Characterization of moss ent-kaurene oxidase (CYP701B1) using a highly purified preparation.

CYP701B1 of the moss, Physcomitrella patents, might be a unique cytochrome P450 having the ent-kaurene oxidase (KO) activity occurring in nonvascular plant. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that the gene encoding CYP701B1 was diverged from a common ancestral gene encoding KO of vascular plants. CYP701B1 expressed in Phichia yeast microsomes was purified and characterized. The purified CYP701B1 catalyzed the oxidation of ent-kaurene to ent-kaurenoic acid through three successive monooxygenations, and the rate-limiting step of this oxidation might be the initial step that forms ent-kaurenol. CYP701B1 was a typical ferric low-spin cytochrome P450 and was completely moved to high-spin state upon binding with ent-kaurene, and apparent Kd of ent-kaurene estimated by the spectral change caused by this spin-state shift was 2.5 µM. The potent KO inhibitor uniconazole, an azole compound with molecular size similar to ent-kaurene, bound CYP701B1 with high affinity. However, ketoconazole, an azole compound whose molecular size is larger than ent-kaurene could not bind to CYP701B, though it binds strongly with CYP51, lanosterol 14-demethylase. The results indicated that the active site of CYP701B1 is fitted for the molecular size of ent-kaurene. The P450 monooxygenase adapted for ent-kaurene oxidation might appear in land plants before evolutionary divergence into vascular and nonvascular plants.

ß-Amyrin oxidation by oat CYP51H10 expressed heterologously in yeast cells: the first example of CYP51-dependent metabolism other than the 14-demethylation of sterol precursors.

CYP51 has been recognized as a unique CYP family that consists of one isolated molecular species, a sterol 14-demethylase essential for sterol biosynthesis. However, another CYP51 gene classified as the CYP51H subfamily has been identified in higher plants, in addition to a sterol 14-demethylase gene, CYP51G1. To shed light on the function of this "second CYP51", oat CYP51H10 was introduced into the ß-amyrin-producing yeast cells, and the effect of the expressed CYP51H10 on ß-amyrin metabolism in the host cells was examined. In the CYP51H10-introduced cells, ß-amyrin was converted to a metabolite with 12,13-epoxy and one additional hydroxyl group. Since the 12,13-epoxy group introduced into ß-amyrin ring is an essential structure of avenacin A-1, a triterpene glycoside produced in oat from ß-amyrin, the present findings indicate the contribution of CYP51H10 to avenacin A-1 biosynthesis from ß-amyrin. This is the first study showing a second function of the CYP51 family.

Detection of expressed gene in isolated single cells in microchambers by a novel hot cell-direct RT-PCR method.

In order to be able to detect the expression of a gene in individual cells, the ability to isolate and lyse a single cell and to perform reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in one device is important. As is common, when performing cell lysis and RT-PCR in the same reaction chamber, it is necessary to add the reagent for RT-PCR after cell lysis. In this study, we propose an original formula for cell lysis and RT-PCR in the same reaction chamber without the addition of reagent by only a heat process, which we termed hot cell-direct RT-PCR. Hot cell-direct RT-PCR was enabled by using Tth DNA polymerase, which is a thermostable polymerase and has high reverse transcription activity in the presence of manganese ions. Direct detection of RT-PCR products was performed by detecting fluorescence with the use of a double-dye fluorescent probe. We attempted to detect the mRNA of the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) gene in isolated Jurkat cells on a microfluidic device, which we had already developed for single cell isolation. After cell isolation and successive hot cell-direct RT-PCR on the device, fluorescent signals from RT-PCR products for a single cell were detected and differentiated from the chamber containing no cells. A highly positive linear relationship (r = 0.9933) was observed between the number of chambers containing cell(s) and those containing RT-PCR products from 10 to 400 cells µL(-1). Thus it was possible to use the novel hot cell-direct RT-PCR method to detect the expressed gene in isolated cells.

The construction and characterization of self-sufficient lanosterol 14-demethylase fusion proteins consisting of yeast CYP51 and its reductase.

