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Effects of membrane perturbants on UDP-glucuronosyltransferase activity in rat-liver microsomes. Circular dichroism studies.

Rat-liver microsomes were treated with two non-ionic detergents, Triton X-100 and Lubrol WX, with phospholipase A2, or with aqueous acetone solution. The activity of the membrane-bound UDP-glucoronosyltransferase (UDPGT, EC 2.4.1.17) was measured after the treatment with these perturbants. At the same time, modifications of the secondary structure of the microsomal proteins were followed and studied by circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. The detergents greatly activated UDPGT, maximally at a 1 mM concentration of either detergent. The maximally activating Triton X-100 treatment did not greatly change the ellipticity of the microsomes at 222 nm ((theta)222), whereas that with Lubrol WX affected the secondary structure of the membrane proteins more strongly. UDPGT activation also occurred in phospholipase A2-treated microsomes. Maximal activation was obtained after 1--5 min of incubation and was stable throughout the experiment. Phospholipase A2 at the ratio of microsomal protein to phospholipase 250 : 1 (w/w) slightly increased (theta)222 after 10 min of incubation and did not change it further even after 30 min of incubation. Treatment of liver microsomes with a 10 : 90 (v/v) aqueous acetone solution removed 90% of the total membrane phospholipids, particularly phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine. The UDPGT activity was decreased in lipid-depleted microsomes, and the enzyme was not reactivated when phosphatidylcholine-lysophosphatidylcholine liposomes were added at a low temperature. An even greater decrease was obtained when the lipid binding was carried out at 37 degree C. Lipid-depleted microsomes had a high (theta)222 associated with a red-shift of 2 nm, indicating partial aggregation of membrane proteins and an increase in the alpha-helical content of the protein after acetone extraction. However, this particular protein structure was partially reversible, since a binding of phospholipids to lipid-depleted microsomes gave a (theta)222 close to that found in control microsomes. The UDPGT activity was not dependent on the secondary structure of the membrane proteins.

Acetone↗

The microsomal metabolism of pentachlorophenol and its covalent binding to protein and DNA.

The microsomal metabolism of pentachlorophenol (PCP) was investigated, with special attention to the conversion dependent covalent binding to protein and DNA. The two metabolites detected were tetrachloro-1,2- and tetrachloro-1,4-hydroquinone. Microsomes from isosafrole (ISF)-induced rats were by far the most effective in catalyzing the reaction: the rate of conversion was increased 7-fold over control microsomes. All other inducers tested (hexachlorobenzene (HCB), phenobarbital (PB) and 3-methylcholanthrene (3MC) gave 2--3-fold increases over control. There are indications that the 1,2- and 1,4-isomers are produced in different ratio's by various cytochrome P-450 isoenzymes: Microsomes from PB- and HCB-treated rats produced the tetrachloro-1,4- and tetrachloro-1,2-hydroquinone in a ratio of about 2, while microsomes from rats induced with 3 MC and ISF showed a ratio of about 1.3. When PCP was incubated with microsomes from rats treated with HCB, a mixed type inducer of P-450, the ratio between formation of the 1,4- and 1,2-isomers decreased with increasing concentration of PCP, suggesting the involvement of at least two P-450 isoenzymes with different Km-values. The overall apparent Km-value for HCB-microsomes was 13 microM both for the formation of the soluble metabolites and the covalent binding to microsomal protein, suggesting both stem from the same reaction. The covalent binding could be inhibited by ascorbic acid and this inhibition was accompanied by an increase in formation of tetrachlorohydroquinones (TCHQ). Although a large variation was observed in rates of conversion between microsomes treated with different (or no) inducers, the rate of covalent binding to microsomal protein was remarkably constant. A conversion-dependent covalent binding to DNA was observed in incubations with added DNA which was 0.2 times the amount of binding to protein (37 pmol/mg DNA).

Animals↗

Effect of fatty acids on physical properties of microsomes from isolated perfused rat liver.

