• Toxicological Research
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.155-161
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• 1996

The enzymatic properties for NADPH-P450 reductase domain of a fusion protein between human cytochrome P450 1A1 and rat NADPH-P450 reductase expressed in Escherichia coli were investigated. The fusion plasmid pCW/1A1OR-expressed E. coli membrane showed high NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activity ($830.1\pm 85.8 nmol\cdot min^{-1}\cdot mg protein^{-1}$), while pCW control vector and P 450 1A1 expression vector pCW/1A1 showed relatively quite low activity ($4.35\pm 0.49, 3.27\pm 0.50 nmol\cdot min^{-1}\cdot mg protein^{-1}$, respectively). The kinetic curves for NADPH-cytochrome c reductase followed typical Michaelis-Menten kinetics. The $K_{max}$ and $V_{max}$ for NADPH-dependent reductase activity were $8.24\pm 2.61\mu $and $817.9\pm 60.8 nmol\cdot min^{-1}\cdot mg protein^{-1}$, respectively, whereas those for cytochrome c-dependent reductase activity were $19.97\pm 2.86\mu M$ and $1303.5\pm 67.1 nmol\cdot min^{-1}\cdot mg protein^{-1}$. The reductase activities were also compared with those of rat, porcine and human liver microsomes. The activity of pCW/ 1A1OR-expressed E. coli membrane was 15.2-fold higher than that of rat liver microsome. Treatment with benzo(a)pyrene, 7-ethoxyresorufin and $\alpha$-naphthofiavone which are known as specific substrates or inhibitor for human P450 1A1 increased NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activity of fusion protein in E. coli membrane dose-dependently. These results demonstrate that the membrane topology of fused enzyme may be important for activity of its NADPH-P450 reductase domain.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.145-151
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• 1981

The effect of ginseng methanol extract on hepatic drug metabolizing enzyme in rat was investigated. The ginseng methanol extract (100mg/kg) was administered orally to Sprague Dawley rats for 7days and the contents of cytochrome $P_{450}$ and NADPH cytochrome c reductase in liver were measured by the method of Stanton et al. and Mazel respectively. The content of liver cytochrome $P_{450}$ and NADPH cytochrome c reductase in the rats treated with ginseng methanol extract (100mg/kg) were increased by 21.9% and l6.6% respectively and their increases were statistically significant. Single i.p. injection of phenobarbital (100mg/kg) to the rats produced approximately 25% increase in cytochrome $P_{450}$ content in this investigation and further stimulation was produced in the rats pretreated with ginseng methanol extract (100mg/kg). On the other hand, single i.p. injection of 95% $CCl_{4}$ (0.5ml/kg) showed 29% decrease in cytochrome $P_{450}$ content and 10.5% decrease in NADPH cytochrome c reductase activity. The degree of inhibition of cytochrome $P_{450}$ content in the rats pretreated with ginseng methanol extract (100mg/kg) was similar to that observed in the $CCl_{4}$ alone treated group, but NADPH cytochrome c reductase activity was increased by 65% in the rats pretreated with ginseng methanol extract (100mg/kg). These results suggest that ginseng is the hepatic drug metabolizing enzyme inducing agent in the rat and the effect is similar to phenobarbital.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.221-230
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• 1984

The activities of aminopyrine demethylase which is marker enzyme of the microsomal drug-metabolizing system, NADPH-cytochrome a reductase and glutathione peroxidase were measured during the course of liver regeneration after about seventy percent hepatectomy in Wistar rats. In addition, the extent of lipid peroxidation and contents of cytochrome P-450 were also measured. Partial hepatectomy produced a significant depression in aminopyrine demethylase, to reach a minium about 24 hours after operation, but this activity was increased to normal value during regeneration. On the other hand, in sham-operated animals, this showed no change. All the activities of NADPH-chrome P-450 contents of liver microsomes were rapidly decreased at the early stage of regeneration. These values returned to normal after 7 days. By contrast, the activity of glutathione peroxidase was nearly unchanged. According to these results, at the early stage of regeneration, the decrease of cytochrome P-450 and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activity lead to decrease of lipid peroxidation and drug metabolizing enzyme activity. But these phenomena were not detected after 7 days of regeneration.