Two forms of a self-sufficient lanosterol 14-demethylase fused enzyme consisting of Saccharomyces cerevisiae CYP51 and S. cerevisiae reduced nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phospahte (NADPH)-P450 reductase were constructed and characterized. The two forms of fused enzymes, F1 and F2, which had slight differences in the linker regions between their P450 and reductase domains, were expressed in Escherichia coli cells. Both F1 and F2 were purified to homogeneity. The purified preparations of F1 and F2 showed spectral properties of not only P450 but also flavoprotein. F1 and F2 showed lanosterol 14-demethylase activity with kinetic parameters comparable to those obtained with a reconstituted system consisting of S. cerevisiae CYP51 and S. cerevisiae NADPH-P450 reductase. These facts indicate that F1 and F2 are self-sufficient lanosterol 14-demethylases that can catalyze three successive monooxygenations with comparable activity to naturally occurring CYP51. The enzymatic reduction of the CYP51 in F1 and F2 was faster than that of the CYP51 in the reconstituted system. The results of dilution experiments suggested that the electron transfer from the reductase domain to the CYP51 domain in F1 and F2 occurred both intra- and intermolecularly. Two fused self-sufficient lanosterol 14-demethylases were successfully constructed. This is the first example of the purified preparation of an artificial self-sufficient P450 monooxygenase that catalyzes the oxidative cleavage of C-C bond via three successive monooxygenations.

Effects of Y132H and F145L substitutions on the activity, azole resistance and spectral properties of Candida albicans sterol 14-demethylase P450 (CYP51): a live example showing the selection of altered P450 through interaction with environmental compounds.

Three variants of Candida albicans CYP51 (sterol 14-demethylase P450) having Y132H and/or F145L substitutions were purified and characterized to reveal the effects of these amino acid substitutions on the enzymatic properties and azole resistance of the enzyme. Y132H and F145L substitutions modified the spectral properties of the enzyme, suggesting that they caused some structural change modifying the heme environments of CYP51. Y132H and F145L substitutions increased the resistance of the enzyme to azole compounds but considerably decreased the catalytic activity. This fact represents a trade-off between acquisition of azole resistance and maintenance of high activity in the CYP51 having Y132H and F145L substitutions. A fluconazole-resistant C. albicans strain DUMC136 isolated from patients receiving long-term azole treatment was a homozygote of the altered CYP51 having Y132H and F145L substitutions. However, neither of these substitutions was found in CYP51 of wild-type C. albicans so far studied. These facts suggest that the azole-resistant variant having Y132H and/or F145L substitutions might be selected only under azole-rich environments because of its azole resistance and impaired catalytic activity. This may be a live example showing one of the important processes of P450 diversification, the selection of altered P450 through the interaction with environmental compounds.

Recent progress in the CYP51 research focusing on its unique evolutionary and functional characteristics as a diversozyme P450.

CYP51 (sterol 14-demethylase P450) is a family of P450 species having the same function in distinct kingdoms, which makes CYP51 a unique and important enzyme family for the discussion of evolution and diversification of P450. Although CYP51 was named to the P450 originally discovered in yeast and fungi, today, we know that members of CYP51 family exist ubiquitously in animals, plants, fishes, lower eukaryotes such as slime mold, and a part of bacteria. In this review, I describe following subjects: 1) CYP51 as a model family for understanding of diversification of P450, 2) the structure and function relationships of CYP51s.

Studies on the expression levels of sterol-metabolizing enzymes in the obese model SHR/NDmcr-cp rats.

1. Expression levels of four key enzymes of cholesterol metabolism, namely 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, lanosterol 14-demethylase (CYP51), cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) and sterol 12alpha-hydroxylase (CYP8B1), in metabolic syndrome model rats (SHR/NDmcr-cp) were examined. 2. Decreased expression of CYP51, which may be linked to the development of obesity, was found in the rats. 3. Expression of CYP8B1 was significantly higher in young rats. 4. No substantial change was observed in the mRNA levels of the dominant rate-limiting enzymes of sterol metabolism, namely HMG-CoA reductase and CYP7A1, in the rats. 5. These findings suggest that the expression levels of two key enzymes managing the downstream parts of the cholesterol-metabolizing pathways are altered in the rats, although little change was observed in the expression levels of the dominant rate-limiting enzymes of cholesterol metabolism.

Structure-based de novo design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of non-azole inhibitors specific for lanosterol 14alpha-demethylase of fungi.

The active site of lanosterol 14alpha-demethylase (CYP51) was investigated via MCSS functional group mapping and LUDI calculations. Several non-azole lead molecules were obtained by coupling structure-based de novo design with chemical synthesis and biological evaluation. All of the lead molecules exhibited a strong inhibitory effect on CYP51 of Candida albicans. They occupy the substrate-binding site and interfere with the binding of azole antifungal agents in a competitive manner. The mode of action of the lead molecules was validated by spectrophotomeric analysis and SAR studies. This is the first successful example reported for the inhibitor design of the cytochrome P450 superfamily using the de novo design strategy. Because the affinity of the lead molecules for CYP51 was mainly attributed to their nonbonding interaction with the apoprotein, the studies presented here afford the opportunity to develop novel antifungal agents that specifically interact with the residues in the active site and avoid the serious toxicity arising from coordination binding with the heme of mammalian P450s.