Isolation and characterization of human liver cytochrome b5 cDNA

Oxidation of caffeine by CYP1A2: isotope effects and metabolic switching

Caffeine (1,3,7-trimethylxanthine) has previously been shown to undergo metabolic switching in vivo when the N-1 or the N-7 methyl groups were trideuteromethylated [Horning et al. (1976) Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Stable Isotopes, pp 41-54]. We have examined the effect of replacing the N-3 methyl group with a trideuteromethyl group. The corresponding isotope effects can then be used to distinguish the kinetic mechanism by which four primary metabolites can be formed from one substrate by one cytochrome P450 (P450). We have synthesized 3-CD3-caffeine and 3-CD3-7-CD3-caffeine as well as trideuteromethylated analogs of each of the in vitro metabolites formed by cytochrome P4501A2. The observed competitive isotope effects for the metabolites, which do not result from deuterium abstraction (theobromine, theophylline), demonstrate that the nondissociative mechanism applies to caffeine metabolism by cytochrome P4501A2. Thus, there must be equilibration of the kinetically distinguishable activated P450-substrate complexes at rates competitive with hydrogen abstraction. The true isotope effects for the N-3 demethylation of caffeine were derived from the ratios of the amount of paraxanthine relative to the amount of theobromine or theophylline. The resultant ratios indicate that these isotope effects are essentially intrinsic. Observation of the isotope effects on N-3 demethylation was facilitated by branching to the minor in vitro metabolites as well as water formation. Product release is not rate-limiting for this system.

Orientation of caffeine within the active site of human cytochrome P450 1A2 based on NMR longitudinal (T1) relaxation measurements

Longitudinal (T1) relaxation studies were performed in order to examine the interaction of caffeine with the heme of human P450 1A2. Addition of caffeine to this P450 resulted in a small, incomplete conversion of the heme from high spin to low spin, as shown by changes in the optical spectrum. Determination of a relatively large dissociation constant (Ks = 2.6 mM) as well as the relative instability of the P450 after 2 h at room temperature necessitated the performance of these experiments at high concentrations (25 mM) of caffeine. The relaxation measurements on the three sets of methyl hydrogens led to the determination of the corresponding distances between the iron and the methyl groups on the bound caffeine as well as the position and orientation of caffeine within the active site of P450 1A2. The three methyl groups were found to be nearly equidistant from the iron (> or = 4.79-4.89 A), with slight preference for the N-3 position, and thus, the average position of caffeine was parallel to the heme. In vitro incubations with P450 1A2 and 5 mM caffeine led primarily to paraxanthine formation (N-3 demethylation), as expected. However, with 25 mM substrate, the overall extent of oxidation was doubled and there was more equivalent oxidation at each of the four potential sites on caffeine. This latter observation was consistent with the lack of selective positioning of the N-3 methyl group of caffeine relative to the heme.

Differential expression of the mRNAs for the soluble and membrane-bound forms of rabbit cytochrome b5

Total RNA was extracted from a variety of rabbit tissues and reverse transcribed for use in the polymerase chain reaction technique. Using primers designed to amplify the membrane-bound liver cytochrome b5 cDNA, products of two sizes were observed. Both hybridized strongly to a radiolabelled liver cytochrome b5 probe. Sequencing confirmed that the two types of cDNA product encoded the membrane-bound and the soluble forms of b5. Messenger RNA corresponding to the soluble cytochrome was detected in the lung, gallbladder and the adrenal gland, as well as in reticulocytes and bone marrow. This was an unexpected finding since the protein has been isolated only from erythrocytes. In contrast, membrane-bound cytochrome b5 mRNA was detected in all tissues tested, suggesting that the corresponding protein is ubiquitous in tissue distribution.

