An analysis of the role of active site protic residues of cytochrome P-450s: mechanistic and mutational studies on 17alpha-hydroxylase-17,20-lyase (P-45017alpha also CYP17)

Depicting the proton relay network in human aromatase: New insights into the role of the alcohol‐acid pair

Human aromatase is the cytochrome P450 catalyzing the conversion of androgens into estrogens in a three steps reaction essential to maintain steroid hormones balance. Here we report the capture and spectroscopic characterization of its compound I (Cpd I), the main reactive species in cytochromes P450. The typical spectroscopic transitions indicating the formation of Cpd I are detected within 0.8 s when mixing aromatase with meta‐chloroperoxybenzoic acid. The estrogen product is obtained from the same reaction mixture, demonstrating the involvement of Cpd I in aromatization reaction. Site‐directed mutagenesis is applied to the acid‐alcohol pair D309 and T310 and to R192, predicted to be part of the proton relay network. Mutants D309N and R192Q do not lead to Cpd I with an associated loss of activity, confirming that these residues are involved in proton delivery for Cpd I generation. Cpd I is captured for T310A mutant and shows 2.9‐ and 4.4‐fold faster rates of formation and decay, respectively, compared to wild‐type (WT). However, its activity is lower than the WT and a larger amount of H₂O₂ is produced during catalysis, indicating that T310 has an essential role in proton gating for generation of Cpd 0 and Cpd I and for their stabilization. The data provide new evidences on the role of threonine belonging to the conserved “acid‐alcohol” pair and known to be crucial for oxygen activation in cytochromes P450.

Importance of Asparagine 202 in Manipulating Active Site Structure and Substrate Preference for Human CYP17A1

The multifunctional cytochrome P450 17A1 (CYP17A1) plays a crucial role in human steroid hormone synthesis (UniProtKB─P05093). It first carries out standard monooxygenase chemistry, converting pregnenolone (PREG) and progesterone (PROG) into 17OH-PREG and 17OH-PROG, utilizing a "Compound I" to initiate hydrogen abstraction and radical recombination in the classic "oxygen rebound" mechanism. Additionally, these hydroxylated products also serve as substrates in a second oxidative cycle which cleaves the 17-20 carbon-carbon bond to form dehydroepiandrosterone and androstenedione, which are key precursors in the generation of powerful androgens and estrogens. Interestingly, in humans, with 17OH-PREG, this so-called lyase reaction is more efficient than with 17OH-PROG, based on Kcat/Km values. In the present work, the asparagine residue at 202 position was replaced by serine, an alteration which can affect substrate orientation and control substrate preference for the lyase reaction. First, we report studies of solvent isotope effects for the N202S CYP17A1 mutant in the presence of 17OH-PREG and 17OH-PROG, which suggest that the ferric peroxo species is the predominant catalytically active intermediate in the lyase step. This conclusion is further supported by employing a combination of cryoradiolysis and resonance Raman techniques to successfully trap and structurally characterize the key reaction intermediates, including the peroxo, the hydroperoxo, and the crucial peroxo-hemiketal intermediate. Collectively, these studies show that the mutation causes active site structural changes that alter the H-bonding interactions with the key Fe-O-O fragment and the degree of protonation of the reactive ferric peroxo intermediate, thereby impacting lyase efficiency.

Mechanism of the Clinically Relevant E305G Mutation in Human P450 CYP17A1

Steroid metabolism in humans originates from cholesterol and involves several enzyme reactions including dehydrogenation, hydroxylation, and carbon-carbon bond cleavage that occur at regio- and stereo-specific points in the four-membered ring structure. Cytochrome P450s occur at critical junctions that control the production of the male sex hormones (androgens), the female hormones (estrogens) as well as the mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids. An important branch point in human androgen production is catalyzed by cytochrome P450 CYP17A1 and involves an initial Compound I-mediated hydroxylation at the 17-position of either progesterone (PROG) or pregnenolone (PREG) to form 17-hydroxy derivatives, 17OH-PROG and 17OH-PREG, with approximately similar efficiencies. Subsequent processing of the 17-hydroxy substrates involves a C17-C20 bond scission (lyase) activity that is heavily favored for 17OH-PREG in humans. The mechanism for this lyase reaction has been debated for several decades, some workers favoring a Compound I-mediated process, with others arguing that a ferric peroxo- is the active oxidant. Mutations in CYP17A1 can have profound clinical manifestations. For example, the replacement of the glutamic acid side with a glycine chain at position 305 in the CYP17A1 structure causes a clinically relevant steroidopathy; E305G CYP17A1 displays a dramatic decrease in the production of dehydroepiandrosterone from pregnenolone but surprisingly increases the activity of the enzyme toward the formation of androstenedione from progesterone. To better understand the functional consequences of this mutation, we self-assembled wild-type and the E305G mutant of CYP17A1 into nanodiscs and examined the detailed catalytic mechanism. We measured substrate binding, spin state conversion, and solvent isotope effects in the hydroxylation and lyase pathways for these substrates. Given that, following electron transfer, the ferric peroxo- species is the common intermediate for both mechanisms, we used resonance Raman spectroscopy to monitor the positioning of important hydrogen-bonding interactions of the 17-OH group with the heme-bound peroxide. We discovered that the E305G mutation changes the orientation of the lyase substrate in the active site, which alters a critical hydrogen bonding of the 17-alcohol to the iron-bound peroxide. The observed switch in substrate specificity of the enzyme is consistent with this result if the hydrogen bonding to the proximal peroxo oxygen is necessary for a proposed nucleophilic peroxoanion-mediated mechanism for CYP17A1 in carbon-carbon bond scission.

