The inhibition of CYP enzymes in mouse and human liver by pilocarpine

Challenges and Opportunities in P450 Research on the Eye

Of the 57 cytochrome P450 enzymes found in humans, at least 30 have ocular tissues as an expression site. Yet knowledge of the roles of these P450s in the eye is limited, in part because only very few P450 laboratories expanded their research interests to studies of the eye. Hence the goal of this review is to bring attention of the P450 community to the eye and encourage more ocular studies. This review is also intended to be educational for eye researchers and encourage their collaborations with P450 experts. The review starts with a description of the eye, a fascinating sensory organ, and is followed by sections on ocular P450 localizations, specifics of drug delivery to the eye, and individual P450s, which are grouped and presented based on their substrate preferences. In sections describing individual P450s, available eye-relevant information is summarized and concluded by the suggestions on the opportunities in ocular studies of the discussed enzymes. Potential challenges are addressed as well. The conclusion section outlines several practical suggestions on how to initiate eye-related research. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: This review focuses on the cytochrome P450 enzymes in the eye to encourage their ocular investigations and collaborations between P450 and eye researchers.

Variation in CYP2A6 Activity and Personalized Medicine

The cytochrome P450 2A6 (CYP2A6) enzyme metabolizes several clinically relevant substrates, including nicotine-the primary psychoactive component in cigarette smoke. The gene that encodes the CYP2A6 enzyme is highly polymorphic, resulting in extensive interindividual variation in CYP2A6 enzyme activity and the rate of metabolism of nicotine and other CYP2A6 substrates including cotinine, tegafur, letrozole, efavirenz, valproic acid, pilocarpine, artemisinin, artesunate, SM-12502, caffeine, and tyrosol. CYP2A6 expression and activity are also impacted by non-genetic factors, including induction or inhibition by pharmacological, endogenous, and dietary substances, as well as age-related changes, or interactions with other hepatic enzymes, co-enzymes, and co-factors. As variation in CYP2A6 activity is associated with smoking behavior, smoking cessation, tobacco-related lung cancer risk, and with altered metabolism and resulting clinical responses for several therapeutics, CYP2A6 expression and enzyme activity is an important clinical consideration. This review will discuss sources of variation in CYP2A6 enzyme activity, with a focus on the impact of CYP2A6 genetic variation on metabolism of the CYP2A6 substrates.

The prenylated phenolic natural product isoglycycoumarin is a highly selective probe for human cytochrome P450 2A6

Prenylated phenolic compounds are an important class of bioactive natural products. One major in vivo metabolic pathway of these compounds is hydroxylation at terminal methyl of the isoprenyl group. This study aims to identify the P450 isozyme catalyzing this metabolic reaction. In human liver microsomes, 16 out of 24 screened compounds could be metabolized into their hydroxylated derivatives. Chemical inhibition assays using 11 isozyme specific inhibitors indicated the hydroxylation reactions of 12 compounds were primarily catalyzed by cytochrome P450 2A6 (CYP2A6). In particular, CYP2A6 was the major enzyme participating in the metabolism of isoglycycoumarin (IGCM). The product of IGCM was obtained and identified as licopyranocoumarin (4″-hydroxyl isoglycycoumarin) using NMR spectroscopic analysis. The K_m values for human liver microsomes and recombinant human CYP2A6 were 7.98 and 10.14μM, respectively. According to molecular docking analysis, the catalytic mechanism may involve cyclized isoprenyl group of IGCM entering the active cavity of CYP2A6. These results demonstrate that IGCM could serve as an ideal isozyme selective probe to evaluate CYP2A6 activities.

