dexamethasone (DEX), but not by rifampicin (RIF). CYP3A5 mRNA level was not increased significantly by DEX, RIF, or phenobarbital. Testosterone 6beta-hydroxylase activity was induced to about 2-fold of control by DEX. However, concomitant treatment with RIF did not alter DEX-mediated induction of CYP3A mRNA expression and testosterone 6beta-hydroxylase activity. DEX-mediated induction of CYP3A mRNA was suppressed in a dose-dependent manner by RU486, a glucocorticoid receptor (GR) antagonist. At 5microM RU486, DEX-mediated induction of CYP3A4, CYP3A5, and CYP3A7 mRNA expression was inhibited almost completely. These results suggest that, in human fetal hepatocytes, PXR is not involved in DEX-mediated induction of CYP3A4 and CYP3A7, and that the induction is mediated directly by GR.

Monkey hepatic microsomal alcohol oxygenase: purification and characterization of a cytochrome P450 enzyme catalyzing the stereoselective oxidation of 7alpha- and 7beta-hydroxy-delta8-tetrahydrocannabinol to 7-oxo-delta8-tetrahydrocannabinol

The formation of 7-oxo-delta8-tetrahydrocannabinol (7-Oxo-delta8-THC) from 7alpha- or 7beta-hydroxy-delta8-THC (7alpha- or 7beta-OH-delta8-THC) was found in hepatic microsomes of monkeys. The activity in 7beta-OH-delta8-THC was stereoselectively 2.5- to 4.6-fold higher than that from 7alpha-OH-delta8-THC. The oxidative activities of 7alpha- and 7beta-OH-delta8-THC to 7-Oxo-delta8-THC were inhibited to 35% and 10%, respectively, of the control value by the antibody against P450GPF-B (CYP3A), a major enzyme responsible for the formation of 7-Oxo-delta8-THC in guinea pigs. In the Lineweaver-Burk double-reciprocal plot analysis, testosterone 6beta-hydroxylase activity was competitively inhibited by 7beta-OH-delta8-THC. Two cytochrome P450 enzymes, called P450JM-D and P450JM-E, were purified from hepatic microsomes of Japanese monkeys. P450JM-E, assumed to be CYP3A8, immunologically reacted with the antibody against P450GPF-B and showed high forming activity of 7-Oxo-delta8-THC from 7-OH-delta8-THC. On the other hand, 7-Oxo-delta8-THC forming activity of P450JM-D, assumed to be CYP2C, was less than 10% of that of P450JM-E (CYP3A8). Oxygen-18 (18O) derived from atmospheric oxygen was incorporated into about 40% of the corresponding ketone formed from 7alpha-OH-delta8-THC or 8beta-OH-delta9-THC by P450JM-E (CYP3A8), although the incorporation of the stable isotope into the oxidized metabolite from 7beta-OH-delta8-THC or 8alpha-OH-delta9-THC was negligible. These results indicate that P450JM-E (CYP3A8) is a major enzyme of the oxidation of 7-OH-delta8-THC in monkey hepatic microsomes. The oxidation mechanism may proceed as follows: the alpha- and beta-epimers of 7-OH-delta8-THC or 8-OH-delta9-THC may be converted to ketone through dehydration of an enzyme-bound gem-diol by P450JM-E (CYP3A8), although this stereoselective dehydration differentiates between two epimers.