A simple method for detecting steroid aggregation and estimating solubility in aqueous solutions

2,2',3,3',6,6'-Hexachlorobiphenyl (PCB 136) is enantioselectively oxidized to hydroxylated metabolites by rat liver microsomes

Developmental exposure to multiple ortho-substituted polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) causes adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in laboratory animals and humans by mechanisms involving the sensitization of Ryanodine receptors (RyRs). In the case of PCB 136, the sensitization of RyR is enantiospecific, with only (-)-PCB 136 being active. However, the role of enantioselective metabolism in the developmental neurotoxicity of PCB 136 is poorly understood. The present study employed hepatic microsomes from phenobarbital (PB)-, dexamethasone (DEX)- and corn oil (VEH)-treated male Sprague-Dawley rats to investigate the hypothesis that PCB 136 atropisomers are enantioselectively metabolized by P450 enzymes to potentially neurotoxic, hydroxylated PCB 136 metabolites. The results demonstrated the time- and isoform-dependent formation of three metabolites, with 5-OH-PCB 136 (2,2',3,3',6,6'-hexachlorobiphenyl-5-ol) being the major metabolite. The formation of 5-OH-PCB 136 increased with the activity of P450 2B enzymes in the microsomal preparation, which is consistent with PCB 136 metabolism by rat P450 2B1. The minor metabolite 4-OH-PCB 136 (2,2',3,3',6,6'-hexachlorobiphenyl-4-ol) was produced by a currently unidentified P450 enzyme. An enantiomeric enrichment of (-)-PCB 136 was observed in microsomal incubations due to the preferential metabolism of (+)-PCB 136 to the corresponding 5-OH-PCB 136 atropisomer. 4-OH-PCB 136 displayed an enrichment of the atropisomer formed from (-)-PCB 136; however, the enrichment of this metabolite atropisomer did not affect the enantiomeric enrichment of the parent PCB because 4-OH-PCB 136 is only a minor metabolite. Although the formation of 5- and 4-OH-PCB 136 atropisomers increased with time, the enantioselective formation of the OH-PCB metabolites resulted in constant enantiomeric enrichment, especially at later incubation times. These observations not only demonstrate that the chiral signatures of PCBs and their metabolites in wildlife and humans are due to metabolism by P450 enzymes but also suggest that the enantioselective formation of neurotoxic PCB 136 metabolites, such as 4-OH-PCB 136, may play a role in the developmental neurotoxicity of PCBs.

Substrate inhibition in human hydroxysteroid sulfotransferase SULT2A1: studies on the formation of catalytically non-productive enzyme complexes

The cytosolic sulfotransferase hSULT2A1 is the major hydroxysteroid (alcohol) sulfotransferase in human liver, and it catalyzes the 3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulfate (PAPS)-dependent sulfation of various endogenous hydroxysteroids as well as many xenobiotics that contain alcohol and phenol functional groups. The hSULT2A1 often displays substrate inhibition, and we have hypothesized that a key element in this response to increasing substrate concentration is the formation of non-productive ternary dead-end enzyme complexes involving the nucleotide product, adenosine 3',5'-diphosphate (PAP). One of these substrates for hSULT2A1 is dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a major circulating steroid hormone in humans that serves as precursor to both androgens and estrogens. We have utilized DHEA in both initial velocity studies and equilibrium binding experiments in order to evaluate the potential role of ternary complexes in substrate inhibition of the enzyme. Our results indicate that hSULT2A1 forms non-productive ternary complexes that involve either DHEA or dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, and the formation of these ternary complexes displays negative cooperativity in the binding of DHEA.

Structure-activity relationships for hydroxylated polychlorinated biphenyls as substrates and inhibitors of rat sulfotransferases and modification of these relationships by changes in thiol status