Identification of the rat liver cytochrome P450 enzymes involved in the metabolism of the calcium channel blocker dipfluzine hydrochloride

This study aimed to identify the specific cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes involved in the metabolism of dipfluzine hydrochloride using the combination of a chemical inhibition study, a correlation analysis and a panel of recombinant rat CYP450 enzymes. The incubation of Dip with rat liver microsomes yielded four metabolites, which were identified by liquid chromatography-coupled tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). The results from the assays involving eight selective inhibitors indicated that CYP3A and CYP2A1 contributed most to the metabolism of Dip, followed by CYP2C11, CYP2E1 and CYP1A2; however, CYP2B1, CYP2C6 and CYP2D1 did not contribute to the formation of the metabolites. The results of the correlation analysis and the assays involving the recombinant CYP450 enzymes further confirmed the above results and concluded that CYP3A2 contributed more than CYP3A1. The results will be valuable in understanding drug-drug interactions when Dip is coadministered with other drugs.

Intermolecular interactions between cucurbit[7]uril and pilocarpine

The interactions between cucurbit[7]uril (CB7) macrocycles and pilocarpine (PIL) were investigated in aqueous solution by using (1)H NMR and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopic techniques. The characterizations of the freeze-drying solid complex were conducted by electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy (ESI-MS), Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetry, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) techniques. The DSC and thermogravimetry confirmed the production of a thermally stable solid complex. The NMR, CD and ESI-MS measurements confirmed asymmetric induction during the complexation reaction, in which the γ-lactone ring of PIL (not the imidazole nucleus) has been fully encapsulated within the cavity of CB7. The stability of the drug has significantly enhanced as evidenced by the high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method. The results are discussed in the context of utilizing non-conventional supramolecular host-guest approaches to enhance the chemical stability in aqueous media of hydrophilic PIL drugs as model compounds. The non-classical stereospecific interactions between CB7 and PIL drugs are also highlighted.

Structural comparison of cytochromes P450 2A6, 2A13, and 2E1 with pilocarpine

Human xenobiotic-metabolizing cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes can each bind and monooxygenate a diverse set of substrates, including drugs, often producing a variety of metabolites. Additionally, a single ligand can interact with multiple CYP enzymes, but often the protein structural similarities and differences that mediate such overlapping selectivity are not well understood. Even though the CYP superfamily has a highly canonical global protein fold, there are large variations in the active site size, topology, and conformational flexibility. We have determined how a related set of three human CYP enzymes bind and interact with a common inhibitor, the muscarinic receptor agonist drug pilocarpine. Pilocarpine binds and inhibits the hepatic CYP2A6 and respiratory CYP2A13 enzymes much more efficiently than the hepatic CYP2E1 enzyme. To elucidate key residues involved in pilocarpine binding, crystal structures of CYP2A6 (2.4 Å), CYP2A13 (3.0 Å), CYP2E1 (2.35 Å), and the CYP2A6 mutant enzyme, CYP2A6 I208S/I300F/G301A/S369G (2.1 Å) have been determined with pilocarpine in the active site. In all four structures, pilocarpine coordinates to the heme iron, but comparisons reveal how individual residues lining the active sites of these three distinct human enzymes interact differently with the inhibitor pilocarpine.

Deacetylclivorine: a gender-selective metabolite of clivorine formed in female Sprague-Dawley rat liver microsomes

Clivorine, a naturally occurring pyrrolizidine alkaloid, causes liver toxicity via its metabolic activation to generate toxic metabolite (pyrrolic ester). Female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats are reported to be less susceptible to clivorine intoxication than male SD rats. However, the biochemical mechanism causing such gender difference is largely unknown. The present study investigated hepatic microsomal metabolism of clivorine in female rats to delineate the mechanism of the gender difference. Two pathways, which directly metabolize clivorine, were observed. First, the metabolic activation to produce the toxic pyrrolic ester followed by formations of bound pyrroles, dehydroretronecine, 7-glutathionyldehydroretronecine, and clivoric acid were found in female rats, and CYP3A1/2 isozymes were identified to catalyze the metabolic activation. Compared with male rats ( approximately 21%), the metabolic activation in female rats was significantly lower ( approximately 4%) possibly because of significantly lower CYP3A1/2 levels expressed in female rats. Second, a direct hydrolysis to generate the novel female rat-specific metabolite deacetylclivorine was shown as the predominant pathway ( approximately 16% clivorine metabolism) in female rat liver microsomes and was determined to be mediated by microsomal hydrolase A. Furthermore, when the metabolic activation was completely inhibited by ketoconazole, the amount of deacetylclivorine formed in a 1-h incubation significantly increased from 19.44 +/- 3.00 to 54.87 +/- 9.30 nmol/mg protein, suggesting that the two pathways compete with each other. Therefore, the lower susceptibility of female SD rats to clivorine intoxication is suggested to be caused by the significantly higher extent of the direct hydrolysis and a lower degree of the metabolic activation.