Structural insights into the role of the acid-alcohol pair of residues required for dioxygen activation in cytochrome P450 enzymes

The cytochrome P450 heme monooxygenases commonly use an acid-alcohol pair of residues, within the I-helix, to activate iron-bound dioxygen. This work aims to clarify conflicting reports on the importance of the alcohol functionality in this process. Mutants of the P450, CYP199A4 (CYP199A4_D251N and CYP199A4_T252A), were prepared, characterised and their crystal structures were solved. The acid residue of CYP199A4 is not part of a salt bridge network, a key feature of paradigmatic model system P450cam. Instead, there is a direct proton delivery network, via a chain of water molecules, extending to the surface. Nevertheless, CYP199A4_D251N dramatically reduced the activity of the enzyme consistent with a role in proton delivery. CYP199A4_T252A decreased the coupling efficiency of the enzyme with a concomitant increase in the hydrogen peroxide uncoupling pathway. However, the effect of this mutation was much less pronounced than reported with P450cam. Its crystal structures revealed fewer changes at the I-helix, compared to the P450cam system. The structural changes observed within the I-helix of P450cam during oxygen activation do not seem to be required in this P450. These differences are due to the presence of a second threonine residue at position 253, which is absent in P450cam. This threonine forms part of the hydrogen bonding network, resulting in subtle structural changes and is also present across the majority of the P450 superfamily. Overall, the results suggest that while the acid-alcohol pair is important for dioxygen activation this process and the method of proton delivery can differ across P450s.Graphic abstract.

Role of cytochrome b5 in the modulation of the enzymatic activities of cytochrome P450 17α-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase (P450 17A1)

Cytochrome b5 (cyt b5) is a small hemoprotein that plays a significant role in the modulation of activities of an important steroidogenic enzyme, cytochrome P450 17α-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase (P450 17A1, CYP17A1). Located in the zona fasciculata and zona reticularis of the adrenal cortex and in the gonads, P450 17A1 catalyzes two different reactions in the steroidogenic pathway; the 17α-hydroxylation and 17,20-lyase, in the endoplasmic reticulum of these respective tissues. The activities of P450 17A1 are regulated by cyt b5 that enhances the 17,20-lyase reaction by promoting the coupling of P450 17A1 and cytochrome P450 reductase (CPR), allosterically. Cyt b5 can also act as an electron donor to enhance the 16-ene-synthase activity of human P450 17A1. In this review, we discuss the many roles of cyt b5 and focus on the modulation of CYP17A1 activities by cyt b5 and the mechanisms involved.

Kinetic analysis of human CYP24A1 metabolism of vitamin D via the C24-oxidation pathway

