An A245T mutation conveys on cytochrome P450eryF the ability to oxidize alternative substrates

Solvent isotope effects in the catalytic cycle of P450 CYP17A1: Computational modeling of the hydroxylation and lyase reactions

The catalytic cycle of the cytochromes P450 (CYP) requires two electrons from a protein redox partner and two protons from water to generate the main catalytic intermediate, a ferryl-oxo complex with π-cation on the heme porphyrin ring, termed Compound 1. The protonation steps are at least partially rate-limiting, therefore the steady-state rates of P450 catalysis are usually slower in deuterated solvent (D2O) by a factor of 1.5-3. However, in several P450 systems a pronounced inverse kinetic solvent isotope effect (KSIE ∼0.4-0.7) is observed, where the reaction is faster in D2O. This raises an important mechanistic question: Is this inverse solvent isotope effect compatible with Compound 1 catalyzed reactions, or is it indicative of another catalytic intermediate being involved? In this communication we use exhaustive numerical modeling of the P450 steady-state kinetics to demonstrate that a significant inverse KSIE cannot be obtained for a pure Compound 1 driven catalytic cycle of P450. Rather, an alternative, protonation independent, catalytic intermediate needs to be introduced. This result is applicable to the broad spectrum of P450s in nature, but as an example we use the extensively documented inverse isotope effect in the human steroid biosynthetic P450 CYP17A1 where the involvement of a heme peroxo anion intermediate has been characterized. Based on this analysis, we show that the observation of an inverse KSIE can be used as a general mechanistic probe for reaction cycle intermediates in the 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.

Engineered EryF hydroxylase improving heterologous polyketide erythronolide B production in Escherichia coli

In the last two decades, the production of complex polyketides such as erythromycin and its precursor 6-deoxyerythronolide B (6-dEB) was demonstrated feasible in Escherichia coli. Although the heterologous production of polyketide skeleton 6-dEB has reached 210 mg l^-1 in E. coli, the yield of its post-modification products erythromycins remains to be improved. Cytochrome P450EryF catalyses the C6 hydroxylation of 6-dEB to form erythronolide B (EB), which is the initial rate-limiting modification in a multi-step pathway to convert 6-dEB into erythromycin. Here, we engineered hydroxylase EryF to improve the production of heterologous polyketide EB in E. coli. By comparative analysis of various versions of P450EryFs, we confirmed the optimal SaEryF for the biosynthesis of EB. Further mutation of SaEryF based on the crystal structure of SaEryF and homology modelling of AcEryF and AeEryF afforded the enhancement of EB production. The designed mutant of SaEryF, I379V, achieved the yield of 131 mg l^-1 EB, which was fourfold to that produced by wild-type SaEryF. Moreover, the combined mutagenesis of multiple residues led to further boost the EB concentration by another 41%, which laid the foundation for efficient heterologous biosynthesis of erythromycin or other complex polyketides.

Investigating the effect of available redox protein ratios for the conversion of a steroid by a myxobacterial CYP260A1

Since cytochromes P450 are external monooxygenases, available surrogate redox partners have been used to reconstitute the P450 activity. However, the effect of various ratios of P450s and the redox proteins have not been extensively studied so far, although different combinations of the redox partners have shown variations in substrate conversion. To address this issue, CYP260A1 was reconstituted with various ratios of adrenodoxin and adrenodoxin reductase to convert 11-deoxycorticosterone, and the products were characterized by NMR. We show the effect of the available redox protein ratios not only on the P450 catalytic activity but also on the product pattern.

Cytochrome P450cin (CYP176A1)

Cytochrome P450cin (P450cin) (CYP176A1) is a bacterial P450 enzyme that catalyses the enantiospecific hydroxylation of 1,8-cineole to (1R)-6β-hydroxycineole when reconstituted with its natural reduction-oxidation (redox) partner cindoxin, E. coli flavodoxin reductase, and NADPH as a source of electrons. This catalytic system has become a useful tool in the study of P450s as not only can large quantities of P450cin be prepared and rates of oxidation up to 1,500 min(-1) achieved, but it also displays a number of unusual characteristics. These include an asparagine residue in P450cin that has been found in place of the usual conserved threonine residue observed in most P450s. In general, this conserved threonine controls oxygen activation to create the potent ferryl (Fe(IV=O) porphyrin cation radical required for substrate oxidation. Another atypical characteristic of P450cin is that it utilises an FMN-containing redoxin (cindoxin) rather than a ferridoxin as is usually observed with other bacterial P450s (e.g. P450cam). This chapter will review what is currently known about P450cin and how this enzyme has provided a greater understanding of P450s in general.