A computer-centered spectrofluorimeter was used to examine the physicochemical properties of hepatic microsomes and microsomal lipids obtained from isolated rat livers perfused with medium containing palmitate or oleate. The fatty acid composition and degree of unsaturation of the liver microsomal lipids reflected that the fatty acid present in the perfusate. The absorption corrected fluorescence, relative fluorescence efficiency, polarization, and fluorescence anisotropy of several fluorescent probe molecules were measured to determine if their different microenvironments may be altered by the type of fatty acid infused. The probe molecules beta--parinaric acid and 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene had higher values for each of these parameters when incorporated into microsomes obtained from livers perfused with a medium containing palmitate than with oleate. The same parameters measured for cholesta-5,7,9(11)-trien-3 beta-ol and N-phenyl-1-naphthylamine were not altered. These differences appeared to be primarily due to alterations in microviscosity of the probe microenvironments since the rotational correlation time of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene was 25% lower in the microsomes from livers perfused with oleate as compared to livers perfused with palmitate. Thermal discontinuities in Arrhenius plots were noted in the intact microsomes but not in the isolated microsomal lipids with the fluorescence probe molecule beta-parinaric acid. Break points occurred at 10 degrees C and 26 degrees C for microsomes from livers perfused with palmitate and at 12 degrees C and 17 degrees C for microsomes from livers perfused with oleate containing medium. These results suggest that the physicochemical properties of liver microsomes were determined in part by the fatty acid in the perfusate.

Animals↗

Effect of age and sex on the inducibility of hepatic microsomal 4-nitrophenol UDP-glucuronyltransferase activity in rats.

In this report, we examined the effect of age and sex of Long-Evans rats on the inducibility of 4-nitrophenol glucuronyltransferase activity in liver microsomes of animals treated with phenobarbital, dexamethasone, or 3-methylcholanthrene. Glucuronyltransferase activity in control male liver microsomes was approximately 50-75% higher than that in control female liver microsomes. Treatment with sodium phenobarbital (i.p., 75 mg/kg/day) for 3-4 days increased glucuronyltransferase activity by approximately 100% and 60% in liver microsomes from adult female and male rats, respectively, but did not influence this activity in liver microsomes from immature female and male rats. Treatment with dexamethasone (i.p., 75 mg/kg/day) for 3-4 days increased glucuronyltransferase activity by approximately 4-fold in liver microsomes from immature female rats but markedly decreased this enzyme activity in liver microsomes from adult female rats, adult male rats, and immature male rats. Treatment with 3-methylcholanthrene (i.p., 25 mg/kg/day) for 3-4 days increased glucuronyltransferase activity by approximately 10- to 13-fold in liver microsomes from immature female rats, adult female rats, and adult male rats, but only increased this enzyme activity by approximately 1-fold in liver microsomes from immature male rats. In conclusion, the extent of induction of hepatic microsomal glucuronyltransferase activity for 4-nitrophenol is affected dramatically by the age and sex of the animals.

Aging↗

Immunochemical studies on cytochrome P-450 in adrenal microsomes.

An antibody was prepared against electrophoretically homogeneous cytochrome P-450C21 purified from bovine adrenal microsomes. This antibody was used to compare various cytochromes P-450 in bovine and guinea pig adrenal microsomes. In an Ouchterlony double diffusion test, a spur formation was observed between the precipitin lines of the purified bovine cytochrome P-450C21 and guinea pig adrenal microsomes against anti-cytochrome P-450C21 IgG. Anti-cytochrome P-450C21 IgG inhibited 21-hydroxylation both of bovine and guinea pig adrenal microsomes but the inhibition was much more effective in the bovine microsomes than in the guinea pig microsomes. These results suggest that the 21-hydroxylase in the guinea pig microsomes has some molecular similarities to the bovine cytochrome P-450C21 and a part of the antibodies cross-reacts with the 21-hydroxylase in the guinea pig microsomes. Anti-cytochrome P-450C21 IgG did not inhibit the activities of 17 alpha-hydroxylase and C17,20-lyase in the bovine and guinea pig microsomes but stimulated these activities. This result shows that different species of cytochrome P-450 other than cytochrome P-450C21 catalyzes the 17 alpha-hydroxylation and C17,20 bond cleavage. The stimulation of 17 alpha-hydroxylation and C17,20 bond cleavage by blocking 21-hydroxylation indicates that the electron transfer systems for various cytochromes P-450 are intimately linked in adrenal microsomes.