Quantitative Structure−Activity Relationship Analysis of Inhibitors of the Nicotine Metabolizing CYP2A6 Enzyme

The purpose of this study was to develop screening and in silico modeling methods to obtain accurate information on the active center of CYP2A6, a nicotine oxidizing enzyme. The inhibitory potencies of 26 naphthalene and 16 non-naphthalene derivatives were determined for human CYP2A6 and mouse CYP2A5 enzymes. Several comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) models were developed to find out what types of steric and electrostatic properties are required for potent inhibitors. The IC(50) values of the tested compounds varied from 0.55 to 35 400 microM for CYP2A6 and from 1 to 1500 microM for CYP2A5. The generated CoMFA models were able to accurately predict the inhibition potencies of an external test set of chemicals. Potent and specific inhibitors of the CYP2A6 enzyme can be used in the future to increase nicotine bioavailability and thus make oral nicotine administration feasible in smoking cessation therapy.

Predictive value of comparative molecular field analysis modelling of naphthalene inhibition of human CYP2A6 and mouse CYP2A5 enzymes

The objects of this study were first to compare how well the recently constructed structure-inhibition activity relationship models of mouse CYP2A5 and human CYP2A6 predict the interaction of naphthalene in liver microsomes and secondly to study if these CYP enzymes actually oxidize naphthalene. The CoMFA model of CYP2A5 predicted the IC(50) value of naphthalene to be 42 microM (18-115 microM 95% CL) whereas in the in vitro experiment the result was 74 microM (65-83 microM) with the corresponding values for CYP2A6 being 41 microM (18-112 microM) and 25 microM (21-30 microM), respectively. Naphthalene appeared to be a competitive inhibitor both for mouse and human liver microsomal coumarin 7-hydroxylase, which is the specific probe activity for CYP2A5 and CYP2A6. The K(i)-value for the mouse enzyme was between 12-26 microM and for the human enzyme 1.2-5.6 microM. A 1-h in vitro incubation of naphthalene with human and pyrazole treated mouse liver microsomes produced more 1-naphthol than 2-naphthol. Antibody against the purified CYP2A5 inhibited 50-60% of the formation of 1-naphthol and 30-40% of the formation of 2-naphthol. These results indicate that in silico CoMFA models predict relatively well the interaction of naphthalene with CYP2A5 and CYP2A6 and that these CYPs actually oxidize naphthalene in vitro. CoMFA CYP2A5 and CYP2A6 models are thus useful as a technique for elucidating the interaction and potency of untested chemicals with these CYPs.

More potent inhibition of human CYP2A6 than mouse CYP2A5 enzyme activities by derivatives of phenylethylamine and benzaldehyde

1. A rapid 96-well plate assay method was developed and validated to measure liver microsomal coumarin 7-hydroxylation in vitro. 2. The method was used to test inhibition of human and mouse CYP2A enzymes by three phenylethylamine derivatives 2-(p-tolyl)-ethylamine, amphetamine, 2-phenylethylamine and benzaldehyde, and two of its derivatives, 4-methylbenzaldehyde and 4-methoxybenzaldehyde. 3. The benzaldehyde derivatives were more potent inhibitors of CYP2A5 than the phenylethylamines. The K(ic) value of 4-methylbenzaldehyde was 3.4 micro M and for 4-methoxybenzaldehyde it was 0.86 micro M for CYP2A5. 4. Amphetamine is a weak inhibitor of CYP2A6, whereas benzaldehyde is a suicide inhibitor with K(inact) = 0.16 min(-1) and K(I) = 18 micro M. The K(ic) values of 2-phenylethylamine, 2-(p-tolyl)-ethylamine, 4-methylbenzaldehyde and 4-methoxybenzaldehyde were 1.13, 0.23, 0.36 and 0.73 micro M for CYP2A6, respectively. 5. Novel potent inhibitors were found for CYP2A6 and, except for 4-methoxybenzaldehyde, all the compounds inhibited CYP2A5 and CYP2A6 enzymes differentially. These data add to the refinement of CYP2A enzyme active sites and provide chemical leads for developing novel chemical inhibitors of the CYP2A6 enzyme.