CYP24A1 is the multicatalytic cytochrome P450 responsible for the catabolism of vitamin D via the C23- and C24-oxidation pathways. We successfully expressed the labile human enzyme in Escherichia coli and partially purified it in an active state that permitted detailed characterization of its metabolism of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2 D3] and the intermediates of the C24-oxidation pathway in a phospholipid-vesicle reconstituted system. The C24-oxidation pathway intermediates, 1,24,25-trihydroxyvitamin D3, 24-oxo-1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, 24-oxo-1,23,25-trihydroxyvitamin D3 and tetranor-1,23-dihydroxyvitamin D3, were enzymatically produced from 1,25(OH)2 D3 using rat CYP24A1. Both 1,25(OH)2 D3 and 1,23-dihydroxy-24,25,26,27-tetranorvitamin D3 were found to partition strongly into the phospholipid bilayer when in aqueous medium. Changes to the phospholipid concentration did not affect the kinetic parameters for the metabolism of 1,25(OH)2 D3 by CYP24A1, indicating that it is the concentration of substrates in the membrane phase (mol substrate·mol phospholipid(-1) ) that determines their rate of metabolism. CYP24A1 exhibited Km values for the different C24-intermediates ranging from 0.34 to 15 mmol·mol phospholipid(-1) , with 24-oxo-1,23,25-trihydroxyvitamin D3 [24-oxo-1,23,25(OH)3 D3] displaying the lowest and 1,24,25-trihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,24,25(OH)3 D3] displaying the highest. The kcat values varied by up to 3.8-fold, with 1,24,25(OH)3 D3 displaying the highest kcat (34 min(-1) ) and 24-oxo-1,23,25(OH)3 D3 the lowest. The data show that the cleavage of the side chain of 24-oxo-1,23,25(OH)3 D3 occurs with the highest catalytic efficiency (kcat /Km ) and produces 1-hydroxy-23-oxo-24,25,26,27-tetranorvitamin D3 and not 1,23-dihydroxy-24,25,26,27-tetranorvitamin D3, as the primary product. These kinetic analyses also show that intermediates of the C24-oxidation pathway effectively compete with precursor substrates for binding to the active site of the enzyme, which manifests as an accumulation of intermediates, indicating that they dissociate after each catalytic step.

Active site proton delivery and the lyase activity of human CYP17A1

Cytochrome P450 CYP17A1 catalyzes a series of reactions that lie at the intersection of corticoid and androgen biosynthesis and thus occupies an essential role in steroid hormone metabolism. This multifunctional enzyme catalyzes the 17α-hydroxylation of Δ4- and Δ5-steroids progesterone and pregnenolone to form the corresponding 17α-hydroxy products through its hydroxylase activity, and a subsequent 17,20-carbon-carbon scission of pregnene-side chain produce the androgens androstenedione (AD) and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). While the former hydroxylation reaction is believed to proceed through a conventional "Compound I" rebound mechanism, it has been suggested that the latter carbon cleavage is initiated by an iron-peroxy intermediate. We report on the role of Thr306 in CYP17 catalysis. Thr306 is a member of the conserved acid/alcohol pair thought to be essential for the efficient delivery of protons required for hydroperoxoanion heterolysis and formation of Compound I in the cytochromes P450. Wild type and T306A CYP17A1 self-assembled in Nanodiscs were used to quantitate turnover and coupling efficiencies of CYP17's physiological Δ4- and Δ5-substrates. We observed that T306A co-incorporated in Nanodiscs with its redox partner cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase, coupled NADPH only by 0.9% and 0.7% compared to the wild type (97% and 22%) during the conversion of pregnenolone and progesterone, respectively, to the corresponding 17-OH products. Despite increased oxidation of pyridine nucleotide, hydroxylase activity was drastically diminished in the T306A mutant, suggesting a high degree of uncoupling in which reducing equivalents and protons are funneled into non-productive pathways. This is similar to previous work with other P450 catalyzed hydroxylation. However, catalysis of carbon-carbon bond scission by the T306A mutant was largely unimpeded by disruption of the CYP17A1 acid-alcohol pair. The unique response of CYP17A1 lyase activity to mutation of Thr306 is consistent with a reactive intermediate formed independently of proton delivery in the active site, and supports involvement of a nucleophilic peroxo-anion rather than the traditional Compound I in catalysis.

Cytochrome P450(cin) (CYP176A1) D241N: investigating the role of the conserved acid in the active site of cytochrome P450s

P450(cin) (CYP176A) is a rare bacterial P450 in that contains an asparagine (Asn242) instead of the conserved threonine that almost all other P450s possess that directs oxygen activation by the heme prosthetic group. However, P450(cin) does have the neighbouring, conserved acid (Asp241) that is thought to be involved indirectly in the protonation of the dioxygen and affect the lifetime of the ferric-peroxo species produced during oxygen activation. In this study, the P450(cin) D241N mutant has been produced and found to be analogous to the P450(cam) D251N mutant. P450(cin) catalyses the hydroxylation of cineole to give only (1R)-6β-hydroxycineole and is well coupled (NADPH consumed: product produced). The P450(cin) D241N mutant also hydroxylated cineole to produce only (1R)-6β-hydroxycineole, was moderately well coupled (31±3%) but a significant reduction in the rate of the reaction (2% as compared to wild type) was observed. Catalytic oxidation of a variety of substrates by D241N P450(cin) were used to examine if typical reactions ascribed to the ferric-peroxo species increased as this intermediate is known to be more persistent in the P450(cam) D251N mutant. However, little change was observed in the product profiles of each of these substrates between wild type and mutant enzymes and no products consistent with chemistry of the ferric-peroxo species were observed to increase.

