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R W Estabrook

Publications and source records attributed to R W Estabrook.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Cytochrome P450 and the arachidonate cascade.

Arachidonic acid and many products of the arachidonate cascade serve as substrates for cytochrome P450-mediated metabolism via allylic oxidation, omega hydroxylation, and epoxygenation as well as peroxide rearrangement. Defining the physiological importance of these metabolites is an area of intense research interest. Cytochrome P450-catalyzed reactions play prominent roles in multiplying the structural and functional diversity of the arachidonate metabolic cascade.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

High-level expression of functional human cytochrome P450 1A2 in Escherichia coli.

Enzymatically active human cytochrome P450 1A2 was expressed in Escherichia coli utilizing the pCWori+ vector containing a modified cDNA. The coding sequence for the NH2-terminal region of the protein was modified by the alignment and substitution of a 27 bp segment from a modified bovine P450 17A1 cDNA onto the 5' end of the open reading frame of P450 1A2 at amino acid 21. The expressed chimeric P450 was produced at a high level in a functionally intact form, as assayed by the formation in vivo of the 449 nm absorbance band of the CO complex of the reduced hemoprotein. E. coli membrane preparations were shown to contain P450 1A2, which was active in the 2-hydroxylation of estradiol, and the O-deethylation of 7-ethoxycoumarin and 7-ethoxyresorufin, when reconstituted with recombinant rat liver NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Fatty acid monooxygenation by P450BM-3: product identification and proposed mechanisms for the sequential hydroxylation reactions.

The soluble P450 isolated from Bacillus megaterium (the product of the CYP 102 gene) (P450BM-3) is a catalytically self-sufficient fatty acid hydroxylase which converts lauric, myristic, and palmitic acids to omega-1, omega-2, and omega-3 hydroxy analogs. The percentage distribution of the regioisomers depends on the substrate chain length. Lauric and myristic acids were preferentially metabolized to their omega-1 hydroxy counterparts while no hydroxylation occurred when capric acid was used as the substrate. Palmitic acid, when present at concentrations greater than the concentration of oxygen in the reaction medium (greater than 250 microM), was hydroxylated to its omega-1, omega-2, and omega-3 hydroxy analogs, with the percentage distribution of the regioisomers being 21:44:35, respectively. No omega hydroxylation of any of the fatty acids was detected. When the concentration of palmitic acid was less than the concentration of oxygen in the reaction mixture, it was noted that a number of additional products were formed. Under these conditions, unlike lauric and myristic acids, it was observed that palmitic acid was first converted to its monohydroxy isomers which were subsequently metabolized to a mixture of 14-ketohexadecanoic, 15-ketohexadecanoic, 13-hydroxy-14-ketohexadecanoic, 14-hydroxy-15-ketohexadecanoic, and 13,14-dihydroxyhexadecanoic acids with a relative distribution of 8:2:40:30:20, respectively. Thus, P450BM-3 is able not only to monohydroxylate a variety of fatty acids but also to further metabolize some of these primary metabolites to secondary and tertiary products. The present paper characterizes the products formed during the sequential hydroxylation of palmitic acid and proposes reaction pathways to explain these results.

Bacillus megaterium↗
PubMed1991

Expression of functional bovine cholesterol side chain cleavage cytochrome P450 (P450scc) in Escherichia coli.

Escherichia coli expression vectors containing the trc promoter and the complete DNA sequence of either the precursor or the mature form of bovine adrenocortical cholesterol side chain cleavage cytochrome P450 (P450scc) were transformed into E. coli strain JM109 and transcription induced with isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG). Immunoreactive cytochrome P450scc was produced using the plasmid containing the mature P450scc sequence but not with the plasmid containing the sequence of the precursor form of P450scc, even though P450scc RNA was detectable in both cases. The mature form of P450scc was detected spectrophotometrically in a reduced CO-difference spectrum in E. coli (40-60 nmol/liter culture). Cholesterol and hydroxylated derivatives (22-hydroxycholesterol and 25-hydroxycholesterol) produce a type 1 substrate-binding spectrum in IPTG-induced, transformed E. coli. The P450scc was found to be associated with the E. coli membrane fraction and the enzymatic activity of side chain cleavage of 25-hydroxycholesterol was reconstituted using solubilized membranes, in the presence of purified bovine adrenocortical adrenodoxin and NADPH-adrenodoxin reductase (turnover number; 15.4 nmol/min/nmol P450). This bacterial expression system provides functional P450scc, in the absence of other forms of P450, which can be used for evaluation of enzymatic and spectral properties of this mitochondrial P450 by site-directed mutagenesis.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

The heterologous expression of the cytochromes P450: a new approach for the study of enzyme activities and regulation.