Is cytochrome P450 CYP2D activity present in pig liver?

The presence of CYP2D in pig livers has been studied using different strains of pig, different CYP2D test substrates and monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. The results of the studies lacked consistency, therefore the aim of this study was to identify the reasons for these inconsistencies. Liver microsomes isolated from conventional pigs and minipigs were tested in Western blotting using both monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies against human CYP2D6. The microsomes were also incubated with three different CYP2D tes t substrates.'The immunoblotting only gave a positive response when hybridised with polyclonal antibody. The pig microsomes did not metabolise debrisoquine, but metabolised two other test substrates, dextromethorphan and bufuralol. No correlation was found between the two enzyme assays and CYP2D apoprotein level. On the other hand positive correlations were found between dextromethorphan and bufuralol metabolism and the CYP2B immunochemical protein level, indicating that the CYP2B isoenzyme may be involved in the metabolism of these substrates. Further, assays using immunoinhibition and chemical inhibition of these reactions were performed. No response was obtained in the immunoinhibition assay. When using chemical inhibition, however, an average inhibition percentage of 83 were obtained with orphenadrine, a human CYP2B inhibitor. Average Ki values of 26.9 microM and 43.6 microM for orphenadrine indicate that it was a potent inhibitor. A rat and a mouse CYP2B inhibitor, resveratrol and pilocarpine, inhibited the reaction with an average of 40 and 70 percentage respectively. Orphenadrine did not inhibit CYPIA, CYP2A, CYP2E and CYP3A activities up to more than maximum 12 percentage, showing that it was almost selective for dextromethorphan metabolism. These results indicate that dextromethorphan and bufuralol metabolism may be catalysed by CYP2B and not CYP2D.

Summary of information on human CYP enzymes: human P450 metabolism data

This chapter is an update of the data on substrates, reactions, inducers, and inhibitors of human CYP enzymes published previously by Rendic and DiCarlo (1), now covering selection of the literature through 2001 in the reference section. The data are presented in a tabular form (Table 1) to provide a framework for predicting and interpreting the new P450 metabolic data. The data are formatted in an Excel format as most suitable for off-line searching and management of the Web-database. The data are presented as stated by the author(s) and in the case when several references are cited the data are presented according to the latest published information. The searchable database is available either as an Excel file (for information contact the author), or as a Web-searchable database (Human P450 Metabolism Database, www.gentest.com) enabling the readers easy and quick approach to the latest updates on human CYP metabolic reactions.

Polymorphisms of CYP2A6 and its practical consequences

CYP2A6 is an hepatic enzyme predominantly with some expression in specialized extrahepatic cell types. The CYP2A6 enzyme has a somewhat restricted active site, accepting only a few xenobiotics as substrates. Interest in CYP2A6 has risen considerably after nicotine and some tobacco specific nitrosamines were established as high-affinity substrates for this enzyme. Recently, the organization and structures of the CYP2A gene cluster and several polymorphic alleles of the CYP2A6 gene have been characterized. Two alleles with a point mutation and at least three different types of gene deletion, all leading to deficient gene function, have been found. The frequencies of these alleles vary considerably among different ethnic populations, the deletion alleles being most common in Orientals (up to 20%). The frequency of point mutations are low in all populations studied thus far (< 3%). Several case-control studies have addressed the relationship between CYP2A6 status and smoking habits as well as the role of CYP2A6 polymorphism in lung cancer risk. Studies in Japanese suggest that CYP2A6 poor metabolizer genotypes result in altered nicotine kinetics and may lower cigarette smoking elicited lung cancer risk, whereas similar studies in Caucasian populations have not revealed any clear associations between variant CYP2A6 genotypes and smoking behaviour or lung cancer predisposition.