Adrenal Cortex↗

Specific binding of androgen and androgen-receptor complex by microsomes from rat ventral prostate.

Microsomes from rat ventral prostate show the presence of a high affinity-low capacity population of androgen-binding sites with affinity for ionic exchange resin similar to that of cytosol androgen receptor (AR), as manifested by similar results obtained with hydroxylapatite. The affinity for mibolerone was similar for both forms (Ka = 0.5-2.9 x 10(10) M-1). The membrane-bound form can be extracted in hypotonic buffer, with retention of binding properties. Isotonic sucrose allowed higher degree of extractability of the microsomal AR than 10% (v/v) glycerol. The presence of hormone lends stability to the microsomal AR, while high salt or nonionic detergents have a deleterious effect on their longevity. The microsomal receptor form is not sensitive to serine-proteases as opposed to the cytosol AR. After exhaustive extraction of binding sites, microsomes are capable of accepting cytosol mibolerone-receptor complexes to a level corresponding to the concentration of depleted binding sites; microsomes from non-target tissue do not manifest such capability. Microsomal AR complexes do not bind DNA and they are not activated after heat treatment. Mixed preparations of extracted microsomal complexes with cytosol complexes showed heat-induced increased ability to bind DNA to the same level of diluted cytosol complex alone, indicating the absence of a microsomal inhibitor of DNA binding. The results indicate the co-existence of a non-DNA binding form of the AR in the microsomal membranes with the classical DNA binding form of the AR present in the cytosol of ventral prostate homogenates.

Animals↗

Characterization of estrogen and antiestrogen binding to the cytosol and microsomes of breast tumors.

The binding of [3H]estradiol and [3H]hydroxytamoxifen to the cytosol and microsomal fractions of several human breast tumors was investigated. By washing microsomal membranes with a KCl-free or a KCl-containing medium we could distinguish between intrinsic, extrinsic and contaminant estradiol binding sites in these membranes. We observed that treatment of the microsomes with low salt medium removes about 80% of the total estradiol binding sites, whereas 20% are not extractable. The concentration of unextractable [3H]estradiol binding sites in the microsomes varies in proportion to the level of cytosolic estrogen receptors (ER). About 10% of the total extranuclear specific estrogen binding sites was consistently found tightly associated to the microsomal fraction, which displays an affinity for estradiol (Kd = 0.1-0.6 nM) similar to that of the cytosolic ER. The displacement of [3H]estradiol with unlabeled hormone or with the antiestrogens, nafoxidine, enclomiphene and tamoxifen (TAM) exhibits identical IC50 values either in the cytosol or in the microsomal membranes. On the other hand, the microsomal fraction of breast tumors also binds [3H]hydroxyTAM, but with higher capacity and lower affinity than those of the cytosolic fraction. Furthermore, we did not observe correlation between the concentrations of ER and of antiestrogen binding sites (AEBS) in the tumors. These results indicate that microsomal membranes of human breast tumors contain estrogen binding sites which may be related to the cytosol ER recycling and that specific AEBS are predominantly localized in this membrane system. Furthermore, it is shown that the magnitude of estradiol binding to microsomes depends on the ER positive degree of the tumors, whereas the magnitude of the antiestrogen binding to the microsomes is independent of the ER status of the tumors.

Binding, Competitive↗

Pulmonary surfactant protein A inhibits the lipid peroxidation stimulated by linoleic acid hydroperoxide of rat lung mitochondria and microsomes.