Synthesis of halogenated pregnanes, mechanistic probes of steroid hydroxylases CYP17A1 and CYP21A2

The human steroidogenic cytochromes P450 CYP17A1 (P450c17, 17α-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase) and CYP21A2 (P450c21, 21-hydroxylase) are required for the biosynthesis of androgens, glucocorticoids, and mineralocorticoids. Both enzymes hydroxylate progesterone at adjacent, distal carbon atoms and show limited tolerance for substrate modification. Halogenated substrate analogs have been employed for many years to probe cytochrome P450 catalysis and to block sites of reactivity, particularly for potential drugs. Consequently, we developed efficient synthetic approaches to introducing one or more halogen atom to the 17- and 21-positions of progesterone and pregnenolone. In particular, novel 21,21,21-tribromoprogesterone and 21,21,21-trichloroprogesterone were synthesized using the nucleophilic addition of either bromoform or chloroform anion onto an aldehyde precursor as the key step to introduce the trihalomethyl moieties. When incubated with microsomes from yeast expressing human CYP21A2 or CYP17A1 with P450-oxidoreductase, CYP21A2 metabolized 17-fluoroprogesterone to a single product, whereas incubations with CYP17A1 gave no products. Halogenated steroids provide a robust system for exploring the substrate tolerance and catalytic plasticity of human steroid hydroxylases.

Molecular modeling on inhibitor complexes and active-site dynamics of cytochrome P450 C17, a target for prostate cancer therapy

A molecular model for the P450 enzyme cytochrome P450 C17 (CYP17) is presented based on sequence alignments of multiple template structures and homology modeling. This enzyme plays a central role in the biosynthesis of testosterone and is emerging as a major target in prostate cancer, with the recently developed inhibitor abiraterone currently in advanced clinical trials. The model is described in detail, together with its validation, by providing structural explanations to available site-directed mutagenesis data. The CYP17 molecule in this model is in the form of a triangular prism, with an edge of approximately 55 A and a thickness of approximately 37 A. It is predominantly helical, comprising 13 alpha helices interspersed by six 3(10) helices and 11 beta-sheets. Multinanosecond molecular dynamics simulations in explicit solvent have been carried out, and principal components analysis has been used to reveal the details of dynamics around the active site. Coarse-grained methods have also been used to verify low-frequency motions, which have been correlated with active-site gating. The work also describes the results of docking synthetic inhibitors, including the drug abiraterone and the natural substrate pregnenolone, in the CYP17 active site together with molecular dynamics simulations on the complexes.

New insights into the structural characteristics and functional relevance of the human cytochrome P450 2D6 enzyme

To date, the crystal structures of at least 12 human CYPs (1A2, 2A6, 2A13, 2C8, 2C9, 2D6, 2E1, 2R1, 3A4, 7A1, 8A1, and 46A1) have been determined. CYP2D6 accounts for only a small percentage of all hepatic CYPs (< 2%), but it metabolizes approximately 25% of clinically used drugs with significant polymorphisms. CYP2D6 also metabolizes procarcinogens and neurotoxins, such as 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline, and indolealkylamines. Moreover, the enzyme utilizes hydroxytryptamines and neurosteroids as endogenous substrates. Typical CYP2D6 substrates are usually lipophilic bases with an aromatic ring and a nitrogen atom, which can be protonated at physiological pH. Substrate binding is generally followed by oxidation (5-7 A) from the proposed nitrogen-Asp301 interaction. A number of homology models have been constructed to explore the structural features of CYP2D6, while antibody studies also provide useful structural information. Site-directed mutagenesis studies have demonstrated that Glu216, Asp301, Phe120, Phe481, and Phe483 play important roles in determining the binding of ligands to CYP2D6. The structure of human CYP2D6 has been recently determined and shows the characteristic CYP fold observed for other members of the CYP superfamily. The lengths and orientations of the individual secondary structural elements in the CYP2D6 structure are similar to those seen in other human CYP2 members, such as CYP2C9 and 2C8. The 2D6 structure has a well-defined active-site cavity located above the heme group with a volume of approximately 540 A(3), which is larger than equivalent cavities in CYP2A6 (260 A(3)), 1A2 (375 A(3)), and 2E1 (190 A(3)), but smaller than those in CYP3A4 (1385 A(3)) and 2C8 (1438 A(3)). Further studies are required to delineate the molecular mechanisms involved in CYP2D6 ligand interactions and their implications for drug development and clinical practice.