Hydroxylated metabolites of polychlorinated biphenyls (OH-PCBs) are inhibitors and substrates for various human sulfotransferases (SULTs). Although the rat is often used in toxicological studies on PCBs, the interactions of OH-PCBs with rat SULTs are less well understood. In the present study, 15 OH-PCBs were investigated as potential substrates or inhibitors of purified recombinant rSULT1A1 and rSULT2A3, the major family 1 and family 2 SULTs present in rat liver, respectively. None of these OH-PCBs were substrates for rSULT2A3, 11 weakly inhibited rSULT2A3-catalyzed sulfation of dehydroepiandrosterone, and 4 had no effect on the reaction. With rSULT1A1, 4-OH-PCB 8, 4'-OH-PCB 3, 9, 12, 35, and 6'-OH-PCB 35 were substrates, whereas 4'-OH-PCB 6, 4-OH-PCB 14, 4'-OH-PCB 25, 4'-OH-PCB 33, 4-OH-PCB 34, 4-OH-PCB36, 4'-OH-PCB 36, 4'-OH-PCB 68, and 4-OH-PCB 78 inhibited the sulfation of 2-naphthol catalyzed by this enzyme. OH-PCBs with a 3,5-dichloro-4-hydroxy substitution were the most potent inhibitors of rSULT1A1, and the placement of chlorine atoms in the ortho- and meta-positions on either ring of para-OH-PCBs resulted in significant differences in activity as substrates and inhibitors. The specificity of rSULT1A1 for several inhibitory OH-PCBs was altered by pretreatment of the enzyme with oxidized glutathione (GSSG). Four OH-PCBs that were inhibitors of rSULT1A1 under reducing conditions became substrates after pretreatment of the enzyme with GSSG. This alteration in specificity of rSULT1A1 for certain OH-PCBs suggests that conditions of oxidative stress may significantly alter the sulfation of some OH-PCBs in the rat.

Pentachlorophenol and other chlorinated phenols are substrates for human hydroxysteroid sulfotransferase hSULT2A1

Pentachlorophenol (PCP) is a persistent chemical contaminant that has been extensively investigated in terms of its toxicology and metabolism. Similar to PCP, other chlorinated phenol derivatives are also widely present in the environment from various sources. Even though some of the chlorine-substituted phenols, and particularly PCP, are well-known inhibitors of phenol sulfotransferases (SULTs), these compounds have been shown to undergo sulfation in humans. To investigate the enzymatic basis for sulfation of PCP in humans, we have studied the potential for PCP as well as the mono-, di-, tri-, and tetra-chlorinated phenols to serve as substrates for human hydroxysteroid sulfotransferase, hSULT2A1. Our results show that all of these compounds are substrates for this isoform of sulfotransferase, and the highest rates of sulfation are obtained with PCP, trichlorophenols, and tetrachlorophenols. Much lower rates of sulfation were obtained with isomers of monochlorophenol and dichlorophenol as substrates for hSULT2A1. Thus, the sulfation of polychlorinated phenols catalyzed by hSULT2A1 may be a significant component of their metabolism in humans.

Xenobiotic geometry and media pH determine cytotoxicity through solubility

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), a class of 209 individual congeners, have become persistent and ubiquitous environmental contaminants. The health impacts of PCBs, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, developmental toxicity, and neurotoxicity, have been widely reported, but for many of these, the mechanisms of toxicity are still poorly understood. Many mechanistic studies involve cultured cells where the biological activity is dependent upon the solubility of the xenobiotic. In the present study, we investigated the factors that determine solubility as measured by diffraction spectroscopy and have modeled, with semiempirical and ab initio molecular orbital methods, the dihedral angle and calculated the dipole moment of a series of monofluorinated analogues (F-PCBs 3) of 4-chlorobiphenyl (PCB 3) as model compounds in vacuum and in water. We found a strong positive correlation between the dihedral angle, the rotation energy, the cavitation energy, the solubility, and the cytotoxicity in three human cell lines. The dipole moment was of minor influence. We also determined the influence of pH changes in a medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS), changes that could be expected when cells in culture are removed from a CO 2 incubator even for a short time. We found that the solubility is strongly affected by the pH and that this effect is not reversed by subsequent pH readjustment. In a study examining cytotoxicity, we showed that the actual pH and the pH history of a medium containing FBS were of major influence. We suggest that pH-driven changes in the tertiary and quaternary structure of albumin are responsible. These observations have implications for studies of the biological activity of semisoluble compounds, like PCBs and related compounds.

Inhibition of hypothalamic aromatase activity by 5 Beta-dihydrotestosterone

Abstract A variable amount of circulating testosterone that reaches brain cells is converted to biologically inactive 5beta-reduced metabolites, namely, 5beta-dihydrotestosterone (5beta-DHT) and 5beta-androstane-3alpha,17beta-diol (5beta,3alpha-diol). In avian species, the production of inactive 5beta-DHT and 5beta,3alpha-diol is highest during embryonic and post-hatching life. In the present study, we have investigated the possibility that 5beta-reduction may not only correspond to a steroid inactivation pathway, but that 5beta-reduced metabolites of testosterone may exert direct inhibitory effects on enzymatic pathways producing biologically active steroids. When added to hypothalamic homogen-ates prepared from adult male doves, 5beta-DHT but not 5beta,3alpha-diol inhibits the activity of the aromatase enzyme, which converts testosterone to 17beta-oestradiol. During the first days after hatching, when the production of 5beta-reduced metabolites is high, the hypothalamic aromatase is also inhibited by 5beta-DHT. We conclude that a high 5beta-reductase activity during sensitive periods for sexual differentiation may protect the avian brain from the differentiating effects of circulating androgens by inhibiting the production of oestrogen.