Reactive oxygen species play an important role in several acute lung injuries. The lung tissue contains polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) that are substrates of lipid peroxidation that may lead to loss of the functional integrity of the cell membranes. In this study, we compare the in vitro protective effect of pulmonary surfactant protein A (SP-A), purified from porcine surfactant, against ascorbate-Fe(2+) lipid peroxidation stimulated by linoleic acid hydroperoxide (LHP) of the mitochondria and microsomes isolated from rat lung; deprived organelles of ascorbate and LHP were utilized as control. The process was measured simultaneously by chemiluminescence as well as by PUFA degradation of the total lipids isolated from these organelles. The addition of LHP to rat lung mitochondria or microsomes produces a marked increase in light emission; the highest value of activation was produced in microsomes (total chemiluminescence: 20.015+/-1.735 x 10(5) cpm). The inhibition of lipid peroxidation (decrease of chemiluminescence) was observed with the addition of increasing amounts (2.5 to 5.0 microg) of SP-A in rat lung mitochondria and 2.5 to 7.5 microg of SP-A in rat lung microsomes. The inhibitory effect reaches the highest values in the mitochondria, thus, 5.0 microg of SP-A produces a 100% inhibition in this membranes whereas 7.5 microg of SP-A produces a 51.25+/-3.48% inhibition in microsomes. The major difference in the fatty acid composition of total lipids isolated from native and peroxidized membranes was found in the arachidonic acid content; this decreased from 9.68+/-1.60% in the native group to 5.72+/-1.64% in peroxidized mitochondria and from 7.39+/-1.14% to 3.21+/-0.77% in microsomes. These changes were less pronounced in SP-A treated membranes; as an example, in the presence of 5.0 microg of SP-A, we observed a total protection of 20:4 n-6 (9.41+/-3.29%) in mitochondria, whereas 7.5 microg of SP-A produced a 65% protection in microsomes (5.95+/-0.73%). Under these experimental conditions, SP-A produces a smaller inhibitory effect in microsomes than in mitochondria. Additional studies of lipid peroxidation of rat lung mitochondria or microsomes using equal amounts of albumin and even higher compared to SPA were carried out. Our results indicate that under our experimental conditions, BSA was unable to inhibit lipid peroxidation stimulated by linoleic acid hydroperoxide of rat lung mitochondria or microsomes, thus indicating that this effect is specific to SP-A.

Animals↗

Cyp1a2 protects against reactive oxygen production in mouse liver microsomes.

H(2)O(2) production was evaluated in liver microsomes prepared from Cyp1a1/1a2(+/+) wild-type and Cyp1a1(-/-) and Cyp1a2(-/-) knockout mice pretreated with 5 microg dioxin (TCDD)/kg body wt or vehicle alone. NADPH-dependent H(2)O(2) production in TCDD-induced microsomes from wild-type mice was about one-third of that in noninduced microsomes. In Cyp1a2(-/-) mice, H(2)O(2) production was the same for induced and noninduced microsomes, with levels significantly higher than those in wild-type mice. Cyp1a1(-/-) microsomes displayed markedly lower levels of H(2)O(2) production in both induced and noninduced microsomes, compared with those in wild-type and Cyp1a2(-/-) microsomes. The CYP1A2 inhibitor furafylline in vitro exacerbated microsomal H(2)O(2) production proportional to the degree of CYP1A2 inhibition, and the CYP2E1 inhibitor diethyldithiocarbamate decreased H(2)O(2) production proportional to the degree of CYP2E1 inhibition. Microsomal H(2)O(2) production was strongly correlated to NADPH-stimulated production of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, as well as to decreases in microsomal membrane polarization anisotropy, indicative of peroxidation of unsaturated membrane lipids. Our results suggest that possibly acting as an "electron sink," CYP1A2 might decrease CYP2E1-and CYP1A1-mediated H(2)O(2) production and oxidative stress. In this regard, CYP1A2 may be considered an antioxidant enzyme.

Animals↗

Synthesis of acylglucuronides of drugs using immobilized dog liver microsomes octadecylsilica particles coated with phospholipid.