Diversity of P450 enzymes in the biosynthesis of natural products

Diverse oxygenation patterns of natural products generated by secondary metabolic pathways in microorganisms and plants are largely achieved through the tailoring reactions catalysed by cytochrome P450 enzymes (P450s). P450s are a large family of oxidative hemoproteins found in all life forms from prokaryotes to humans. Understanding the reactivity and selectivity of these fascinating C-H bond-activating catalysts will advance their use in generating valuable pharmaceuticals and products for medicine, agriculture and industry. A major strength of this P450 group is its set of established enzyme-substrate relationships, the source of the most detailed knowledge on how P450 enzymes work. Engineering microbial-derived P450 enzymes to accommodate alternative substrates and add new functions continues to be an important near- and long-term practical goal driving the structural characterization of these molecules. Understanding the natural evolution of P450 structure-function should accelerate metabolic engineering and directed evolutionary approaches to enhance diversification of natural product structures and other biosynthetic applications.

Protein engineering towards natural product synthesis and diversification

A dazzling array of enzymes is used by nature in making structurally complex natural products. These enzymes constitute a molecular toolbox that may be used in the construction and fine-tuning of pharmaceutically active molecules. Aided by technological advancements in protein engineering, it is now possible to tailor the activities and specificities of these enzymes as biocatalysts in the production of both natural products and their unnatural derivatives. These efforts are crucial in drug discovery and development, where there is a continuous quest for more potent agents. Both rational and random evolution techniques have been utilized in engineering these enzymes. This review will highlight some examples from several large families of natural products.

Oxygen activation by P450(cin): Protein and substrate mutagenesis

A conserved threonine found in the majority of cytochromes P450 (P450s) has been implicated in the activation of dioxygen during the catalytic cycle. P450(cin) (CYP176A) has been found to be an exception to this paradigm, where the conserved threonine has been replaced with an asparagine. Prior studies with a P450(cin) N242A mutant established that the Asn-242 was not a functional replacement for the conserved threonine but was essential for the regio- and stereocontrol of the oxidation of cineole. To explore further how P450(cin) controls the activation of the dioxygen in the absence of the conserved threonine, two concurrent lines of investigation were followed. Modification of P450(cin) indicated that the Thr-243 was not involved in controlling the protonation of the hydroperoxy species. In addition, the N242T mutant did not enhance the rate and/or efficiency of catalytic turnover of cineole by P450(cin). In parallel experiments, the substrate cineole was modified by removing the ethereal oxygen to produce camphane or 2,2-dimethylbicyclo[2.2.2]octane (cinane). An analogous experiment with P450(EryF) showed that a hydroxyl group on the substrate was vital, and in its absence catalytic turnover was effectively abolished. Catalytic turnover of P450(cin) with either of these alternative substrates (camphane or cinane) revealed that in the absence of the ethereal oxygen there was still a significant amount of coupling of the NADPH-reducing equivalents to the formation of oxidised product. Again the substrate itself was not found to be important in controlling oxygen activation, in contrast to P450(EryF), but was shown to be essential for regio- and stereoselective substrate oxidation. Thus, it still remains unclear how dioxygen activation in the catalytic turnover of cineole by P450(cin) is controlled.

Genetic engineering of macrolide biosynthesis: past advances, current state, and future prospects

Polyketides comprise one of the major families of natural products. They are found in a wide variety of bacteria, fungi, and plants and include a large number of medically important compounds. Polyketides are biosynthesized by polyketide synthases (PKSs). One of the major groups of polyketides are the macrolides, the activities of which are derived from the presence of a macrolactone ring to which one or more 6-deoxysugars are attached. The core macrocyclic ring is biosynthesized from acyl-CoA precursors by PKS. Genetic manipulation of PKS-encoding genes can result in predictable changes in the structure of the macrolactone component, many of which are not easily achieved through standard chemical derivatization or total synthesis. Furthermore, many of the changes, including post-PKS modifications such as glycosylation and oxidation, can be combined for further structural diversification. This review highlights the current state of novel macrolide production with a focus on the genetic engineering of PKS and post-PKS tailoring genes. Such engineering of the metabolic pathways for macrolide biosynthesis provides attractive alternatives for the production of diverse non-natural compounds. Other issues of importance, including the engineering of precursor pathways and heterologous expression of macrolide biosynthetic genes, are also considered.

The 1.5-A structure of XplA-heme, an unusual cytochrome P450 heme domain that catalyzes reductive biotransformation of royal demolition explosive