The superfamily of cytochrome P450s encompasses a vast arena of biologically important reactions. The ever-increasing numbers of P450s and the diversity of their enzymatic properties dictate the need to develop new approaches for studying their chemical, physical and catalytic properties. The heterologous expression of P450s in various cell systems (e.g., COS cells, yeast, E. coli, etc.) now provides a means of producing recombinant proteins for such studies. The example is presented of the expression of P450(17)alpha in COS cells and the use of this technique for the comparison of the enzymatic properties of the rat, bovine and human enzymes. Further, studies are described whereby cotransfection results in the simultaneous expression of more than one P450 permitting the construction of 'designer membranes' for assessing protein-protein interactions and the reconstruction of complex pathways of metabolism. Recent advances with genetically engineered systems point to the power of the transfection technique for the study of structure-function relationships with this class of important hemoproteins.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Construction and expression of human/bovine P45017 alpha chimeric proteins: evidence for distinct tertiary structures in the same P450 from two different species.

In the human and bovine adrenal cortex, 17 alpha-hydroxylase (P45017 alpha) catalyzes reactions involved in the production of C21-glucocorticoids (17 alpha-hydroxylation) and C19-androgens (17,20-lyase). The bovine and human forms of P45017 alpha share 71% primary sequence identity. Using naturally occurring restriction sites common to cDNAs encoding both human and bovine P45017 alpha, we have constructed bovine/human (bovine amino terminus and human carboxy terminus) and human/bovine (human amino terminus and bovine carboxy terminus) cDNAs that have been expressed in COS 1 cells, and the enzymatic properties of the resultant chimeric proteins have been examined. The three bovine/human chimeras studied have 17 alpha-hydroxylase activities intermediate between those of the wild-type bovine and wild-type human enzymes, although the 17,20-lyase activity of these chimeras is significantly lower than that of either of the wild-type enzymes. Surprisingly, the opposite chimeras (those containing a human amino-terminal sequene and a bovine carboxy-terminal sequence) are all virtually inactive, even though they appear to be expressed at normal levels. These results indicate that the folding of P45017 alpha initiated by the bovine amino terminus can accommodate human P45017 alpha sequences of various lengths to produce a relatively normal 17 alpha-hydroxylase having decreased 17,20-lyase activity. On the other hand, folding initiated by the human P45017 alpha amino terminus does not easily accommodate bovine carboxy-terminal sequences to produce a functional enzyme. Presumably this difference arises from the fact that the tertiary structures of the bovine and human forms of P45017 alpha are sufficiently different so that interchanging sequences will not lead to functional enzymes in a predictable fashion.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Fatty acid monooxygenation by cytochrome P-450BM-3.

Cytochrome P-450BM-3 is a catalytically self-sufficient enzyme which monooxygenates saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, alcohols, and amides. The protein has two domains: one which contains heme and is P-450-like and the other which contains FAD and FMN and is P-450 reductase-like. Both domains are on a single polypeptide chain. Utilizing a plasmid containing the gene encoding P-450BM-3, we have transformed the Escherichia coli strain DH5 alpha. This clone overexpresses P-450BM-3 to make approximately 20% of the soluble protein of this organism under optimal conditions. P-450BM-3 can be purified to homogeneity from the soluble fraction of the protein of these cells with a recovery of 50% making this cell line an excellent source of this important enzyme. Purified preparations of P-450BM-3 hydroxylate palmitic acid at a rate of 1600 mol/min/mol of heme at 25 degrees C. The stoichiometry of NADPH to oxygen utilized was 1 for all conditions; however, the ratio of oxygen or NADPH utilized per molecule of fatty acid substrate metabolized was different for different homologs of saturated fatty acids, when low concentrations (less than 100 microM) of substrate were used. Lauric and myristic acids were metabolized to two hydroxylated products, irrespective of the initial concentration of fatty acid in the reaction mixture, and the ratio of oxygen consumed to fatty acid hydroxylated was 1. High concentrations of palmitic acid (greater than 200 microM) led to the formation of three polar metabolites and a stoichiometry of 1:1 was observed for oxygen and palmitic acid utilization. These results indicate that a single hydroxyl group was inserted into each of these molecules. Lower concentrations (less than 50 microM) of palmitic acid were metabolized to additional polar metabolites, and the ratio of oxygen consumed to fatty acid substrate consumed approximated 3:1. These results can be explained best by a hypothesis that the initial hydroxylated compounds, which accumulate during the oxidation of palmitic acid by P-450BM-3, can be further oxidized by this enzyme to polyhydroxy- or hydroxy-ketone products.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1990

Characterization of the steroid-metabolizing capacity of the hepatic cytochrome P450IIC5 expressed in COS-1 cells: 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/delta 5----4 isomerase type activity.