Immobilized dog liver microsome octadecylsilica (ODS) particles coated with phospholipid were developed for the synthesis of acylglucuronides of drugs. The phospholipid-coated ODS particles were readily prepared by stirring a solution containing L-alpha-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine with the ODS particles, in which the phospholipid was absorbed on the ODS surfaces by hydrophobic interaction between the acyl group of phospholipid and the otcadecyl group of the ODS particles. Similarly, the microsome-immobilized particles were readily prepared by stirring a buffer solution containing dog liver microsomes with the phospholipid-coated ODS particles, in which the microsomes were immobilized on the phospholipid-coated ODS particles by hydrophobic binding. The microsome-immobilized particles exhibited UDP-glucuronosyltransferase activity which catalyzed the glucuronidation of ketoprofen and a nonpeptide endothelin receptor antagonist, S-1255 ([R]-[+]-2-[benzo(1,3)dioxol-5-yl]-6-isopropyl-4-[4-methoxyphenyl]-2H-chromene-3-carboxylic acid), to the corresponding acylglucuronide in the presence of uridine 5(')-diphosphate (UDP)-glucuronic acid, and two acylglucuronides of ketoprofen and S-1255 were synthesized using the microsome-immobilized particles. These acylglucuronides were synthesized by simply shaking the microsome-immobilized particles adsorbed on the substrate in a buffer solution containing UDP-glucuronic acid with a thermostated mixer. The molecular weights and chemical structures of the synthesized acylglucuronides were identified by mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance, respectively. The productivity of S-1255 acylglucuronide using microsome-immobilized particles was approximately threefold higher than that observed with free microsomes, whereas the ketoprofen acylglucuronide productivity was slightly lower than that observed with free microsomes. The present method should be very useful for the synthesis of acylglucuronides of drugs, which are slightly soluble aqueous solutions in the drug development stage.

Acylation↗

Activation of acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase in rat liver microsomes by 25-hydroxycholesterol.

25-Hydroxycholesterol stimulated acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) activity in rat liver microsomes in vitro with half-maximal stimulation at 16.8 microM oxysterol and a maximal activity that was three times that in its absence. The current study was conducted to determine the effect of 25-hydroxycholesterol on rates and extent of intervesicular cholesterol transfers within microsomes and to determine whether this activation of ACAT could be accounted for on the basis of increased cholesterol availability for the enzyme. Cholesterol transfer kinetics were assessed in systems that either enriched or depleted microsomal cholesterol. Incubation of microsomes at 37 degrees C with phosphatidylcholine:cholesterol liposomes or purified plasma membranes resulted in enrichment of microsomal cholesterol. Incubation of microsomes with just phosphatidylcholine liposomes resulted in depletion of cholesterol. The extent of cholesterol enrichment or depletion depended on incubation time and the initial concentration of cholesterol in donor and acceptor vesicles. The rate and extent of cholesterol transfer from liposomes to microsomes were slightly increased when 25-hydroxycholesterol was present during the transfer process. Irrespective of the treatment, 25-hydroxycholesterol continued to stimulate the ACAT activity of the treated microsomes. Microsomes that were enriched or depleted of cholesterol in the absence of 25-hydroxycholesterol yielded as much enzyme activities when assayed in the presence of 25-hydroxycholesterol as with the systems that contained 25-hydroxycholesterol during both the transfer process and enzyme assays. The results suggest that a major part of the activation of microsomal ACAT by 25-hydroxycholesterol is not ascribable to increased substrate availability for the enzyme.

Animals↗

Electron-transport cytochrome P-450 system is involved in the microsomal metabolism of the carcinogen chromate.

The kinetics of chromate reduction by liver microsomes isolated from rats pretreated with phenobarbital or 3-methylcholanthrene with NADPH or NADH cofactor have been followed. Induction of cytochrome P-450 and NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase activity in microsomes by phenobarbital pretreatment caused a decrease in the apparent chromate-enzyme dissociation constant, Km, and an increase in the apparent second-order rate constant, kcat/Km, but did not affect the kcat of NADPH-mediated microsomal metabolism of chromate. Induction of cytochrome P-448 in microsomes by 3-methylcholanthrene pretreatment did not affect the kinetics of NADPH-mediated reduction of chromate by microsomes. The kinetics of NADH-mediated microsomal chromate reduction were unaffected by the drug treatments. The effects of specific enzyme inhibitors on the kinetics of microsomal chromate reduction have been determined. 2'-AMP and 3-pyridinealdehyde-NAD, inhibitors of NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase and NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase, inhibited the rate of microsomal reduction of chromate with NADPH and NADH. Metyrapone and carbon monoxide, specific inhibitors of cytochrome P-450, inhibited the rate of NADPH-mediated microsomal reduction of chromate, whereas high concentrations of dimethyl-sulfoxide (0.5 M) enhanced the rate. These results suggest that the electron-transport cytochrome P-450 system is involved in the reduction of chromate by microsomal systems. The NADPH and NADH cofactors supply reducing equivalents ultimately to cytochrome P-450 which functions as a reductase in chromate metabolism. The lower oxidation state(s) produced upon chromate reduction may represent the ultimate carcinogenic form(s) of chromium. These studies provide evidence for the role of cytochrome P-450 in the activation of inorganic carcinogens.