XplA is a cytochrome P450 of unique structural organization, consisting of a heme-domain that is C-terminally fused to its native flavodoxin redox partner. XplA, along with flavodoxin reductase XplB, has been shown to catalyze the breakdown of the nitramine explosive and pollutant hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (royal demolition explosive) by reductive denitration. The structure of the heme domain of XplA (XplA-heme) has been solved in two crystal forms: as a dimer in space group P2(1) to a resolution of 1.9 A and as a monomer in space group P2(1)2(1)2 to a resolution of 1.5 A, with the ligand imidazole bound at the heme iron. Although it shares the overall fold of cytochromes P450 of known structure, XplA-heme is unusual in that the kinked I-helix that traverses the distal face of the heme is broken by Met-394 and Ala-395 in place of the well conserved Asp/Glu plus Thr/Ser, important in oxidative P450s for the scission of the dioxygen bond prior to substrate oxygenation. The heme environment of XplA-heme is hydrophobic, featuring a cluster of three methionines above the heme, including Met-394. Imidazole was observed bound to the heme iron and is in close proximity to the side chain of Gln-438, which is situated over the distal face of the heme. Imidazole is also hydrogen-bonded to a water molecule that sits in place of the threonine side-chain hydroxyl exemplified by Thr-252 in Cyt-P450cam. Both Gln-438 --> Ala and Ala-395 --> Thr mutants of XplA-heme displayed markedly reduced activity compared with the wild type for royal demolition explosive degradation when combined with surrogate electron donors.

Cooperative properties of cytochromes P450

Cytochromes P450 form a large and important class of heme monooxygenases with a broad spectrum of substrates and corresponding functions, from steroid hormone biosynthesis to the metabolism of xenobiotics. Despite decades of study, the molecular mechanisms responsible for the complex non-Michaelis behavior observed with many members of this superfamily during metabolism, often termed 'cooperativity', remain to be fully elucidated. Although there is evidence that oligomerization may play an important role in defining the observed cooperativity, some monomeric cytochromes P450, particularly those involved in xenobiotic metabolism, also display this behavior due to their ability to simultaneously bind several substrate molecules. As a result, formation of distinct enzyme-substrate complexes with different stoichiometry and functional properties can give rise to homotropic and heterotropic cooperative behavior. This review aims to summarize the current understanding of cooperativity in cytochromes P450, with a focus on the nature of cooperative effects in monomeric enzymes.

Novel variants in human Aquaporin-4 reduce cellular water permeability

Cerebral edema contributes significantly to morbidity and mortality after brain injury and stroke. Aquaporin-4 (AQP4), a water channel expressed in astrocytes, plays a key role in brain water homeostasis. Genetic variants in other aquaporin family members have been associated with disease phenotypes. However, in human AQP4, only one non-synonymous single-nucleotide polymorphism (nsSNP) has been reported, with no characterization of protein function or disease phenotype. We analyzed DNA from an ethnically diverse cohort of 188 individuals to identify novel AQP4 variants. AQP4 variants were constructed by site-directed mutagenesis and expressed in cells. Water permeability assays in the cells were used to measure protein function. We identified 24 variants in AQP4 including four novel nsSNPs (I128T, D184E, I205L and M224T). We did not observe the previously documented M278T in our sample. The nsSNPs found were rare ( approximately 1-2% allele frequency) and heterozygous. Computational analysis predicted reduced function mutations. Protein expression and membrane localization were similar for reference AQP4 and the five AQP4 mutants. Cellular assays confirmed that four variant AQP4 channels reduced normalized water permeability to between 26 and 48% of the reference (P < 0.001), while the M278T mutation increased normalized water permeability (P < 0.001). We identified multiple novel AQP4 SNPs and showed that four nsSNPs reduced water permeability. The previously reported M278T mutation resulted in gain of function. Our experiments provide insight into the function of the AQP4 protein. These nsSNPs may have clinical implications for patients with cerebral edema and related disorders.

Analysis of the cryptophycin P450 epoxidase reveals substrate tolerance and cooperativity

Cryptophycins are potent anticancer agents isolated from Nostoc sp. ATCC 53789 and Nostoc sp. GSV 224. The most potent natural cryptophycin analogues retain a beta-epoxide at the C2'-C3' position of the molecule. A P450 epoxidase encoded by c rpE recently identified from the cryptophycin gene cluster was shown to install this key functional group into cryptophycin-4 (Cr-4) to produce cryptophycin-2 (Cr-2) in a regio- and stereospecific manner. Here we report a detailed characterization of the CrpE epoxidase using an engineered maltose binding protein (MBP)-CrpE fusion. The substrate tolerance of the CrpE polypeptide was investigated with a series of structurally related cryptophycin analogues generated by chemoenzymatic synthesis. The enzyme specifically installed a beta-epoxide between C2' and C3' of cyclic cryptophycin analogues. The kcat/Km values of the enzyme were determined to provide further insights into the P450 epoxidase catalytic efficiency affected by substrate structural variation. Finally, binding analysis revealed cooperativity of MBP-CrpE toward natural and unnatural desepoxy cryptophycin substrates.