Activation of human placental 5-pregnene-3,20-dione isomerase activity by pyridine nucleotides

Isomerization of 5-pregnene-3,20-dione to progesterone by human placental microsomes was stimulated by NAD and NADH. Concomitant oxidation or reduction of nucleotide was not detected based on absorbance at 340 nm. Concentrations giving half-maximum activity were 0.76 microM for NADH and 24.0 microM for NAD. Vmax values with 9.28 microM 5-pregnene-3,20-dione were 22.0 nmol/min/mg protein with NADH and 65.8 nmol/min/mg protein with NAD. When isomerase was assayed as a function of 5-pregnene-3,20-dione concentration, NAD increased Vmax but had no effect on the Km value for steroid. NADP, NADPH, acetylpyridine NAD and deamino NAD did not activate nor did they compete with NAD. Exposure of microsomes to trypsin, phospholipase A2 or phospholipase C resulted in the loss of isomerase activity. Approximately 30% of the initial activity was recovered after detergent solubilization of microsomes. Hydrogen peroxide did not affect activation by NAD. The data are consistent with nucleotide enhancement of a step in the isomerization reaction other than substrate binding.

Inactivation of soluble 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase of human placenta by fatty acids

The sensitivity of soluble, 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17 beta-HSD) of human placenta to inactivation by fatty acids was examined. Exposure to the unsaturated fatty acids oleic, arachidonic, linoleic and linolenic acid resulted in the loss of activity. Methyl and ethyl esters of oleic acid, the saturated fatty acid, stearic acid and prostaglandins E2 and F2 alpha were without effect. Inactivation by oleic acid required the fatty acid at levels above its critical micelle concentration, 50 microM, as estimated by light-scattering. Steroid substrates and inhibitors did not protect against inactivation. NAD+, NADH, NADP+ and NADPH did protect. The concentrations of NADP+, 50 microM, and NAD, 1.5 mM, necessary for complete protection were significantly greater than their respective Michaelis constants, 0.16 microM and 15.2 microM. The data suggest that soluble 17 beta-HSD can bind to fatty acid micelles and that the binding site(s) on the enzyme are at or near pyridine nucleotide binding sites.

17 beta-hydroxysteroid and 20 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activities of human placental microsomes: kinetic evidence for two enzymes differing in substrate specificity

During storage at 4 degrees C, the 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity of human placental microsomes with estradiol-17 beta was more stable than that with testosterone. In order to evaluate the basis for this difference, kinetics with C18-, C19-, and C21- steroids as substrates and/or inhibitors was studied in conjunction with an analysis of the effects of detergents. Both 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17 beta-HSD) and 20 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (20 alpha-HSD) activities were detected. At pH 9.0, apparent Michaelis constants were 0.8, 1.3, and 2.3 microM for estradiol-17 beta, testosterone, and 20 alpha-dihydroprogesterone, respectively, 17 beta-HSD activity with testosterone was inhibited by estradiol-17 beta, 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone, 5 beta-dihydrotestosterone, 20 alpha-dihydroprogesterone, and progesterone. In each case 90 to 100% inhibition was observed at 50 to 200 microM steroid. Activity with 20 alpha-dihydroprogesterone was similarly sensitive to inhibition by C19-steroids. By contrast, 25 to 45% of the activity with estradiol-17 beta was not inhibited by high concentrations of C19- or C21-steroids and differed from the 17 beta-HSD activity with testosterone and the major fraction of that with estradiol-17 beta by being insensitive to solubilization by detergent. These results are consistent with an association of two dehydrogenase activities with human placental microsomes. One recognizes C18-, C19-, and C21-steroids as substrates with comparable affinities. The second appears to be highly specific for estradiol-17 beta. The former activity may account for most if not all of the oxidation-reduction at C-17 of C19-steroids and at C-20 of C21-compounds at physiological concentrations by term placental tissue.