Animals↗

Differences in activity of hepatic microsomal triglyceride transfer protein among species.

Five sows, five cows, five hens, six guinea pigs, six rabbits, and six rats were used in a study to determine if hepatic microsomal triglyceride transfer protein activity differed among species that varied in site of fatty acid synthesis and rate of hepatic triglyceride export. No differences in plasma nonesterified fatty acids were seen among species. Plasma concentrations of glucose were highest in the hen, intermediate in the rat, guinea pig, and rabbit and lowest in the sow and cow. Liver triglyceride was low in all species with the only significant difference being between the hen and the guinea pig (4.7 and 1.1%, DM basis, respectively). No microsomal triglyceride transfer protein activity was found in muscle. The cow, rat, and guinea pig had the lowest levels and the hen and rabbit the highest levels of duodenal microsomal triglyceride transfer protein activity. Hepatic microsomal triglyceride transfer protein activity was significantly higher in the sow than the other species. Hepatic microsomal triglyceride transfer protein activity was 1.51, 1.63, 2.36, 2.72, 2.95, and 6.70 nmole triolein transferred/h/mg microsomal protein for the guinea pig, rabbit, cow, rat, hen, and sow, respectively. Microsomal triglyceride transfer protein activity in duodenal tissue was 18.0, 18.6, 19.2, 33.4, 113, and 161% of hepatic microsomal triglyceride transfer protein activity for the sow, cow, rat, guinea pig, hen, and rabbit, respectively. Hepatic microsomal triglyceride transfer protein activity scaled to liver weight and metabolic body size was 2.69, 3.36, 4.58, 5.83, 7.49, and 22.3 nmole triolein transferred in the liver/min/kg body weight0.75 for the rabbit, guinea pig, rat, hen, cow, and sow, respectively. There was little relationship between previously published rates for triglyceride export and hepatic microsomal triglyceride transfer protein activity measured in this experiment.

Abetalipoproteinemia↗

Effect of dietary high-oleic-acid oils that are rich in antioxidants on microsomal lipid peroxidation in rats.

In contrast to other metabolic functions, the role of dietary antioxidants and oil on microsomal lipid oxidation has been less extensively studied. This study examines ascorbate-Fe(2+) and NADPH-induced lipid peroxidation of hepatic microsomes of rats that were fed for three weeks high-oleic-acid oils (high-oleic sunflower oil, HOSO; olive oil, OO; or olive pomace oil, OPO) containing different concentrations of the antioxidants alpha-tocopherol, erythrodiol, and oleanolic acid. The fatty acid composition of hepatic microsomes of Wistar rats that were fed for three weeks with the above-mentioned oils had lower proportions of C16:0, C18:2n6, and C22:6n3 and higher proportions of C18:0 and C18:1n9 than rats fed the control diet. Light emission by hepatic microsomes increased, in the first 180 min, 2-fold after ascorbate-Fe(2+) addition compared with NADPH addition. Both increases were less pronounced in microsomes of OPO-fed rats and to a smaller extent in microsomes of OO-fed rats. Smaller increases in light emission were associated positively with higher concentrations of dietary alpha-tocopherol, erythrodiol, and oleanolic acid but were not associated with changes in fatty acid composition of hepatic microsomes. Addition of alpha-tocopherol, erythrodiol, or oleanolic acid decreased light emission of hepatic microsomes with a greater inhibition in microsomes of rats fed the control diet. Our data suggest that erythrodiol and oleanolic acids partly explain the protective effect of dietary OPO on microsomal lipid peroxidation in rats.

Animals↗

Relative quantities of catalytically active CYP 2C9 and 2C19 in human liver microsomes: application of the relative activity factor approach.