Cytochrome P450IIC5 (rabbit liver 21-hydroxylase) is unusual among hepatic forms of cytochromes P450 because it catalyzes the conversion of one active steroid hormone (progesterone) to another active hormone (deoxycorticosterone). Another interesting aspect of this steroid-hydroxylating enzyme is the ability to convert delta 5-3 beta-hydroxysteroids to the delta 4-3-ketosteroid configuration. The delta 5-3-beta-hydroxysteroid, pregnenolone, was readily 21-hydroxylated, and this product was further metabolized to the delta 4-3-ketosteroid, deoxycorticosterone. It is suggested that the mechanism of this cytochrome P450-mediated, 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/delta 5----4 isomerase-like reaction is through a gem-diol formation. In this study, COS-1 cells were transfected with the plasmid encoding cytochrome P450IIC5 to express a functional enzyme within the cell milieu. Transfected COS cells preferentially metabolize pregnenolone compared with all other steroids tested. Progesterone and 17 alpha-hydroxypregnenolone are also 21-hydroxylated, whereas 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone is a poor substrate. Substrate preference of this 21-hydroxylase differs from that seen with bovine adrenal P450XXIA1 (formerly P450C21) hydroxylase. Additionally, this study demonstrated that C19 steroids, like dehydroepiandrosterone and androstenedione, are hydroxylated at the 16 alpha position. Contrary to previous reports, no metabolite of estradiol-17 beta was detected, presumably due to the unstable nature of catechol estrogens (2-hydroxyestradiol).

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Cytochrome P-450s as toxicogenic catalysts: the influence of dehydroepiandrosterone.

The cytochrome P-450s catalyze the oxidative transformation of a large number of endogenous and exogenous chemicals in plants, insects, and mammals. One consequence of this type of reaction is the generation of highly reactive electrophilic metabolites that can react with intracellular macromolecules. It has been postulated that the initiation reaction for chemical carcinogenesis and/or cellular toxicity involves the metabolism of xenobiotics by P-450s. The naturally occurring steroid dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), when administered as a supplement to the diet of rodents, has been reported to have anti-carcinogenic and other chemoprotective activities. A change in the inventory of liver P-450s occurs during treatment of rodents with DHEA, the most pronounced being that involved in the omega-hydroxylation of medium-chain length fatty acids. In addition, changes in the activities of other liver P-450s, viz., P-450IIB1, P-450IIC11, and P-450IIIA, occur as shown by in vitro experiments to assess the P-450-dependent formation of hydroxylated metabolites of testosterone and androstenedione. The effect of feeding rodents a diet supplemented with DHEA mimics some of the changes seen when animals are treated with hypolipidemic drugs (such as ciprofibrate, and other chemicals which are known to be peroxisome proliferators). Studies comparing the enzymatic functions of the heterologous expressed recombinant forms of P-45017 alpha, responsible for the two step conversions of progesterone and pregnenolone to the C19-steroids, androstenedione, and DHEA, respectively, illustrated the marked differences in enzymatic properties between the human and the rat orthologues. The findings serve to demonstrate that DHEA is an obligatory intermediate for the synthesis of androgens in the human, but not in the rodent. The biochemical changes responsible for the anti-carcinogenic properties of DHEA remain to be identified. The studies presented here suggest that DHEA, when administered as a dietary supplement, functions like a xenobiotic, and that its effects may result from alterations in the inventory of cellular P-450s, thereby influencing the balance of metabolic activities associated with the initiation phase of chemical carcinogenesis and/or toxicity.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Expression of a full-length cDNA encoding bovine adrenal cytochrome P450C21.