Efficient catalytic turnover of cytochrome P450(cam) is supported by a T252N mutation

A Thr (or Ser) residue on the I-helix is a highly conserved structural feature of cytochrome P450 enzymes. It is believed to be indispensable as a proton delivery shuttle in the oxygen activation process. Previous work showed that P450(cin) (CYP176A1), which contains an Asn instead of the conserved Thr, is fully functional in the catalytic oxidation of cineole [D.B. Hawkes, G.W. Adams, A.L. Burlingame, P.R. Ortiz de Montellano, J.J. De Voss, J. Biol. Chem. 277 (2002) 27725-27732]. To determine whether the substitution of Asn for Thr is specific or general, the conserved Thr252 in P450(cam) (CYP101) was mutated to generate the T252N, T252N/V253T, and T252A mutants. Steady-state kinetic analysis of the oxidation of camphor by these mutants indicated that the T252N and T252N/V253T mutants have comparable turnover numbers but higher K(m) values relative to the wild-type enzyme. Spectroscopic binding assays indicate that the higher K(m) values reflect a decrease in the camphor binding affinity. Non-productive H(2)O(2) generation was negligible with the T252N and T252N/V253T mutants, but, as previously observed, was dominant in the T252A mutant. Our results, and a structure model based on the crystal structures of the ferrous dioxygen complexes of P450(cam) and its T252A mutant, suggest that Asn252 can stabilize the ferric hydroperoxy intermediate, preventing premature release of H(2)O(2) and enabling addition of the second proton to the distal oxygen to generate the catalytic ferryl species.

The critical role of substrate-protein hydrogen bonding in the control of regioselective hydroxylation in p450cin

Cytochrome P450cin (CYP176A1) is a bacterial P450 isolated from Citrobacter braakii that catalyzes the hydroxylation of cineole to (S)-6beta-hydroxycineole. This initiates the biodegradation of cineole, enabling C. braakii to live on cineole as its sole source of carbon and energy. P450cin lacks the almost universally conserved threonine residue believed to be involved in dioxygen activation and instead contains an asparagine at this position (Asn-242). To investigate the role of Asn-242 in P450cin catalysis, it was converted to alanine, and the resultant mutant was characterized. The characteristic CO-bound spectrum and spectrally determined K(D) for substrate binding were unchanged in the mutant. The x-ray crystal structures of the substrate-free and -bound N242A mutant were determined and show that the only significant change is in a reorientation of the substrate such that (R)-6alpha-hydroxycineole should be a major product. Molecular dynamics simulations of both wild type and mutant are consistent with the change in regio- and stereoselectivity predicted from the crystal structure. The mutation has only a modest effect on enzyme activity and on the diversion of the NADPH-reducing equivalent toward unproductive peroxide formation. Product profile analysis shows that (R)-6alpha-hydroxycineole is the main product, which is consistent with the crystal structure. These results demonstrate that Asn-242 is not a functional replacement for the conserved threonine in other P450s but, rather, is critical in controlling regioselective substrate oxidation.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis CYP130: crystal structure, biophysical characterization, and interactions with antifungal azole drugs

CYP130 is one of the 20 Mycobacterium tuberculosis cytochrome P450 enzymes, only two of which, CYP51 and CYP121, have so far been studied as individually expressed proteins. Here we characterize a third heterologously expressed M. tuberculosis cytochrome P450, CYP130, by UV-visible spectroscopy, isothermal titration calorimetry, and x-ray crystallography, including determination of the crystal structures of ligand-free and econazole-bound CYP130 at a resolution of 1.46 and 3.0A(,) respectively. Ligand-free CYP130 crystallizes in an "open" conformation as a monomer, whereas the econazole-bound form crystallizes in a "closed" conformation as a dimer. Conformational changes enabling the "open-closed" transition involve repositioning of the BC-loop and the F and G helices that envelop the inhibitor in the binding site and reshape the protein surface. Crystal structure analysis shows that the portion of the BC-loop relocates as much as 18A between the open and closed conformations. Binding of econazole to CYP130 involves a conformational change and is mediated by both a set of hydrophobic interactions with amino acid residues in the active site and coordination of the heme iron. CYP130 also binds miconazole with virtually the same binding affinity as econazole and clotrimazole and ketoconazole with somewhat lower affinities, which makes it a plausible target for this class of therapeutic drugs. Overall, binding of the azole inhibitors is a sequential two-step, entropy-driven endothermic process. Binding of econazole and clotrimazole exhibits positive cooperativity that may reflect a propensity of CYP130 to associate into a dimeric structure.

Inhibition of CYP2B4 by 2-ethynylnaphthalene: evidence for the co-binding of substrate and inhibitor within the active site

2-ethynylnaphthalene (2EN) is an effective mechanism-based inhibitor of CYP2B4. There are two inhibitory components: (1) irreversible inactivation of CYP2B4 (a typical time-dependent inactivation), and (2) a reversible component. The reversible component was unusual in that the degree of inhibition was not simply a characteristic of the enzyme-inhibitor interaction, but dependent on the size of the substrate molecule used to monitor residual activity. The effect of 2EN on the metabolism of seven CYP2B4 substrates showed that it was not an effective reversible inhibitor of substrates containing a single aromatic ring; substrates with two fused rings were competitively inhibited by 2EN; and larger substrates were non-competitively inhibited. Energy-based docking studies demonstrated that, with increasing substrate size, the energy of 2EN and substrate co-binding in the active site became unfavorable precisely at the point where 2EN became a competitive inhibitor. Hierarchical docking revealed potential allosteric inhibition sites separate from the substrate binding site.