The relative catalytic activities of CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 in human liver microsomes has been determined using the approach of relative activity factors (RAFs). Tolbutamide methylhydroxylation and S-mephenytoin 4'-hydroxylation were used as measures of CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 activity, respectively. The kinetics of these reactions were studied in human liver microsomes, in microsomes from human lymphoblastoid cells, and in insect cells expressing CYP2C9 and CYP2C19. RAFs were calculated as the ratio of Vmax (reaction velocity at saturating substrate concentrations) in human liver microsomes of the isoform-specific index reaction divided by the Vmax of the reaction catalyzed by the cDNA expressed isoform. RAFs were also determined for SUPERMIX, a commercially available mixture of cDNA expressed human drug metabolizing CYPs formulated to achieve a balance of enzyme activities similar to that found in human liver microsomes. Lymphoblast RAF2C9 in human liver microsomes ranged from 54 to 145 pmol CYP/mg protein (mean value: 87), while a value of 251 pmol CYP/mg protein was obtained for SUPERMIX. Insect cell RAF2C9 in human liver microsomes ranged from 1.6 to 143 pmol CYP/mg protein (mean value: 49), while a value of 201 pmol CYP/mg protein was obtained for SUPERMIX. Both lymphoblast and insect cell RAF2C19 in human liver microsomes ranged from 4 to 45 pmol CYP/mg protein (mean values: 29 and 28, respectively), while a value of 29 pmol CYP/mg protein was obtained for SUPERMIX. The nature of the cDNA expression system used had no effect on the kinetic parameters of CYP2C9 as a tolbutamide methylhydroxylase, or of CYP2C19 as a S-mephenytoin hydroxylase. However insect cell expressed CYP2C19 (which includes oxidoreductase) had substantially greater activity as a tolbutamide methylhydroxylase when compared to lymphoblast expressed CYP2C19. The ratio of mean lymphoblast-determined RAF2C9 to RAF2C19 in human livers was 3.0 (range 1.6-17.9; n = 10), while this ratio for SUPERMIX was 8.6. The ratio of mean insect cell-determined RAF2C9 to RAF2C19 in human livers was 1.7 (range 0.04-16.2; n = 10), while this ratio for SUPERMIX was 7.0. Neither ratio is in agreement with the 20:1 ratio of immunoquantified levels of CYP2C9 and 2C19 in human liver microsomes reported in previous studies. SUPERMIX may contain catalytically active CYP2C9 in levels higher than those in human liver microsomes.

Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases↗

Studies of endogenous inhibitors of microsomal glutathione S-transferase.

Glutathione S-transferase is present in rat liver microsomal fraction, but its activity is low relative to the transferase activity present in the soluble fraction of the hepatocyte. We have found, however, that the activity of microsomal glutathione S-transferase is increased 5-fold after treatment with small unilamellar vesicles made from phosphatidylcholine. The increase in activity is due to the removal of an inhibitor of the enzyme from the microsomal membrane. The inhibitor is present in the organic layer of a washed Folch extract of the microsomal fraction. When this fraction of the microsomal extract is reconstituted in the form of small unilamellar vesicles, it inhibits microsomal glutathione S-transferase that had been activated by prior treatment with small unilamellar vesicles of pure phosphatidylcholine, but does not affect the activity of unactivated microsomal glutathione S-transferase. The inhibitor did not seem to be formed during the isolation of the microsomal fraction, and hence may be a physiological regulator of microsomal glutathione S-transferase. In this regard, both free fatty acid (palmitate) and lysophosphatidylcholine were shown to inhibit the enzyme reversibly. The results indicate that the activity of microsomal glutathione S-transferase is far greater than appreciated until now, and that this form of the enzyme may be an important factor in the hepatic metabolism of toxic electrophiles.

Animals↗

Regulation by noradrenaline of the mitochondrial and microsomal forms of glycerol phosphate acyltransferase in rat adipocytes.

