Species, organ and cellular variation in the flavin-containing monooxygenase.

The distribution of the flavin-containing monooxygenase (EC1.14.13.

Effect of chlordecone and mirex on the acute hepatotoxicity of acetaminophen in mice.

1. Acetaminophen toxicity, as measured by leakage of intracellular enzymes, was increased by chlordecone and mirex with mirex having the greater effect. 2.

Formation of hydrogen peroxide and N-hydroxylated amines catalyzed by pulmonary flavin-containing monooxygenases in the presence of primary alkylamines.

In atypical reaction, incubation of purified rabbit pulmonary flavin-containing monooxygenase with certain primary alkylamines results in the oxidation of NADPH and the formation of hydrogen peroxide. In addition, significant amounts of N-hydroxylated primary amine are also generated, as determined by colorimetric assay and GC/MS analysis of n-octylamine metabolites. Similar reactions appear to be catalyzed by the mouse pulmonary enzyme.

Interactions of diethylphenylphosphine with purified, reconstituted mouse liver cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase systems.

Purified mouse liver cytochrome P-450 reconstituted with purified NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase and phosphatidylcholine metabolized diethylphenylphosphine to diethylphenylphosphine oxide. NADPH was required for the reaction and the amount of oxide formed was time and cytochrome P-450 dependent. Purified phenobarbital-induced cytochrome P-450 produced more oxide per nmole enzyme than any of the purified uninduced cytochrome P-450s.

Induction of cytochrome P-450 in congenic C57BL/6J mice by isosafrole: lack of correlation with the Ah locus.

Isosafrole induction of cytochrome P-450 was compared in congenic strains of C57BL/6J mice, one of which expresses normal levels of the Ah receptor [B6(Ahb)], and another that does not contain a measurable receptor concentration [B6(Ahd)]. Using sucrose gradient analysis of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) binding, an Ah receptor concentration of 69.1 +/- 3.

Cytochrome P-450 induction by 3-methylcholanthrene and its antagonism by 2,2-dimethyl-5-t-butyl-1,3-benzodioxole.

Previous studies in this laboratory have shown 2,2-dimethyl-5-t-butyl-1,3-benzodioxole (DBBD) to antagonize 3-methylcholanthrene induction of cytochrome P-450 in Dub:ICR mice yet have no effect on phenobarbital induction. In the present experiments, C57BL/6 mice, an Ah responsive strain, produced a similar response under the same experimental conditions. The hypothesis that DBBD, although not a cytochrome P-450 inducer, competes with 3-methylcholanthrene for binding to the Ah receptor was tested.

Induction of specific cytochrome P-450 isozymes by methylenedioxyphenyl compounds and antagonism by 3-methylcholanthrene.

Two methylenedioxyphenyl compounds, isosafrole (5-propenyl-1,3-benzodioxole) and an analog, 5-t-butyl-1,3-benzodioxole (BD), differ markedly as inducers of cytochrome P-450 isozymes in rat liver microsomes. Isosafrole is a mixed-type inducer, inducing P-450b, P-450c, and P-450d. In contrast, BD is a phenobarbital-type inducer, increasing P-450b, but producing little or no increase in P-450c or P-450d.

The induction of cytochrome P-450 by isosafrole and related methylenedioxyphenyl compounds.

Using sucrose gradients, the Ah receptor and a 3-4S binding peak were measured in hepatic cytosol from Dub: ICR, C57BL/6, and DBA/2 male mice. Isosafrole, piperonyl butoxide, and 5-t-butyl-1,3-benzodioxole were unable to displace 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin or 3-methylcholanthrene from either the Ah receptor or the 3-4S binding peak, in vitro. In in vivo experiments, treatment of C57BL/6 mice with 3-methylcholanthrene caused a 4-fold reduction in Ah receptor binding 2 h after i.

Catalytic activity and substrate specificity of the flavin-containing monooxygenase in microsomal systems: characterization of the hepatic, pulmonary and renal enzymes of the mouse, rabbit, and rat.

Inhibitory antibodies against NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase, detergent solubilization to dissociate functional interaction between the reductase and cytochrome P-450, and selective trypsin degradation have been used to characterize flavin-containing monooxygenase activity in microsomes from different tissues and species. A comparison of assay methods is reported. The native microsome-bound flavin-containing monooxygenase of mouse, rabbit, and rat liver, lung, and kidney can metabolize compounds containing thiol, sulfide, thioamide, secondary and tertiary amine, hydrazine, and phosphine substituents.

Metabolism of phosphorus-containing compounds by pig liver microsomal FAD-containing monooxygenase.

Oxidative desulfuration of phosphonate insecticides such as fonofos (S-phenyl ethyl ethylphosphonodithioate) and its analogs is catalyzed by pig liver microsomal FAD-containing monooxygenase, although desulfuration of phosphorodithioates, such as parathion, is not. Substitution of an alkyl group for the remaining alkoxy group, as in S-phenyl diethylphosphinodithioate, did not increase its oxidation rate. Diethylphenylphosphine sulfide, containing 3 phosphorus-carbon bonds, was actually a poorer substrate than fonofos.