Determining the best animal model for human cytochrome P450 activities: a comparison of mouse, rat, rabbit, dog, micropig, monkey and man

1. In the present study, nine cytochrome P450 enzyme activities in seven species were characterized to allow a practical means of comparing this important metabolic step between various test animals and man. 2. Enzyme activities and kinetic parameters were first determined towards marker substrates for human cytochrome P450 enzymes. Inhibition profiles were then determined with both antibodies directed against various cytochrome P450 enzymes and with chemical inhibitors. 3. Both the enzyme kinetic parameters/enzyme activities, and the inhibition profiles obtained for the animal species were compared with those obtained for human liver microsomes in order to postulate the animal species most similar to man with regard to each individual cytochrome P450 enzyme activity. 4. It was found that, as expected, none of the tested species was similar to man for all the measured P450 enzyme activities, but that in each species only some of the P450 enzyme activities could be considered as similar to man. 5. When it is known which human cytochrome P450 enzymes are involved in the metabolism of a compound, the comparative data presented here can be used for selecting the most suitable species for in vitro and in it no experiments.

CYP2A6: a human coumarin 7-hydroxylase

Coumarin 7-hydroxylation is catalysed by a high-affinity CYP2A6 enzyme in human liver microsomes. CYP2A6 is the only enzyme catalysing this reaction and consequently the formation of 7-hydroxycoumarin can be used as 'an in vitro and in vivo probe' for CYP2A6. CYP2A6 is a major contributor to the oxidative metabolism of nicotine and cotinine, and it also contributes, to a larger or smaller extent, to the metabolism of a few pharmaceuticals (e.g. fadrozole), nitrosamines, other carcinogens (e.g. aflatoxin B1) and a number of coumarin-type alkaloids. CYP2A6 may be inducible by antiepileptic drugs and it is decreased in alcohol-induced severe liver cirrhosis. Several mutated or deleted CYP2A6 alleles have been characterized. Although CYP2A6 represent up to 15% of human microsomes P450 proteins, it is still one of the less well characterised cytochrome P450 enzymes.

Preferential inhibition of CYP1A enzymes in hepatic microsomes by mexiletine

We examined the inhibitory behavior of theophylline oxidations and a variety of cytochrome P450 (P450)-dependent metabolism in the presence of mexiletine (MEX), using hepatic microsomes from both control mice and mice exposed to beta-naphthoflavone (beta-NF). Theophylline metabolism, which is mainly catalyzed by CYP1A2, was susceptible to competitive inhibition by MEX. The calculated inhibition constants (Ki) for theophylline 3-demethylation and its 8-hydroxylation were 4.3 microM and 8.3 microM, respectively, which are comparable to the recommended therapeutic serum range for MEX. The inhibitory potency of MEX on cytochrome P450-dependent enzyme activities diverged among the several metabolic reactions, which were probes for CYP1A, 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E and 3A subfamilies. The Ki value (6.7 microM) for methoxyresorufin O-demethylation mediated by CYP1A2 agreed with those from theophylline oxidations. These metabolic reactions exhibited the smallest Ki values, 1-3 orders of magnitude lower than activities of other constitutive cytochrome P450 species. Similar degrees of inhibition were observed in CYP1A1, a beta-NF-inducible isoform with a relatively high conformity to CYP1A2. These results indicate that MEX acts as a selective and potent inhibitor of the CYP1A enzymes responsible for oxidative biotransformation of chemicals such as theophylline. This evidence provides a fundamental explanation for the pharmacokinetic interactions experienced in clinical practice.