Incubation of rat adipocytes with 1 microM-noradrenaline caused a decrease in both the N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive (microsomal) and N-ethylmaleimide-insensitive (mitochondrial) glycerol phosphate acyltransferase activities measured in homogenates from freeze-stopped cells. The effects of noradrenaline on glycerol phosphate acyltransferase activity were apparent over a wide range of concentrations of glycerol phosphate and palmitoyl-CoA. The effect of noradrenaline was reversed within cells by the subsequent addition of insulin or propranolol. Inclusion of albumin in homogenization buffers abolished the effect of noradrenaline on the N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive activity. The effect of noradrenaline on the N-ethylmaleimide-insensitive (mitochondrial) activity was, however, not abolished by inclusion of albumin in buffers for preparation of homogenates from freeze-stopped cells. Inclusion of fluoride in homogenization buffers did not alter the observed effect of noradrenaline. The inactivating effect of noradrenaline persisted through the subcellular fractionation procedures used to isolate adipocyte microsomes (microsomal fractions). The effect of noradrenaline on mitochondrial glycerol phosphate acyltransferase did not persist through subcellular fractionation. Noradrenaline treatment of cells significantly decreased the Vmax. of glycerol phosphate acyltransferase in isolated microsomes without changing the activity of NADPH-cytochrome c reductase. Glycerol phosphate acyltransferase activity in microsomes from noradrenaline-treated cells is unstable, being rapidly lost on incubation at 30 degrees C. Bivalent metal ions (Mg2+, Ca2+) or post-microsomal supernatant protected against this inactivation. Glycerol phosphate acyltransferase activity in microsomes from noradrenaline-treated cells could not be re-activated by incubation with either alkaline phosphatase or phosphoprotein phosphatase-1. Addition of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunits to adipocyte microsomes incubated with [gamma-32P]ATP considerably increased the incorporation of 32P into microsomal protein, but did not cause inactivation of glycerol phosphate acyltransferase. These findings provide no support for the proposal that inactivation of adipocyte microsomal glycerol phosphate acyltransferase by noradrenaline is through a phosphorylation type of covalent modification.

Acyltransferases↗

DNA strand cleavage as a sensitive assay for the production of hydroxyl radicals by microsomes: role of cytochrome P4502E1 in the increased activity after ethanol treatment.

There is increasing interest in the role of reactive oxygen radicals in the hepatotoxicity associated with ethanol consumption. Reactive oxygen intermediates interact with DNA and can cause single-strand breaks of supercoiled DNA. Experiments were carried out to evaluate the utility of this system as a sensitive assay for the detection of potent oxidants generated by rat liver microsomes isolated from pair-fed control rats and rats treated chronically with ethanol. DNA strand cleavage was assayed by monitoring the migration of the supercoiled and open circular forms in agarose. Microsomes catalysed DNA strand breakage with either NADPH or NADH as cofactors; iron was required to catalyse the reaction and various ferric complexes were effective in promoting the reaction. DNA strand cleavage was prevented by catalase, superoxide dismutase, GSH and hydroxyl-radical-scavenging agents, suggesting that a hydroxyl-radical-like species was the oxidant responsible for the breakage. This assay system proved to be much more sensitive in detecting hydroxyl radicals than are other methods, such as e.s.r. spectroscopy or oxidation of chemical scavenging agents with respect to the amount of microsomal protein and the nature and concentration of the iron catalyst required. Microsomes from ethanol-treated rats were more reactive than control microsomes in catalysing the DNA strand cleavage with either NADPH or NADH; increased catalytic activity was observed with various ferric complexes and was sensitive to the above antioxidants. Compared with preimmune IgG, anti-(cytochrome P4502E1) IgG had no effect on DNA strand cleavage by the control microsomes, but completely prevented the NADPH- and the NADH-dependent increased activity found with microsomes from the ethanol-treated rats. Inhibitors of cytochrome P4502E1, such as diethyl dithiocarbamate and tryptamine, also lowered the extent of increase of DNA strand cleavage produced by microsomes from the ethanol-treated rats. These results indicate that DNA strand cleavage is a very sensitive assay for detecting the production of hydroxyl radicals by microsomes and to demonstrate increased activity by microsomes after chronic ethanol treatment. This increased activity with NADPH and NADH is due, at least in part, to induction of cytochrome P4502E1.

Animals↗