Identification of distinct hepatic and pulmonary forms of microsomal flavin-containing monooxygenase in the mouse and rabbit.

The flavin-containing monooxygenase has been purified from mouse and rabbit lung microsomes and shown to be distinct from the flavin-containing monooxygenase found in the liver of the same species. The mouse and rabbit lung monooxygenases have a unique ability to N-oxidize the primary aliphatic amine, n-octylamine, commonly included in microsomal incubations to inhibit cytochrome P-450. In the mouse lung, this compound not only serves as a substrate but is also a positive effector of metabolism.

Oxidation of pesticides by purified cytochrome P-450 isozymes from mouse liver.

5 cytochrome P-450 isozymes were purified from the livers of uninduced mice and reconstituted with purified NADPH cytochrome P-450 reductase and phospholipid. The pesticides parathion, fonofos, DEF, Mocap and profenofos were oxidized by the reconstituted monooxygenase system to form acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors. The bioactivation varied with the pesticide substrate and the cytochrome P-450 isozyme.

Spectral interactions of piperonyl butoxide and isocyanides with purified hepatic cytochrome P-450 from uninduced mice.

The binding of isocyanides and the metabolites of piperonyl butoxide (PBO) to reduced cytochrome P-450 in intact microsomes gives rise to the type III optical difference spectrum which is characterized by two pH dependent peaks in the Soret region. Each of the purified cytochrome P-450 isozymes (A1, B1, B2, B3) metabolized PBO and produced a spectrum in the Soret region. Only the A1 fraction produced the pH dependent type III spectrum.

The binding of isocyanides to cytochrome P-450 from mouse hepatic microsomes.

The spectral interactions of a number of isocyanides with cytochrome P-450 were investigated. An interaction between the hydrophobic nature of the side chain and the spectral interaction was apparent. The concentration of the isocyanide affected the stability of the complex.

Partial purification and characterization of cytochrome P-450 from human placenta.

Two isozymes of cytochrome P-450 were partially purified to specific contents of 7.0 and 0.5 nmol/mg of protein, respectively, from placenta of non-smoking women by chromatography on octyl Sepharose, hydroxylapatite, DEAE-cellulose and CM-cellulose.

2,2-Dimethyl-5-t-butyl-1,3-benzodioxole: an unusual inducer of microsomal enzymes.

Our previous studies have shown that 2,2-dimethyl-5-t-butyl-1,3-benzodioxole (DBBD), a methylenedioxyphenyl (MDP) analog in which the methylene hydrogens have been replaced by methyl groups, does not form an inhibitory complex with cytochrome P-450 nor induce this cytochrome. However, in the present experiments, DBBD-treated male Dub:ICR mice showed an increase in NADPH-dependent cytochrome c (P-450) reductase and epoxide hydrolase activity. This separation of cytochrome P-450 induction from the induction of epoxide hydrolase and NADPH-dependent cytochrome c (P-450) reductase appears to be unique among inducers of xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes.

Characterization of the purified microsomal FAD-containing monooxygenase from mouse and pig liver.

The FAD-containing monooxygenase (FMO) has been purified from both mouse and pig liver microsomes by similar purification procedures. Characterization of the enzyme from these two sources has revealed significant differences in catalytic and immunological properties. The pH optimum of mouse FMO is slightly higher than that of pig FMO (9.

The measurement of FAD-containing mono-oxygenase activity in microsomes containing cytochrome P-450.

Antibodies to NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase have been used to essentially abolish the contribution of cytochrome P-450 to xenobiotic metabolism by mammalian microsomes. This permits the determination of the activity of the FAD-containing mono-oxygenase and the stoichiometry between substrate, O2 and NADPH, in the microsomal membrane, and in the absence of cytochrome P-450-dependent activity. FAD-containing mono-oxygenase oxidation rates were determined for sulphur- and nitrogen-containing substrates, including: thiols; sulphides; thioamides; primary, secondary and tertiary amines; hydrazines.

Biochemical mechanisms of resistance to insecticides.

The principal biochemical mechanisms of resistance to insecticides involve either modified, less sensitive cholinesterase, esterase action, glutathione S-transferase action or cytochrome P-450-dependent monooxygenation. Both quantitative and qualitative differences in cytochrome P-450 isozymes are under genetic control and both are related to resistance. Recent characterization studies involving ligand binding and multiplicity of isozymes in Musca domestica (the housefly) are discussed in relation to resistance.

Purification of the flavin-containing monooxygenase from mouse and pig liver microsomes.

The microsomal flavin-containing monooxygenase has been purified from mouse and pig liver utilizing Cibacron-Blue Sepharose, Procion-Red agarose, and 2'5'-ADP Sepharose. The enzymes had a final specific activity of 1200 and 954 nmol/min/mg protein from mouse and pig liver respectively. The enzyme from both mouse and pig liver displayed typical flavoprotein spectra and appeared homogeneous by denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

Development of safer insecticides.

In summary, it might be said that there is no simple answer to the problems inherent in the search for safer insecticides by rational methods. However, the subject has not yet been fully explored and opportunities remain for exploitation. The extent to which this is done will depend on more effective use of time, scientific manpower, and imagination.