Molecular modelling of the human cytochrome P450 isoform CYP2A6 and investigations of CYP2A substrate selectivity

(1) The generation of a homology model of CYP2A6, the major catalyst of human hepatic coumarin 7-hydroxylase activity, involves the use of the recently published substrate-bound CYP102 crystal structure as a template. (2) A substantial number of structurally diverse CYP2A6 substrates are found to dock satisfactorily within the putative active site of the enzyme, leading to the formulation of a structural template (or pharmacophore) for CYP2A6 specificity/selectivity. (3) The CYP2A6 model is consistent with available evidence from site-directed mutagenesis studies carried out on CYP2A subfamily isoforms, and enables some explanation of species differences in CYP2A-mediated metabolism of certain substrates. (4) Quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) analysis of CYP2A5 (the mouse orthologue) mutants yields statistically significant correlations between various properties of amino acid residues and coumarin 7-hydroxylase activity.

Hepatitis A impairs the function of human hepatic CYP2A6 in vivo

Hepatitis virus A (HVA) is a worldwide sporadic disease but its effects on pharmacokinetics and individual drug responses have not been studied. In this study, the 7-hydroxycoumarin (7OHC) excretion test used in vivo as a bioindex of hepatic CYP2A6 activity was performed in 20, previously healthy, acute jaundice HVA patients. Volunteers with an acute HVA were treated with one p.o. administration of 5 mg coumarin (Venalot). Among the patients, 11 were children (6-10 years; two girls and nine boys), the rest (15-40 years old) consisted of two men and seven women. Urinary excretion of 7OHC was measured after overnight fasting in four fractions: 0 h before any medication (to detect if any basal 7OHC excretion exits), and after a 5-mg coumarin capsule p.o., 0-2, 2-4 and 4-8 h fractions were collected and urine volumes were recorded. Urinary excretion of 7-hydroxycoumarin occurred to a similar extent in healthy adults and children. The first 2-h 7OHC excretion was decreased by 26% (P < 0.05) and total (0-8 h) 7OHC excretion was decreased by 37% (P<0.01) among HVA-positive adults (age range 15-40 years) compared with the values obtained from healthy volunteers. In 11 HVA-positive children (age 6-10 years), the first 2-h 7OHC excretion was only 20% (P < 0.0001) and the total 7OHC excretion 28% (P < 0.0001) of the value observed in healthy controls. These results suggest that (i) an acute HVA decreases the metabolic clearance of drugs such as coumarin which are rapidly metabolised by CYP2A6 and (ii) this decrease is even more prominent in children. Such metabolic responses may be of clinical importance and may also interfere with other drug therapy in these patients.

Comparison of CYP2A6 catalytic activity on coumarin 7-hydroxylation in human and monkey liver microsomes

Comparison of 7-hydroxylation of coumarin, a CYP2A6 substrate, in human and African green and cynomolgus monkey liver microsomes was made by means of an HPLC assay with UV detection. In human liver microsomes, the Km and Vmax values for the metabolic conversion were 2.1 microM and 0.79 nmol/mg/min, respectively. While African green monkey showed Km and Vmax values of 2.7 microM and 0.52 nmol/mg/min, which were similar to human, higher Km and Vmax values were found in cynomolgus monkey. Coumarin 7-hydroxylation in human and African green monkey was selectively inhibited by methoxsalen and pilocarpine (CYP2A6 inhibitors) but not by other inhibitors, i.e. alpha-naphthoflavone (CYP1A1), orphenadrine (CYP2B6), sulfaphenazole (CYP2C9), quinidine (CYP2D6) and ketoconazole (CYP3A4). Immunoinhibition results supported CYP2A6 involvement in human and its homolog in monkey in coumarin 7-hydroxylation, as only anti-CYP2A6, but not CYP2B1, CYP2C13, CYP2D6, CYP2E1 or CYP3A antibodies, inhibited this conversion. African green monkey was found to be similar to human in catalytic activity of coumarin 7-hydroxylation and response to CYP2A6 inhibitors or antibody inhibition. However, the monkey CYP2A6 is not identical to the human in that Ki values were different, and differences were observed with some CYP2A6 inhibitors, such as nicotine and methoxsalen, suggesting that, under some circumstances, studies of nicotine kinetics and drug taking behavior in monkey may not be comparable to human.