Transcription factor GATA-6 in the human adrenocortex: association with adrenal development and aging

Transcription factor GATA-6 has been demonstrated to be expressed in the human fetal and adult adrenal cortex and has been postulated to play an important role in adrenal steroid biosynthesis. However, the status for GATA-6 expression has not been examined in detail especially in relation to adrenal development and aging. Therefore, in this study, we analyzed GATA-6 expression in 11 human fetal adrenals and 19 adrenal glands after birth using immunohistochemistry. In the fetal adrenals, the status of GATA-6 immunoreactivity in the definitive zone was significantly and directly correlated with ages of development (P<0.05) but in the fetal zone was significantly and inversely correlated with ages of development (P<0.05). After birth, GATA-6 was more abundant in the zona fasciculata compared to other zones (P<0.05) but was not related to aging of the subject. These results suggest that GATA-6 expression is involved in the regulation of corticosteroid production in both the human fetal and adult adrenals, and the changes of intra-adrenal GATA-6 expression in the human fetal adrenal plays important roles in developmental changes of both the definitive and fetal zones.

Regulation of cytochrome b5 gene transcription by Sp3, GATA-6, and steroidogenic factor 1 in human adrenal NCI-H295A cells

Sex steroid synthesis requires the 17,20 lyase activity of P450c17, which is enhanced by cytochrome b5, acting as an allosteric factor to promote association of P450c17 with its electron donor, P450 oxidoreductase. Cytochrome b5 is preferentially expressed in the fetal adrenal and postadrenarchal adrenal zona reticularis; the basis of this tissue-specific, developmentally regulated transcription of the b5 gene is unknown. We found b5 expression in all cell lines tested, including human adrenal NCI-H295A cells, where its mRNA is reduced by cAMP and phorbol ester. Multiple sites, between -83 and -122 bp upstream from the first ATG, initiate transcription. Deletional mutagenesis localized all detectable promoter activity within -327/+15, and deoxyribonuclease I footprinting identified protein binding at -72/-107 and -157/-197. DNA segments -65/-40, -114/-70 and -270/-245 fused to TK32/Luc yielded significant activity, and mutations in their Sp sites abolished that activity; electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) showed that Sp3, but not Sp1, binds to these Sp sites. Nuclear factor 1 (NF-1) and GATA-6, but not GATA-4 bind to the NF-1 and GATA sites in -157/-197. In Drosophila S2 cells, Sp3 increased -327/Luc activity 58-fold, but Sp1 and NF-1 isoforms were inactive. Mutating the three Sp sites ablated activity without or with cotransfection of Sp1/Sp3. In NCI-H295A cells, mutating the three Sp sites reduced activity to 39%; mutating the Sp, GATA, and NF-1 sites abolished activity. In JEG-3 cells, GATA-4 was inactive, GATA-6 augmented -327/Luc activity to 231% over the control, and steroidogenic factor 1 augmented activity to 655% over the control; these activities required the Sp and NF-1 sites. Transcription of cytochrome b5 shares many features with the regulation of P450c17, whose activity it enhances.

Models and mechanisms of O-O bond activation by cytochrome P450. A critical assessment of the potential role of multiple active intermediates in oxidative catalysis

Cytochrome P450 enzymes promote a number of oxidative biotransformations including the hydroxylation of unactivated hydrocarbons. Whereas the long-standing consensus view of the P450 mechanism implicates a high-valent iron-oxene species as the predominant oxidant in the radicalar hydrogen abstraction/oxygen rebound pathway, more recent studies on isotope partitioning, product rearrangements with 'radical clocks', and the impact of threonine mutagenesis in P450s on hydroxylation rates support the notion of the nucleophilic and/or electrophilic (hydro)peroxo-iron intermediate(s) to be operative in P450 catalysis in addition to the electrophilic oxenoid-iron entity; this may contribute to the remarkable versatility of P450s in substrate modification. Precedent to this mechanistic concept is given by studies with natural and synthetic P450 biomimics. While the concept of an alternative electrophilic oxidant necessitates C-H hydroxylation to be brought about by a cationic insertion process, recent calculations employing density functional theory favour a 'two-state reactivity' scenario, implicating the usual ferryl-dependent oxygen rebound pathway to proceed via two spin states (doublet and quartet); state crossing is thought to be associated with either an insertion or a radicalar mechanism. Hence, challenge to future strategies should be to fold the disparate and sometimes contradictory data into a harmonized overall picture.