The role of Thr268 and Phe393 in cytochrome P450 BM3

In flavocytochrome P450 BM3 there are several active site residues that are highly conserved throughout the P450 superfamily. Of these, a phenylalanine (Phe393) has been shown to modulate heme reduction potential through interactions with the implicitly conserved heme-ligand cysteine. In addition, a distal threonine (Thr268) has been implicated in a variety of roles including proton donation, oxygen activation and substrate recognition. Substrate binding in P450 BM3 causes a shift in the spin state from low- to high-spin. This change in spin-state is accompanied by a positive shift in the reduction potential (DeltaE(m) [WT+arachidonate (120 microM)]=+138 mV). Substitution of Thr268 by an alanine or asparagine residue causes a significant decrease in the ability of the enzyme to generate the high-spin complex via substrate binding and consequently leads to a decrease in the substrate-induced potential shift (DeltaE(m) [T268A+arachidonate (120 microM)]=+73 mV, DeltaE(m) [T268N+arachidonate (120 microM)]=+9 mV). Rate constants for the first electron transfer and for oxy-ferrous decay were measured by pre-steady-state stopped-flow kinetics and found to be almost entirely dependant on the heme reduction potential. More positive reduction potentials lead to enhanced rate constants for heme reduction and more stable oxy-ferrous species. In addition, substitutions of the threonine lead to an increase in the production of hydrogen peroxide in preference to hydroxylated product. These results suggest an important role for this active site threonine in substrate recognition and in maintaining an efficiently functioning enzyme. However, the dependence of the rate constants for oxy-ferrous decay on reduction potential raises some questions as to the importance of Thr268 in iron-oxo stabilisation.

Role of the conserved threonine 309 in mechanism of oxidation by cytochrome P450 2D6

Based on sequence alignments and homology modeling, threonine 309 in cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) is proposed to be the conserved I-helix threonine, which is supposed to be involved in dioxygen activation by CYPs. The T309V mutant of CYP2D6 displayed a strong shift from O-dealkylation to N-dealkylation reactions in oxidation of dextromethorphan and 3,4-methylenedioxymethylamphetamine. This may be explained by an elevated ratio of hydroperoxo-iron to oxenoid-iron of the oxygenating species. In consistence, using cumene hydroperoxide, which directly forms the oxenoid-iron, the T309V mutant again selectively catalyzed the O-dealkylation reactions. The changed ratio of oxygenating species can also explain the decreased activity and changed regioselectivity that were observed in 7-methoxy-4-(aminomethyl)-coumarin and bufuralol oxidation, respectively, by the T309V mutant. Interestingly, the T309V mutant always showed a significantly increased, up to 75-fold, higher activity compared to that of the wild-type when using cumene hydroperoxide. These results indicate that T309 in CYP2D6 is involved in maintaining the balance of multiple oxygenating species and thus influences substrate and regioselectivity.

Resolution of two substrate-binding sites in an engineered cytochrome P450eryF bearing a fluorescent probe

To elucidate the mechanisms of cooperativity of cytochrome P450eryF an SH-reactive fluorescent probe was introduced close to the substrate-binding site. Cys-154, the only accessible cysteine, was eliminated by site-directed mutagenesis, and a novel cysteine was substituted for Ser-93 in the B'/C loop. S93C, C154A, C154S, S93C/C154A, and S93C/S154C were characterized in terms of affinity for 1-pyrenebutanol (1-PB), cooperativity, and ionic-strength dependence of the 1-PB-induced spin shift. S93C/C154S retains the key functional properties of the wild-type, and modification by three different SH-reactive probes had little effect on the characteristics of the enzyme. The labeled proteins exhibited fluorescence resonance energy transfer from 1-PB to the label, which allowed us to resolve two substrate-binding events, and to determine the corresponding KD values (KD1 = 1.2 +/- 0.2 microM, KD2 = 9.4 +/- 0.8 microM). Using these values for analysis of the substrate-induced spin transition, we demonstrate that the interactions of P450eryF with 1-PB are consistent with a sequential binding mechanism, where substrate interactions at a higher-affinity site cause a conformational transition crucial for the binding of the second substrate molecule and subsequent spin shift. This transition is apparently associated with an important rearrangement of the system of salt links in the proximity of Cys-154.