Interaction of aflatoxin B1 with cytochrome P450 2A5 and its mutants: correlation with metabolic activation and toxicity

Among members of the mouse cytochrome P450 2A family, P450 2A5 is the best catalyst of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) oxidation to its 8,9-epoxide (Pelkonen, P., Lang, M., Wild, C. P., Negishi, M., and Juvonen, R. O. (1994) Eur. J. Pharmacol., Environ. Toxicol. Pharmacol. Sect. 292, 67-73). Here we studied the role of amino acid residues 209 and 365 of the P450 2A5 in the metabolism and toxicity of AFB1 using recombinant yeasts. The two sites have previously been shown to be essential in the interaction of coumarin and steroids with the P450 2A5. Reducing the size of the amino acid at position 209 or introducing a negatively charged residue at this site increased the 8,9-epoxidation of AFB1 compared to the wild type. In addition, replacing the hydrophobic amino acid at the 365 position with a positively charged lysine residue strongly decreased the metabolism of AFB1. These mutations changed the KM values generally less than the Vmax values. The changes in AFB1 metabolism contrast with the changes in coumarin 7-hydroxylation caused by these amino acid substitutions, since reducing the size of the 209 residue strongly reduced coumarin metabolism and increased the K(M) values. On the other hand, the results with AFB1 are similar to those obtained with steroid hydroxylation. This suggests that the size of the substrate is important when interacting with the residue 209 of the protein. The catalytic parameters of AFB1 correlated generally with its toxicity to the recombinant yeasts expressing the activating enzyme and with the binding of AFB1 to yeast DNA. Furthermore high affinity substrates and inhibitors (e.g., methoxsalen, metyrapone, coumarin 311, 7-methylcoumarin, coumarin, and pilocarpine) of P450 2A5 could efficiently block the toxicity of AFB1. It is suggested that the recombinant yeasts expressing engineered P450 enzymes are a useful model to understand the substrate protein interactions, to study the relationship of metabolic parameters to toxicity, and to test potential inhibitors of metabolism based toxicity.

Competitive inhibition of coumarin 7-hydroxylation by pilocarpine and its interaction with mouse CYP 2A5 and human CYP 2A6

1. We have shown earlier that pilocarpine strongly inhibits mouse and human liver coumarin 7-hydroxylase activity of CYP 2A and pentoxyresorufin O-deethylase activity of CYP 2B in vitro. Since pilocarpine, like coumarin, contains a lactone structure we have studied in more detail its inhibitory potency on mouse and human liver coumarin 7-hydroxylation. 2. Pilocarpine was a competitive inhibitor of coumarin 7-hydroxylase in vitro both in mouse and human liver microsomes although it was not a substrate for CYP 2A5. Ki values were similar, 0.52 +/- 0.22 microM in mice and 1.21 +/- 0.51 microM in human liver microsomes. 3. Pilocarpine induced a type II difference spectrum in mouse, human and recombinant CYP 2A5 yeast cell microsomes, with Ka values of 3.7 +/- 1.6, 1.6 +/- 1.1 and 1.5 +/- 0.1 microM, respectively. 4. Increase in pH of the incubation medium from pH 6 to 7.5 increased the potency of inhibition of coumarin 7-hydroxylation by pilocarpine. 5. Superimposition of pilocarpine and coumarin in such a way that their carbonyls, ring oxygens and the H-7' of coumarin and N-3 of pilocarpine overlap yielded a common molecular volume of 82%. 6. The results indicate that pilocarpine is a competitive inhibitor and has a high affinity for mouse CYP 2A5 and human CYP 2A6. In addition the immunotype nitrogen of pilocarpine is coordinated towards the haem iron in these P450s.