The cationic charges on Arg347, Arg358 and Arg449 of human cytochrome P450c17 (CYP17) are essential for the enzyme's cytochrome b5-dependent acyl-carbon cleavage activities

CYP17 (17alpha-hydroxylase-17,20-lyase; also P450c17 or P450(17alpha)) catalyses the17alpha-hydroxylation of progestogens and the subsequent acyl-carbon cleavage of the 17alpha-hydroxylated products (lyase activity) in the biosynthesis of androgens. The enzyme also catalyses another type of acyl-carbon cleavage (direct cleavage activity) in which the 17alpha-hydroxylation reaction is by-passed. Human CYP17 is heavily dependent on the presence of the membrane form of cytochrome b(5) for both its lyase and direct cleavage activities. In the present study it was found that substitution of human CYP17 amino acids, Arg(347), Arg(358) and Arg(449), with non-cationic residues, yielded variants that were impaired in the two acyl-carbon bond cleavage activities, quantitatively to the same extent and these were reduced to between 3 and 4% of the wild-type protein. When the arginines were replaced by lysines, the sensitivity to cytochrome b(5) was restored and the acyl-carbon cleavage activities were recovered. All of the human mutant CYP17 proteins displayed wild-type hydroxylase activity, in the absence of cytochrome b(5). The results suggest that the bifurcated cationic charges at Arg(347), Arg(358) and Arg(449) make important contributions to the formation of catalytically competent CYP17.cytochrome b(5) complex. The results support our original proposal that the main role of cytochrome b(5) is to promote protein conformational changes which allow the iron-peroxo anion to form a tetrahedral adduct that fragments to produce the acyl-carbon cleavage products.

CYP17 mutation E305G causes isolated 17,20-lyase deficiency by selectively altering substrate binding

Cytochrome p450c17 (CYP17) converts the C21 steroids pregnenolone and progesterone to the C19 androgen precursors dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and androstenedione, respectively, via sequential 17alpha-hydroxylase and 17,20-lyase reactions. Disabling mutations in CYP17 cause combined 17alpha-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase deficiency, but rare missense mutations cause isolated loss of 17,20-lyase activity by disrupting interactions of redox partner proteins with CYP17. We studied an adolescent male with clinical and biochemical features of isolated 17,20-lyase deficiency, including micropenis, hypospadias, and gynecomastia, who is homozygous for CYP17 mutation E305G, which lies in the active site. When expressed in HEK-293 cells or Saccharomyces cerevisiae, mutation E305G retains 17alpha-hydroxylase activities, converting pregnenolone and progesterone to 17alpha-hydroxysteroids. However, mutation E305G lacks 17,20-lyase activity for the conversion of 17alpha-hydroxypregnenolone to DHEA, which is the dominant pathway to C19 steroids catalyzed by human CYP17 (the delta5-steroid pathway). In contrast, mutation E305G exhibits 11-fold greater catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) for the cleavage of 17alpha-hydroxyprogesterone to androstenedione compared with wild-type CYP17. We conclude that mutation E305G selectively impairs 17,20-lyase activity for DHEA synthesis despite an increased capacity to form androstenedione. Mutation E305G provides genetic evidence that androstenedione formation from 17alpha-hydroxyprogesterone via the minor delta4-steroid pathway alone is not sufficient for complete formation of the male phenotype in humans.

Molecular dynamics of substrate complexes with hamster cytochrome P450c17 (CYP17): mechanistic approach to understanding substrate binding and activities