Crystal Structures of the Ferrous Dioxygen Complex of Wild-type Cytochrome P450eryF and Its Mutants, A245S and A245T

Cytochrome P450eryF (CYP107A) from Saccaropolyspora ertherea catalyzes the hydroxylation of 6-deoxyerythronolide B, one of the early steps in the biosynthesis of erythromycin. P450eryF has an alanine rather than the conserved threonine that participates in the activation of dioxygen (O(2)) in most other P450s. The initial structure of P450eryF (Cupp-Vickery, J. R., Han, O., Hutchinson, C. R., and Poulos, T. L. (1996) Nat. Struct. Biol. 3, 632-637) suggests that the substrate 5-OH replaces the missing threonine OH group and holds a key active site water molecule in position to donate protons to the iron-linked dioxygen, a critical step for the monooxygenase reaction. To probe the proton delivery system in P450eryF, we have solved crystal structures of ferrous wild-type and mutant (Fe(2+)) dioxygen-bound complexes. The catalytic water molecule that was postulated to provide protons to dioxygen is absent, although the substrate 5-OH group donates a hydrogen bond to the iron-linked dioxygen. The hydrogen bond network observed in the wild-type ferrous dioxygen complex, water 63-Glu(360)-Ser(246)-water 53-Ala(241) carbonyl in the I-helix cleft, is proposed as the proton transfer pathway. Consistent with this view, the hydrogen bond network in the O(2).A245S and O(2) .A245T mutants, which have decreased or no enzyme activity, was perturbed or disrupted, respectively. The mutant Thr(245) side chain also perturbs the hydrogen bond between the substrate 5-OH and dioxygen ligand. Contrary to the previously proposed mechanism, these results support the direct involvement of the substrate in O(2) activation but raise questions on the role water plays as a direct proton donor to the iron-linked dioxygen.

EpoK, a Cytochrome P450 Involved in Biosynthesis of the Anticancer Agents Epothilones A and B. Substrate-Mediated Rescue of a P450 Enzyme

The epothilones are a new class of highly promising anticancer agents with a mode of action akin to that of paclitaxel but with distinct advantages over that drug. The principal natural compounds are epothilones A and B, which have an epoxide in the macrocyclic lactone ring, and C and D, which have a double bond instead of the epoxide group. The epoxidation of epothilones C and D to A and B, respectively, is mediated by EpoK, a cytochrome P450 enzyme encoded in the epothilone gene cluster. Here we report high-yield expression of EpoK, characterization of the protein, demonstration that the natural substrate can prevent-and even reverse-denaturation of the protein, identification of ligands and surrogate substrates, development of a high-throughput fluorescence activity assay based on the H(2)O(2)-dependent oxidation of 7-ethoxy-4-trifluoromethylcoumarin, and identification of effective inhibitors of the enzyme. These results will facilitate improvements in the yields of epothilones C and D and the engineering of EpoK to prepare novel epothilone analogues. Furthermore, the finding that the denatured enzyme is rescued by the substrate offers a potential paradigm for control of the P450 catalytic function.

Homotropic versus heterotopic cooperativity of cytochrome P450eryF: a substrate oxidation and spectral titration study

P450eryF is the only bacterial P450 to show cooperativity of substrate binding and oxidation. However, the studies reported so far have provided evidence only for homotropic cooperativity of P450eryF but not for heterotropic cooperativity. Therefore, oxidation of 7-benzyloxyquinoline (7-BQ) and 1-pyrenebutanol (1-PB) by P450eryF A245T and spectral binding of 9-aminophenanthrene (9-AP) to wild-type P450eryF were investigated in the presence of various effectors. The addition of steroids and flavones caused no stimulation but rather moderate inhibition of 7-BQ or 1-PB oxidation by P450eryF A245T. However, the binding affinity of 9-AP was significantly increased in the presence of androstenedione or alpha-naphthoflavone (ANF). A comparative study with CYP3A4 revealed a similar increase in the binding affinity of 9-AP for the enzyme at low ANF concentrations but some competition at higher ANF concentrations. These studies, to our knowledge, provide the first report of heterotropic cooperativity in P450eryF as well as spectroscopic evidence for simultaneous presence of two ligand molecules in the CYP3A4 active site.

Oxidation and electronic state dependence of proton transfer in the enzymatic cycle of cytochrome P450eryF