Two full-length cDNA clones encoding bovine adrenocortical P450C21 have been constructed in a eukaryotic expression vector using partial-length cDNAs whose structures have been previously reported. Following expression of these cDNAs in COS 1 cells, the substrate specificity of P450C21 was determined. Of the 18 steroids tested, progesterone, 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, and 11 beta,17 alpha-dihydroxyprogesterone were found to be the only steroids to serve as substrates for this adrenal enzyme, a much higher degree of substrate specificity than has been reported for a hepatic 21-hydroxylase. The Vmax for 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone was 2.5 times greater than that for progesterone, whereas delta 5-steroids were unable to serve as substrate for this enzyme. A difference between the two cDNAs is located at amino acid 401 where one resultant enzyme contains tyrosine while the other contains histidine. This amino acid difference appears to have no effect on the kinetic properties of adrenal P450C21.

17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone↗
PubMed1989

Induction of microsomal NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase and cytochrome P-450IVA1 (P-450LA omega) by dehydroepiandrosterone in rats: a possible peroxisomal proliferator.

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a naturally occurring C19-steroid that is found in the peripheral circulation of mammals, including humans. The feeding of DHEA to rodents has been shown to inhibit chemical carcinogenesis in colon, liver, and lung. Therefore, the effect of DHEA on hepatic enzyme activities that are associated with carcinogen metabolism was assessed. Microsomal NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase activity and the content of cytochrome b5 were induced 1.8- and 1.4-fold, respectively, upon feeding male Sprague-Dawley rats a synthetic diet containing 0.45% DHEA (w/w). No significant changes in total content of microsomal cytochrome P-450 or the activities of microsomal NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase and cytosolic or microsomal NAD(P)H-quinone oxidoreductase were noted at day 7 of feeding. Cytosolic glutathione S-transferase activity was decreased to 68% of control activity. Administration of DHEA p.o. or by i.p. injection for 5 days led to the same extent of induction of NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase activity. Maximal induction of this flavoprotein reductase was noted between days 3 and 4 of feeding or at a dose of 80-120 mg/kg i.p. A small but statistically significant increase in total microsomal cytochrome P-450 was observed after DHEA administration i.p. Rats fed DHEA had a slower growth rate compared with rats fed control diet, whereas rats treated with DHEA i.p. had growth rates identical to those of controls. The liver weights of rats given DHEA by p.o. or i.p. routes were increased significantly compared to those of control rats. Pair feeding of rats with DHA-containing or control diets served to demonstrate that the levels of induction of hepatic microsomal NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase and at least one form of cytochrome P450 (P-450IVA1) were the same as those seen in livers of rats fed DHEA ad libitum. This finding suggested that the induction of the flavoprotein and at least one form of the cytochrome was not due to caloric restriction. The increase in NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase content of liver microsomes prepared from rats either fed or treated i.p. with DHEA was also observed by Western blotting techniques. DHEA did not appear to induce any of the major forms of rat liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 that are normally increased by either phenobarbital, beta-naphthoflavone, or dexamethasone pretreatment of rats in vivo. However, the measurement of androstenedione and testosterone metabolism in vitro showed pronounced decreases in the 16 alpha-hydroxylase activities of liver microsomes following DHEA feeding.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Exercise intolerance, lactic acidosis, and abnormal cardiopulmonary regulation in exercise associated with adult skeletal muscle cytochrome c oxidase deficiency.

A 27-yr-old woman with lifelong severe exercise intolerance manifested by muscle fatigue, lactic acidosis, and prominent symptoms of dyspnea and tachycardia induced by trivial exercise was found to have a skeletal muscle respiratory chain defect characterized by low levels of reducible cytochromes a + a3 and b in muscle mitochondria and marked deficiency of cytochrome c oxidase (complex IV) as assessed biochemically and immunologically. Investigation of the pathophysiology of the exercise response in the patient revealed low maximal oxygen uptake (1/3 that of normal sedentary women) in cycle exercise and impaired muscle oxygen extraction as indicated by profoundly low maximal systemic arteriovenous oxygen difference (5.8 ml/dl; controls = 15.4 +/- 1.4, mean +/- SD). The increases in cardiac output and ventilation during exercise, normally closely coupled to muscle metabolic rate, were markedly exaggerated (more than two- to threefold normal) relative to oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide production accounting for prominent tachycardia and dyspnea at low workloads. Symptoms in our patient are similar to those reported in other human skeletal muscle respiratory chain defects involving complexes I and III, and the exaggerated circulatory response resembles that seen during experimental inhibition of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. These results suggest that impaired oxidative phosphorylation in working muscle disrupts the normal regulation of cardiac output and ventilation relative to muscle metabolic rate in exercise.

Acidosis, Lactic↗