• BMB Reports
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.629-633
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• 2004

NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase (CPR) transfers electrons from NADPH to cytochrome P450, and catalyzes the one-electron reduction of many drugs and foreign compounds. Various forms of spectrophotometric titration have been performed to investigate the electron-accepting properties of CPR, particularly, to examine its ability to reduce cytochrome c and ferricyanide. In this study, the reduction of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) by CPR was assessed as a means of monitoring CPR activity. The principle advantage of DPPH is that its reduction can be assayed directly in the reaction medium by a continuous spectrophotometry. Thus, electrons released from NADPH by CPR were transferred to DPPH, and DPPH reduction was then followed spectrophotometrically by measuring $A_{520}$ reduction. Optimal assay concentrations of DPPH, CPR, potassium phosphate buffer, and NADPH were first established. DPPH reduction activity was found to depend upon the strength of the buffer used, which was optimal at 100 mM potassium phosphate and pH 7.6. The extinction coefficient of DPPH was $4.09\;mM^{-1}\;cm^{-1}$. DPPH reduction followed classical Michaelis-Menten kinetics ($K_m\;=\;28\;{\mu}M$, $K_{cat}\;=\;1690\;min^{-1}$). This method uses readily available materials, and has the additional advantages of being rapid and inexpensive.

• BMB Reports
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.366-369
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• 2005

NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase (CPR) transfers electrons from NADPH to cytochrome P450 and also catalyzes the one-electron reduction of many drugs and foreign compounds. Various spectrophotometric assays have been performed to examine electron-accepting properties of CPR and its ability to reduce cytochrome $b_5$, cytochrome c, and ferricyanide. In this report, reduction of 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) by CPR has been assessed as a method for monitoring CPR activity. The principle advantage of this substance is that the reduction of MTT can be assayed directly in the reaction medium by a continuous spectrophotometric method. The electrons released from NADPH by CPR were transferred to MTT. MTT reduction activity was then assessed spectrophotometrically by measuring the increase of $A_{610}$. MTT reduction followed classical Michaelis-Menten kinetics ($K_m\;=\;20\;{\mu}M$, $k_{cat}\;=\;1,910\;min^{-1}$). This method offers the advantages of a commercially available substrate and short analysis time by a simple measurement of enzymatic activity of CPR.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.69-79
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• 1990

The aim of this experiment is to observe the toxicity of cypermethrin[S, R- -cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl-(1R, 1s, cis, trans)-2,2-dimethyl-3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl) cyclopropane carboxylate]and to investigate the synergistic effect of piperonyl butoxide on the cypermethrin toxicity. In cypermethrin (CYP) treated group, the biochemical parameters such as ALT, LDH, glucose in serum were remarkably elevated. The content of cytochrome P-450 and activity of NADPH-cytochrome c reductase in renal microsomal fraction were increased but those in hepatic microsomal fraction were not significantly increased. The activity of aniline hydroxylase and ATPase in liver were decreased. In the case of CYP plus piperonyl butoxide (PB) treated group, AST, ALT, LDH and glucose were more increased. Cytochrome P-450 and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase in liver and kidney were supressed and aniline hydroxylase and ATPase in liver were more decreased. Especially, in the case of CYP plus PB 100 mg/kg treated group, hepatic TBA value was increased but activity of glucose-6-phosphatase was remarkably depressed.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.177-183
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• 2004

Cytochrome P45O (CYP) contents and 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity were determined in hepatic microsome of olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) exposed to tributyltin chloride (TBTC), tributyltin oxide (TBTO), and triphenyltin chloride (TPTC). In addition, effects of in vivo (intraperitoneal injection of 7.5 mg $kg^{-1}$ BW) exposure of flounder to TPTC on CYP, NADPH cytochrome c reductase, NADH cytochrome b5 yeductase and EROD levels were measured. In in vitro exposure of hepatic microsome to organotins, TBTC, TBTO and TPTC reduced CYP contents and inhibited EROD activity. The TPTC was the strongest inhibitor, which is followed by TBTO and TBTC. The degree of inhibition, especially EROD acitivity, depended on the exposure duration. In addition, all the target enzymes in flounder were inhibited by TPTC with the in vivo exposure to TPTC. As EROD activity was the most sensitive to the inhibitions and demonstrated good reproducibility of the results, it could be used as a helpful tool toy monitor effects of organotin compounds on mixed funciton oxygenase system in marine fish.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.249-257
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• 2002