Hydrogen bond networks, consisting of hydrogen bonded waters anchored by polar/acidic amino acid sidechains, are often present in the vicinity of the oxygen binding clefts of P450s. Density functional and quantum dynamics calculations of a O(2) binding cleft network model of cytochrome P450eryF(CYP107A1) indicate that such structural motifs facilitate ultrafast proton transfer from network waters to the dioxygen of the reduced oxyferrous species via a multiple proton translocation mechanism with barriers of 7-10 kcal/mol on its doublet ground state, and that the energies of the proton transfer reactant and constrained proton transfer products have an electronic and oxidation state dependence [J. Am. Chem. Soc. 124 (2002) 1430]. In the present study, the origin of the oxidation state dependence is shown to have its roots in differential proton affinities while the electronic state dependence of the reduced oxyferrous heme has its origins in subtle differences in network topologies near the transition state of the initial proton transfer event. Relaxed potential surface scans and unconstrained proton transfer product optimizations indicate that the proton transfer product in both the singlet oxyferrous heme and the reduced oxyferrous heme species in a quartet state are not viable stable (bound) states relative to the reactant form. While the proton affinity of H(3)O(+) is sufficient for it to protonate both the oxyferrous and the reduced oxyferrous heme species, hydrogen bond network stabilized water is only capable of protonating the reduced oxyferrous form. This interpretation is substantiated by study of the NO bound reduced ferrous heme of P450nor, which is isoelectronic with the oxyferrous heme and has a similar proton affinity. Density functional calculations on a more extensive O(2) binding cleft model support the multiple proton translocation mechanism of transfer but indicates that the significant negative charge density on the bound dioxygen of the reduced oxyferrous heme species, in its doublet ground state, polarizes the associated hydrogen bond network sufficiently so as to result in short, strong, low-barrier hydrogen bonds. The computed O-H-O bond distances are less than 2.55 A and have a near degeneracy of the proton transfer reactant and initial (sudden) proton transfer products. These low-barrier hydrogen bond features, in addition to the finding of a (zero point uncorrected) barrier of 1.3 kcal/mol, indicate that proton transfer from water to the distal oxygen should be rapid, facile and may not require large curvature tunneling as originally suggested by use of a smaller model. An initial assessment of protonation of the reduced oxyferrous heme distal oxygen by a model of 6-deoxyerythronolide B (6-DEB) indicates it to be low barrier (3.8 kcal/mol) and exothermic (-2.9 kcal/mol). The combined results indicate the plausibility of simultaneous diprotonation of the distal oxygen of the reduced oxyferrous heme, leading to O-O bond scission, using the combined water network and 6-DEB substrate protonation agents.

Allosteric mechanisms in P450eryF probed with 1-pyrenebutanol, a novel fluorescent substrate

1-Pyrenebutanol (1-PB) has been used as a new fluorescent substrate for P450eryF to explore the molecular mechanisms of cooperativity. Hydroxylation of 1-PB by P450eryF was detected by both fluorometric and chromatographic assays. Binding was monitored by a substrate-induced low-to-high spin shift, as well as by fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) from 1-PB to the heme. Spectrophotometric titration showed that P450eryF has high affinity for 1-PB with distinct positive cooperativity (S(50) = 12.4 +/- 2.2 microM, n = 2.3 +/- 0.6), as also revealed in activity measurements. FRET analysis showed a different binding process obeying a simple bimolecular mechanism with a K(D) = 2.15 +/- 0.8 microM that suggests the presence of the higher affinity binding site. 1-PB binding at this site appears not to modulate the spin state directly but rather to facilitate the spin shift caused by the interactions of P450eryF with the other substrate molecule.

Site-directed mutagenesis of cytochrome P450eryF: implications for substrate oxidation, cooperativity, and topology of the active site

The role of five active-site residues (Phe-78, Gly-91, Ser-171, Ile-174, and Leu-175) has been investigated in P450eryF, the only bacterial P450 known to show cooperativity. The residues were selected based on two-ligand-bound P450eryF structures and previous mutagenesis studies of other cytochromes P450. To better understand the role of these residues in substrate catalysis and cooperativity, each mutant was generated in the wild-type and A245T background, a substitution that enables P450eryF to oxidize testosterone and 7-benzyloxyquinoline (7-BQ). Replacement of Phe-78 with tryptophan decreased cooperativity of 9-aminophenanthrene binding, with little effect on testosterone binding or oxidation. Interestingly, substitution of Gly-91 with alanine or phenylalanine abolished the type-I spectral change elicited by testosterone and significantly decreased testosterone hydroxylation. However, G91A/A245T showed a 4-fold higher k(cat) value with 7-BQ compared with A245T. Replacement of Ser-171 with alanine or phenylalanine did not alter cooperativity of testosterone binding but significantly decreased binding affinity and oxidation of testosterone and 7-BQ. The only mutant that exhibited an increased testosterone binding affinity and increased rates of testosterone and 7-BQ oxidation was I174F. Substitution of Ile-175 with phenylalanine decreased testosterone and 7-BQ oxidation. Reaction with phenyldiazene showed that P450eryF may be much more open above pyrrole ring B than other cytochromes P450 and indicated significant changes in active-site topology in some of the mutants. The study suggests a crucial role of residues Ser-171, Ile-174, and Leu-175, which are part of a distal ligand site, in addition to the proximal Gly-91 in determining the oxidative properties of P450eryF.