The cytochrome P450c17 isoforms from various animal species have different substrate selectivity, especially for 17,20-lyase activity. In particular, the human P450c17 selectively produces dehydroepiandrosterone with little androstenedione (AD). Hamster P450c17, on the other hand, produces both of these steroids at comparable rates. We thus investigated if computational analysis could explain the difference in activity profiles. Therefore, we inserted the four P450c17 substrates-pregnenolone, progesterone, and their 17alpha-hydroxylated forms-inside our hamster P450c17 model, which we derived from our human P450c17 model based on the crystal structure of P450BMP. We performed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations on the complexes and analyzed the resultant trajectories to identify amino acids that interact with substrates. Starting with substrates in two different orientations, we obtained two sets of binding trajectories in each case. The first set of trajectories reveal structural rearrangements that occur during binding, whereas the second set of trajectories reflects substrate orientations during catalysis. Our modeling suggests that three distinct steps are required for substrate selectivity and binding to the hamster P450c17: (1) recognition of the substrate at the putative substrate entrance, characterized by a pocket at the surface of the hamster P450c17 containing charged residues R96 and D116; (2) entry of the substrate into the active site, in an intermediate position directed by possible hydrogen bonding of the substrates with the heme D-ring propionate group, R96, R440, and T306; followed by (3) 90 degrees counterclockwise rotation of the substrates, positioning them in optimal position for reactivity, a process that may be directed by hydrogen bonding to the 110-112 region of the hamster P450c17. With some substrates, we obtained trajectories which suggest that major distortions in the I-helix and opening of the H-I loop occur during substrate binding. In conclusion, these modeling exercises provide insight to possible structural reorganizations that occur during substrate binding and suggest that amino acids that participate in three distinct steps of this process may all contribute to substrate binding and activity.

Molecular modeling of the hamster adrenal P450C17

The cytochrome P450C17 (C17) is the steroidogenic enzyme responsible for the conversion of pregnenolone and progesterone to dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and delta4-androstenedione (AD) respectively. This conversion is achieved by two enzymatic activities, 17alpha-hydroxylase and 17,20-lyase, located at the same active site. In man, the adrenal C17 basically only produces DHEA. We have shown that the hamster adrenal C17 produces DHEA as well as AD. Moreover, the hamster like man produces cortisol as its major glucocorticoid. We can thus compare the hamster and human adrenal C17, and use their differences in order to elaborate a strategy for structure-function studies. We have thus engineered hamster adrenal C17 mutants which possess modified enzymatic activities. We also proceeded to elaborate a three-dimensional model of the hamster C17 to visualise the structural impact of these mutations. This model demonstrates that the mutations created are not localised at the active site, but rather in surrounding regions. These could affect the conformation of the active site, in turn, modulating the 17alpha-hydroxylase and 17,20-lyase activities. For example, the mutation T202N is located next to Val 482 and Val 483 which compose the roof of the active site. This mutation decreased both 17alpha-hydroxylase and 17,20-lyase activities, indicating the importance of the roof of the active site for general functionality of the C17.

Lysine mutagenesis identifies cationic charges of human CYP17 that interact with cytochrome b5 to promote male sex-hormone biosynthesis

Human CYP17 (17alpha-hydroxylase-17,20-lyase; also cytochrome P450c17 or cytochrome P450(17alpha)) catalyses a hydroxylation reaction and another reaction involving the cleavage of a C-C bond (the lyase activity) that is required only for androgen production. Single amino acid mutations in human CYP17, Arg(347)-->His and Arg(358)-->Gln, have been reported to result in the loss of the lyase activity and to cause sexual phenotypic changes in 46XY male patients. By using site-directed mutagenesis we show here that another mutation in human CYP17, Arg(449)-->Ala, for which human variants have yet not been described, also leads to selective lyase deficiency. Furthermore, all the three types of mutants display a loss of responsiveness to cytochrome b(5), an interaction that is essential for lyase activity, and hence male sex-hormone biosynthesis. That the defect could be essentially reversed by lysine mutagenesis has led to the conclusion that the cationic charges on all three residues (at the positions of Arg(347), Arg(358), Arg(449)) are vital for the functional interaction of CYP17 with cytochrome b(5) and that the loss of any one of these cationic charges is catastrophic.

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia: molecular genetics and alternative approaches to treatment

Several autosomal recessive disorders affecting the adrenal cortex and its development and leading to defective cortisol biosynthesis are known under the collective term "congenital adrenal hyperplasia" (CAH). Over the last two decades, the genes causing most of these disorders have been identified and molecular genetics may supplement their clinical and biochemical diagnosis. In addition, new treatments have emerged; although gene therapy has yet to be applied in humans, studies are ongoing in gene transfer in adrenocortical cell lines and animal models. In this review, after a brief introduction on the developmental biology and biochemistry of the adrenal cortex and its enzymes, we will list the new developments in the genetics and treatment of diseases causing CAH, starting with the most recent findings. This order happens to follow adrenal steroidogenesis from the mitochondrial entry of cholesterol to cortisol synthesis; it is unlike other presentations of CAH syndromes that start with the most frequently seen syndromes, because the latter were also the first to be investigated at the genetic level and have been extensively reviewed elsewhere. We will start with the latest syndrome to be molecularly investigated, congenital lipoid adrenal hyperplasia (CLAH), which is caused by mutations in the gene coding for the steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein. We will then present new developments in the genetics of 3-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3 beta HSD), 17 hydroxylase and 17,20-lyase (P450c17), 11 hydroxylase (P450c11 beta), and 21 hydroxylase (P450c21) deficiencies. Alternative treatment approaches and gene therapy experiments are reviewed collectively in the last section, because they are still in their infantile stages.