Cytochrome P450 3As such as 3A4 and 3A5 metabolize a wide range of pharmaceutical compounds. The vectors for the expression of fusion protein containing an N-terminal human P450 3A4 or P450 3A5 sequences and a C-terminal rat NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase moiety were constructed. These plasmids were used to express the fusion protein in Escherichia coli DH5$\alpha$ cells. High levels of expression were achieved (100~200 nmol/liter) and the expressed fusion protein in E. coli membranes were catalytically active for nifedipine oxidation, a typical enzymatic activity of P450 3A4. The NADPH-P450 reductase activities of these fusion protein were also determined by measuring reduction of cytochrome c. To fine a specific Inhibitor of P450 3A4 from naturally occurring chemicals, a series of isothiocyanate compounds were evaluated for the inhibitory activity of P450 using the fusion proteins in E. coli membranes. Of the five isothiocyanates (phenethyl isothiocyanate, phenyl isothiocyanate, benzol isothiocyanate, benzoyl isothiocyanate and cyclohexyl isothiocyanate) tested, benzoyl isothiocyanate showed a strong inhibition of P450 3A4 with an $IC_{50}$value of 2.8 $\mu\textrm{M}$. Our results indicate that the self-sufficient fusion protein will be very useful tool to study the drug metabolism and benzyl isothiocyanate may be valuable for characterizing the enzymatic properties of P450 3A4.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.119-132
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• 1985

The apparent effectiveness of 1-naphthyl-N-methyl carbamate (carbaryl) against a wide variety of insects motivated the study of its mammalian toxicity. In this toxicological study of carbaryl, mature male rats inhaled carbaryl at a mean concentration of 112mg, 168mg and 224 mg/$m^{3}$ for one hour. After inhalation, pentobarbital sleeping time, Nadph-cytochrome c reductase activity, cytochrome p-450 and protein content in liver microsomes, various tissue residues, cholinesterase inhibition in plasma and histopathological findings at autopsy were observed. The pentobarbital sleeping time was prolonged in rats inhaled with carbaryl for one day while the sleeping time was shortened in the 3 days inhaled group. The changes of cytochrome p-450 content and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activity exhibited biphasic response showing the decrease in the one day inhaled group and the increase in the 3 days inhaled group. The marked depression of plasma ChE activity was observed in rats inhaled with carbaryl at 112 mg/$m^{3}$, however no more progressive effect was observed at the higher concentration of the compound. The main observations in histopathological finding were ciliary detachment, epithelial swelling and subepithelial inflammatory cellular infiltration in trachea due to the irritation.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.215-221
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• 1995

This paper examines the effects of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acid/saturated fatty acid (p/s) ratios and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) on the hepatic microsomaI mixed-function oxidase sy. stem in 2~acetylaminofiuorene (2-AAF) treated rats. Sprague-Dawley male rats were fed the diet of beef tallow (p/s 0.08), beef tallow plus soybean oil (p/s 1.0), and soybean oil (p/s 4.0) at the level of 15%fat and with or without 0.3% BHT. After 2-AAF was injected twice at the ages of 23 and 27 weeks, cholesterol/phospholipid molar ratio, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) level, cytochrome P450, cytochrome $b_5$, NADPH-cytochrome $b_5$, and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activity were measured from isolated hepatic microsomal fractions. In the beef tallow (p/s 0.08) and beef tallow plus soybean oil (p/s 1.0) groups, cholesterol/phospholipid molar ratio showed decreasing tendency by 2-AAF and BHT. Cytochrome P-450 content was decreased in the group of soybean oil (p/s 4.0) and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activity was increased by 2-AAF and BHT in all the dietary groups. While TBARS levels were increased by 2-AAF in all the dietary groups, they were reduced by BHT in the soybean oil (p/s 4.0) group. These results suggest that long term intake of soybean oil (p/s 4.0) diet induced changes in the nature of microsomal membrane and induced less cytochrome P-450, low level feeding of BHT increased cytochrome c reductase activity and lowered microsomal lipid peroxidation levels, which were increased by 2-AAF treatment.