Monoclonal antibodies to rat liver microsomal cytochrome b5

Hybridomas obtained by the fusion of spleen cells from rat cytochrome b5-immunized mice with mouse myeloma cells produced five groups of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) with three mouse immunoglobulin subtypes: IgG1, IgG2b and IgM. All of the MAbs bound strongly to rat cytochrome b5 as measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Four clones of MAbs were also strongly immunoreactive with cytochrome b5 when tested by Western blotting, but only one of the MAbs (1-39-2) weakly immunoprecipitated cytochrome b5 in an Ouchterlony double-immunodiffusion test. Two of the MAbs partially inhibited cytochrome b5-mediated NADH cytochrome c reduction catalyzed by liver microsomes (24-36%). Expression of immunodetectable cytochrome b5 was highest in the liver, next highest in the kidney, and quite low in the other tissues examined with MAb 1-17-1 by Western blotting. This MAb recognized homologous cytochrome b5 of human liver microsomes and in homogenates of TK- cells infected with recombinant vaccinia virus encoding human cytochrome b5. These MAbs to cytochrome b5 will be useful for the identification, quantification, and purification of cytochrome b5 from animal and human tissues, and for understanding its role in cytochrome P450 catalyzed drug metabolism and carcinogen activation with respect to tissue, organ and individual differences.

The human liver and reticulocyte cytochrome b5 mRNAs are products from a single gene

Using a combination of standard cDNA library screening techniques and the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) we have isolated and sequenced DNA fragments corresponding to the human reticulocyte cytochrome b5 mRNA. The reticulocyte specific sequence codes for amino acids 97 and 98 only, with a TAA stop codon. The reticulocyte specific 3'non-translated sequence has 15 new nucleotides then utilizes the liver mRNA sequence from amino acid 97 onward. This indicates that the reticulocyte specific exon has 24 base pairs (bp). In addition, we have isolated sequences that are derived from a transcribed cytochrome b5 pseudogene. This transcript contains multiple mutations which prevent the synthesis of any functional protein.

Soluble and membrane-bound forms of cytochrome b5 are the products of a single gene in chicken

In order to determine the relationship of the soluble cytochrome b5 found in erythrocytes to the membrane-bound form found in other tissues, a cDNA clone encoding cytochrome b5 in chicken erythrocytes was isolated by using mixed oligonucleotides based on a partial amino acid sequence of the protein. Complete nucleotide sequence identity between the erythrocyte cDNA and the sequence of a cDNA clone of the liver protein suggests that they are transcribed from the same gene. The isolation and structural analysis of genomic clones was also consistent with the presence of only one cytochrome b5 gene in chicken. These results suggest that the formation of soluble erythrocyte cytochrome b5 occurs by proteolytic processing of the membrane-bound form. Thus, previous reports indicating that the carboxyl terminal amino acid residue of the erythrocyte form differs from the corresponding residue of the membrane-bound form may suggest the existence of a novel post-translational modification.

Cytochrome b5 potentiation of cytochrome P-450 catalytic activity demonstrated by a vaccinia virus-mediated in situ reconstitution system

A cDNA containing the full coding region of human cytochrome b5 was inserted into a vaccinia virus cDNA expression vector. Infection of human thymidine kinase-minus (TK-) 143 cells in culture with this recombinant virus resulted in production of 0.3 nmol of cytochrome b5 per mg of cell lysate protein. The expressed cytochrome had a reduced difference spectrum with a Soret peak at 424 nm, typical of pure cytochrome b5. TK- 143 cells have little detectable endogenous cytochrome b5, cytochrome P-450 (P450), and NADPH-P450 oxidoreductase. To test whether cytochrome b5 potentiated mixed-function monooxygenation in situ, these cells were coinfected with three recombinant vaccinia viruses individually carrying cDNAs encoding cytochrome b5, NADPH-P450 oxidoreductase, and P450 form IIB1. These triple-virus-infected cells were compared to cells infected with the P450IIB1 and NADPH-P450 oxidoreductase recombinant viruses with respect to P450IIB1-catalyzed monooxygenase activities. Cytochrome b5 specifically augmented the deethylation of p-nitrophenetole in microsomal membrane fractions of infected cells or when substrate was incubated directly with cells in situ. No significant increases were seen with P450IIB1-catalyzed testosterone, 7-ethoxycoumarin, or 7-pentoxyresorufin oxidations. These data demonstrate that cytochrome b5 is capable of specifically augmenting monooxygenase activities in intact cells.