Inhibition of 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17 beta-HSD) activities of human placenta by steroids and non-steroidal hormone agonists and antagonists

Various naturally occurring steroids, synthetic steroid derivatives and non-steroidal hormone agonists and antagonists were assayed as inhibitors of human placental 17 beta-HSD activities. Microsomal 17 beta-HSD was inhibited by C18-, C19- and C21-steroids. Soluble 17 beta-HSD was highly specific for C18-steroids. In contrast to the soluble activity, the microsomal enzyme also had a strong affinity for ethinylestradiol (KI = 0.3 microM) and danazol (KI = 0.6 microM); anabolic steroids and norethisterone were weaker inhibitors. Of the non-steroids tested only diethylstilbestrol and o-demethyl CI-680 were inhibitors and they showed a greater affinity for soluble 17 beta-HSD. KI-values for estradiol-17 beta, (0.8 microM), progesterone (27.0 microM) and 20 alpha-dihydroprogesterone (1.5 microM) were comparable to reported tissue levels of these compounds, consistent with a possible competition in vivo among naturally occurring C18-, C19-, and C21-steroids for the active site of microsomal 17 beta-HSD.

Properties of biospecific adsorbents, obtained by immobilization of oestradiol 7 alpha-derivatives, for purification of calf-uterine cytosol oestradiol receptor

The properties of three types of adsorbents obtained by coupling oestradiol 7 alpha-derivatives to agarose were compared. The adsorbents examined were: oestradiol 7 alpha-decamethylene-agarose, oestradiol 7 alpha-decamethylene-poly(anayl-lysine)-agarose and oestradiol 7 alpha-trimethylene-poly(alanyl-lysine)-agarose. The following results were obtained. (1) All these adsorbents are stable at 0 degrees C for a least a year when stored in water. In the presence of cytosol they are stable for several hours and are reusable after a simple wash. (2) A new method allowing the calculation of the maximala receptor binding capacity of an absorbent was developed. (3) The geometry of the column and the dynamics of the loading have no influence on the binding capacity of the adsorbents. (4) Binding of the cytosol receptor to the adsorbent depends on whether the receptor had previously been partially purified by heparin-Ultrogel chromatography or treated with low or high salt concentration or trypsin. It was demonstrated that aggregation decreases the binding of the receptor to the adsorbents. (5) A satisfactory recovery of receptor upon elution is possible only with biospecific adsorbents containing low concentrations of coupled steroid (less than or equal to 0.2 mg/ml). The use of these adsorbents for the purification of the trypsin-treated receptor directly from cytosol allowed a 2500-fold purification corresponding to 5% pure protein (assuming one oestradiol binding site per molecule of Mr 60000). When starting from a low salt preparation containing the native 8-S receptor, partially purified by heparin-Ultrogel chromatography, preliminary experiments using affinity chromatography gave a further purification of 250--500-fold and led to a 50--90% pure protein (assuming one oestradiol binding site per molecule of Mr 70000).

Characterization of a C21 neutral steroid hormone transforming enzyme, 21-dehydroxylase, in crude cell extracts of Eubacterium lentum

A strain of the obligate anaerobe, Eubacterium lentum, isolated from human feces, catalyzes the 21-dehydroxylation of 11-deoxycorticosterone to progesterone. A quantitative radiochromatographic assay was developed to measure 21-dehydroxylase activity in cell extracts. Maximum enzyme activity in cell extracts required both a reduced pyridine nucleotide and an oxidized flavin coenzyme. However, photochemically reduced flavin (FMNH2) could replace the requirement for NAD(P)H plus oxidized flavin. NAD(P)H : flavin (either FMN or FAD) oxidoreductase activity was detected spectrophotometrically in cell extracts assayed under anaerobic conditions. 21-Dehydroxylase was active from pH 5.4 to 8.5 with an apparent optimum between 6.4 and 6.8 using mixtures of NADH plus FMN as coenzymes. The substrate concentration at half-maximal reaction velocity was 8.0 microM and a specific acitivity of 5.8 nmol [3H]progesterone formed . h-1 . mg-1 protein was determined using [3th]deoxycorticosterone as substrate. Atabrine, rotenone, acriflavin, and 2,4-dinitrophenol (all at 1 mM) inhibited 21-dehydroxylase activity in cell extracts by 25, 24, 35 and 84%, respectively. These results suggest that 21-dehydrogenase may be coupled to a NAD(P)H : flavin oxidoreductase system in E. lentum.