• 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.31 no.6
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• pp.361-369
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• 1987

The four azo dyes such as Amaranth (FD & C Red No. 2), Tartrazine (FD & C Yellow No. 4), sunset Yellow (FD & C Yellow No. 5) and Allura red (FD & C Red No. 40) are currently employed as a food additives in Korea. In this study, the effects of these azo dyes on the hepatic microsomal mixed function oxidase systems in Rats. (i.e., Cyt. P-450, Cyt. b$_5$, NADPH cyt. c-reductase and azo reductase) were investigated. Furthermore, to determine the relationship among the electron transport systems, each level of azo reductase, Cyt. P-450 and NADPH cyt. c-reductase was measured upon the administration of phenobarbital (known as an inducer of Cyt. P-450), 3-methylcholanthrene (Known as an inducer of Cyt. P-448), CoCl$_2$ (inhibitor on Cyt. P-450) or $CCl_4$ (inhibitor on Cyt. P-450). The results of these studies are as follows; (1) The levels of Cyt. P-450 and Cyt. b$_5$ were decreased upon the administration of these azo dyes. (2) When the level of Cyt. P-450 was decreased, the azo reductase activity was also decreased. (3) These azo dyes did not show any significant effect on the level of NADPH cyt. c-reductase. (4) The administration of 3-methylcholanthrene resulted in the elevation of azo reductase activity. The 3-methylcholanthrene may be responsible for the induction of CO-insensitive electron transport system.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.983-989
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• 2017

NADPH-P450 reductase (NPR) transfers electrons from NADPH to cytochrome P450 and heme oxygenase enzymes to support their catalytic activities. This protein is localized within the endoplasmic reticulum membrane and utilizes FMN, FAD, and NADPH as cofactors. Although NPR is essential toward enabling the biochemical and pharmacological analyses of P450 enzymes, its production as a recombinant purified protein requires a series of tedious efforts and a high cost due to the use of $NADP^+$ in the affinity chromatography process. In the present study, the rat NPR clone containing a $6{\times}$ Histidine-tag (NPR-His) was constructed and heterologously expressed. The NPR-His protein was purified using $Ni^{2+}$-affinity chromatography, and its functional features were characterized. A single band at 78 kDa was observed from SDS-PAGE and the purified protein displayed a maximum absorbance at 455 nm, indicating the presence of an oxidized flavin cofactor. Cytochrome c and nitroblue tetrazolium were reduced by purified NPR-His in an NADPH-dependent manner. The purified NPR-His successfully supported the catalytic activities of human P450 1A2 and 2A6 and fungal CYP52A21, yielding results similar to those obtained using conventional purified rat reductase. This study will facilitate the use of recombinant NPR-His protein in the various fields of P450 research.

• 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.

• 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.

• Proceedings of the Korean Biophysical Society Conference
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• 2002.06b
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• pp.53-53
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• 2002

Inhibitory effects of Cu$\^$2＋/ on the cytochrome P450 (P450)-catalyzed reactions of liver microsomes and reconstituted systems containing purified P450 and NADPH-P450 reductase (NPR) were seen. However, Zn$\^$2＋/, Mg$\^$2＋/, Mn$\^$2＋/, Ca$\^$2＋/, and Co$\^$2＋/ had no apparent effects on the activities of microsomal P450s. Cu$\^$2＋/ inhibited the reactions catalyzed by purified P450s lA2 and 3A4 with IC$\sub$50/ values of 5.7 and 8.4 ${\mu}$M, respectively.(omitted)

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.141-146
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• 2012

Malassezia globosa is a common pathogenic fungus that causes skin diseases including dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis in humans. Analysis of its genome identified a gene (MGL_1677) coding for a putative NADPH-P450 reductase (NPR) to support the fungal cytochrome P450 enzymes. The heterologously expressed recombinant M. globosa NPR protein was purified, and its functional features were characterized. The purified protein generated a single band on SDS-PAGE at 80.74 kDa and had an absorption maximum at 452 nm, indicating its possible function as an oxidized flavin cofactor. It evidenced NADPH-dependent reducing activity for cytochrome c or nitroblue tetrazolium. Human P450 1A2 and 2A6 were able to successfully catalyze the O-deethylation of 7-ethoxyresorufin and the 7-hydroxylation of coumarin, respectively, with the support of the purified NPR. These results demonstrate that purified NPR is an orthologous reductase protein that supports cytochrome P450 enzymes in M. globosa.