Cytochrome P450c17-expressing Escherichia coli as a first-step screening system for 17alpha-hydroxylase-C17,20-lyase inhibitors

We have designed and synthesized a number of cytochrome P450 17alpha-hydroxylase-C17,20-lyase (P450c17) inhibitors with the aim of inhibiting androgen synthesis. To select the most potent inhibitors, we initially used human testicular microsomes, which have a high level of expression of this enzyme. However, due to lack of availability of human tissue and variability among the samples, we utilized recombinant human enzyme expressed in Escherichia coli. We designed a simple and economical protocol based on the report that recombinant bovine P450c17 can be functionally active in live bacteria. In the assay we report here, we substituted high-performance liquid chromatography product isolation with a rapid biochemical acetic acid releasing assay and utilized intact P450c17-expressing E. coli for the source of the enzyme. Enzymatic parameters of the bacterial system (Km = 5.1 x 10(-7) M, Vmax = 15.0 pmol/min/mg) were similar to those of human testicular microsomes (Km = 4.8 x 10(-7) M, Vmax = 40.0 pmol/min/mg), and our compounds displayed a similar pattern of inhibition in both systems. This new system is a fast, reliable, and reproducible method for screening P450c17 inhibitors. Furthermore, it eliminates our dependence on human tissue and potential data fluctuations caused by variations in enzymatic activity between donors.

Biochemical differences between rat and human cytochrome P450c17 support the different steroidogenic needs of these two species

Microsomal 17alpha-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase cytochrome P450 (P450c17) catalyzes both the 17alpha-hydroxylase reaction required to produce cortisol, the major glucocorticoid in many animals, and the 17, 20-lyase activity required for the production of androgens in all animals. In rodents such as rat, which utilize corticosterone as the major glucocorticoid, P450c17 is expressed predominantly in the gonads, and is absent in the adrenal. In other species including humans, P450c17 is expressed in both adrenal and gonads and participates in both glucocorticoid and androgen production. Rat and human forms of P450c17 are 69% identical at the amino acid level. Based on the differences in physiological roles between P450c17 in these two species, it could be predicted that major differences would be observed in their hydroxylase activities. Contrary to this hypothesis, using partially purified, recombinant human and rat P450c17, we found that the most significant differences lie in their lyase activities. Lyase activities demonstrate that the rat enzyme favors Delta4 (progesterone) substrates while the human enzyme favors Delta5 (pregnenolone) substrates. This substrate preference is also observed in the ability of steroids to decrease uncoupled H2O2 production and to increase stability during turnover. Cytochrome b5, a microsomal electron-transfer protein, enhances lyase activities of rat and human P450c17. However, the most dramatic stimulatory effect is on the human HO-PROG lyase activity. This enhancement of activities is not associated with electron transfer. These differences in biochemical properties between the two forms of P450c17 indicate that human P450c17 has evolved as an enzyme system that limits androgen production to the gonads where a favorable b5:P450c17 ratio exists. Even though orthologous forms of P450c17 are capable of catalyzing the same enzymatic activities, specific physiological requirements of each species ensure biochemical differences between these enzymes.

Control of androgen biosynthesis in the human through the interaction of Arg347 and Arg358 of CYP17 with cytochrome b5

The lyase activity of human CYP17 (17alpha-hydroxylase-17,20-lyase also P-450c17 or P-45017alpha) is greatly dependent on the presence of cytochrome b5, and this effect has been ascribed an important regulatory role [Lee-Robichaud, Wright, Akhtar and Akhtar (1995) Biochem. J. 308, 901-908]. This facet was further investigated by site-directed mutagenesis of selected basic residues of human CYP17. The purified mutant proteins were subjected to detailed kinetic analysis. It was found that the mutation of Lys83, Arg347 and Arg358 produced proteins that were deficient in their responsiveness to cytochrome b5, and the effect was most pronounced for the two arginine mutants (Arg347-->His and Arg358-->Gln) which have been found in male patients suffering from genital ambiguity. These residues are invoked to mediate protein-protein interaction between cytochrome b5 and CYP17, which 'awakens' the lyase activity of the enzyme required for androgen formation.