Pivotal role of water in the mechanism of P450BM-3

Cytochrome P450s constitute a superfamily of enzymes that catalyze the oxidation of a vast number of structurally and chemically diverse hydrophobic substrates. Herein, we describe the crystal structure of a complex between the bacterial P450BM-3 and the novel substrate N-palmitoylglycine at a resolution of 1.65 A, which reveals previously unrecognizable features of active site reorganization upon substrate binding. N-palmitoylglycine binds with higher affinity than any other known substrate and reacts with a higher turnover number than palmitic acid but with unaltered regiospecificity along the fatty acid moiety. Substrate binding induces conformational changes in distinct regions of the enzyme including part of the I-helix adjacent to the active site. These changes cause the displacement by about 1 A of the pivotal water molecule that ligands the heme iron, resulting in the low-spin to high-spin conversion of the iron. The water molecule is trapped close to the heme group, which allows it to partition between the iron and the new binding site. This partitioning explains the existence of a high-spin-low-spin equilibrium after substrate binding. The close proximity of the water molecule to the heme iron indicates that it may also participate in the proton-transfer cascade that leads to heterolytic bond scission of oxygen in P450BM-3.

Allosteric phenomena in cytochrome P450-catalyzed monooxygenations

Allosteric regulation of monooxygenase activity is shown to occur with diverse cytochrome P450 isoforms and is characterized by kinetic patterns deviating from the Michaelis-Menten model. Homotropic and heterotropic phenomena are encountered in both substrate activation and productive coupling of the electron donors NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase and cytochrome b5, and the lipid environment of the system also appears to play a role as an effector. Circumstantial analysis reveals the components of the electron transfer chain to be mutually beneficial in interactions with each other depending on the substrate used and type of cytochrome P450 operative. It is noteworthy that association of diatomic gaseous ligands may be amenable to allosteric regulation as well. Thus, dioxygen binding to cytochrome P450 displays nonhyperbolic kinetic profiles in the presence of certain substrates; the latter, together with redox proteins such as cytochrome b5, can exert efficient control of the abortive breakdown of the oxyferrous intermediates formed. Similarly, substrates may modulate the structural features of the access channel for solutes such as carbon monoxide in specific cytochrome P450 isozymes to either facilitate or impair ligand diffusion to the heme iron. The in vivo importance of allosteric regulation of enzyme activity is discussed in detail.

Common and uncommon cytochrome P450 reactions related to metabolism and chemical toxicity

Cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes catalyze a variety of reactions and convert chemicals to potentially reactive products as well as make compounds less toxic. Most of the P450 reactions are oxidations. The majority of these can be rationalized in the context of an FeO(3+) intermediate and odd electron abstraction/rebound mechanisms; however, other iron-oxygen complexes are possible and alternate chemistries can be considered. Another issue regarding P450-catalyzed reactions is the delineation of rate-limiting steps in the catalytic cycle and the contribution to reaction selectivity. In addition to the rather classical oxidations, P450s also catalyze less generally discussed reactions including reduction, desaturation, ester cleavage, ring expansion, ring formation, aldehyde scission, dehydration, ipso attack, one-electron oxidation, coupling reactions, rearrangement of fatty acid and prostaglandin hydroperoxides, and phospholipase activity. Most of these reactions are rationalized in the context of high-valent iron-oxygen intermediates and Fe(2+) reductions, but others are not and may involve acid-base catalysis. Some of these transformations are involved in the bioactivation and detoxication of xenobiotic chemicals.

Oxidations of p-alkoxyacylanilides catalyzed by human cytochrome P450 1A2: structure-activity relationships and simulation of rate constants of individual steps in catalysis

Human cytochrome P450 (P450) 1A2 is involved in the oxidation of many important drugs and carcinogens. The prototype substrate phenacetin is oxidized to an acetol as well as the O-dealkylation product [Yun, C.-H., Miller, G. P., and Guengerich, F. P. (2000) Biochemistry 39, 11319-11329]. In an effort to improve rates of catalysis of P450 1A2 enzymes, we considered a set of p-alkoxyacylanilide analogues of phenacetin and found that variations in the O-alkyl and N-acyl substituents altered the rates of the two oxidation reactions and the ratio of acetol/phenol products. Moving one methylene group of phenacetin from the O-alkyl group to the N-acyl moiety increased rates of both oxidations approximately 5-fold and improved the coupling efficiency (oxidation products formed/NADPH consumed) from 6% to 38%. Noncompetitive kinetic deuterium isotope effects of 2-3 were measured for all O-dealkylation reactions examined with wild-type P450 1A2 and the E225I mutant, which has 6-fold higher activity. A trend of decreasing kinetic deuterium isotope effect for E225I > wild-type > mutant D320A was observed for O-demethylation of p-methoxyacetanilide, which follows the trend for k(cat). The set of O-dealkylation and acetol formation results for wild-type P450 1A2 and the E225I mutant with several of the protiated and deuterated substrates were fit to a model developed for the basic catalytic cycle and a set of microscopic rate constants in which the only variable was the rate of product formation (substrate oxygenation, including hydrogen abstraction). In this model, k(cat) is considerably less than any of the microscopic rate constants and is affected by several individual rate constants, including the rate of formation of the oxygenating species, the rate of substrate oxidation by the oxygenating species, and the rates of generation of reduced oxygen species (H(2)O(2), H(2)O). This analysis of the effects of the individual rate constants provides a framework for consideration of other P450 reactions and rate-limiting steps.