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Mouse liver microsomes (MLM) protect erythrocytes against trifluoperazine (TFP) induced and mechanical hemolysis which are due to TFP microsomal transformation and to the action of an unidentified water-soluble microsomal factor (UF).

Trifluoperazine (TFP), a phenothiazine derivative, produces either hemolysis or protection of erythrocytes under isosmotic conditions in a dose-dependent manner. The hemolytic effect of TFP is abolished in the presence of mouse liver microsomes (MLM) which is due, in part, to drug incorporation, transformation and a MLM enzyme driven metabolism. An unidentified water-soluble factor (or factors) derived from MLM has been found to protect erythrocytes against both mechanical and TFP-induced isosmotic hemolysis.

Animals↗

Smooth microsomes. a trap for cholesteryl ester formed in hepatic microsomes.

Acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase was found predominantly (85%) in RNA-rich microsomes, the rest being in RNA-poor and smooth microsomes. However, the esterified cholesterol concentration of smooth microsomes was 2-fold greater than that of RNA-rich microsomes, suggesting the possibility of an interaction between RNA-rich and smooth microsomes. The distribution of cholesteryl ester between microsome subfractions was examined after incubation of a mixture of RNA-rich and smooth microsomes with [1-14C]palmitoyl-CoA. Based upon specific acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase activities of the individual fractions, only 31 +/- 3% of the total cholesteryl ester radioactivity should have been found in the smooth component. However, the smooth microsomes contained 54 +/- 3% (p < 0.01) of the radioactive cholesteryl esters. The entrapment of radioactive cholesteryl ester in the smooth microsomes could not be accounted for by passive transfer of cholesteryl ester from RNA-rich microsomes to smooth microsomes. It is proposed that cholesterol in the smooth microsomal membranes may have been esterified by acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltrasferase located on the surface of RNA-rich microsomes with the resulting cholesteryl ester retained in the smooth microsomes. This hypothesis was strengthened by the observation that acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyl-transferase was located on the cytoplasmic surface of the RNA-rich microsomal vesicle.

Acyltransferases↗

Assay of mannose-6-phosphatase in untreated and detergent-disrupted rat-liver microsomes for assessment of integrity of microsomal preparations.

An accurate, precise, and convenient procedure was developed for measurement of the latency of the low-Km mannose-6-phosphatase activity for the purpose of assessment of the membrane permeability barrier in microsomes. This approach is based on previous work of Arion et al. [J. Biol. Chem. (1976) 251, 4901-4907] and consists of measurement of mannose-6-phosphatase activity in the untreated microsomal fraction and in the corresponding microsomes that are fully disrupted in order to eliminate the membrane permeability barrier. Complete disruption of rat liver microsomes was achieved by incubation for 60 min at 0 degree C in the presence of 4 mM zwitterionic detergent 3-[(3-cholamido-propyl)dimethyl-ammonio]-2-hydroxy-1-propane sulphonate (Chapso). That the microsomal membrane permeability barrier was eliminated under those conditions was suggested by the fact that the enzyme activation (up to 50-fold) produced by this pretreatment was at least as large as the effect of any other previously reported disruptive procedure. Disruption of the microsomes by Chapso or by ultrasonication markedly enhanced the thermolability of the mannose-6-phosphatase activity. In addition, exposure of the microsomes to high concentrations of Chapso produced enzyme inactivation that could be partially reversed by dilution of the detergent prior to assaying the enzymic activity. Investigation of these enzyme inactivation phenomena under various incubation conditions for disruption of the microsomes by Chapso and for subsequent assay of mannose-6-phosphatase activity in the presence of Chapso enabled us to define conditions under which instability of the enzyme was undetectable. Using these optimized procedures for disruption of microsomes and assay of hexose-6-P phosphohydrolase, we found that the low-Km mannose-6-phosphatase activity of untreated rat liver microsomes consistently was less than 5% of the total enzyme activity in the fully disrupted microsomes. Accurate and precise assay of the structural latency of mannose-6-phosphatase in membrane preparations must be performed under well-controlled conditions, with special attention to the marked thermolability of the enzyme in the presence of detergent, and is a prerequisite for using this approach for the purpose of assessing intactness of microsomal preparations.

Ammonium Hydroxide↗

Characteristics of b-type cytochromes in brain microsomes: comparison with liver microsomes.

Biochemical aspects of b-type cytochromes in swine cerebral microsomes were different from those of cytochrome b5 in liver microsomes, as well as the difference in absorption spectra. First, the kinetic constants, Km and Vmax, in rotenone-insensitive NADH-cytochrome c reductase activity were different from those of liver microsomes, and the activity of cerebral microsomes was higher than that of liver microsomes. Second, midpoint potentials (Em) of b-type cytochromes in cerebral microsomes were measured and compared with liver microsomal cytochrome b5. In cerebral microsomes two components of b-type cytochromes were resolved, and showed Em's of -30 and +50 mV, respectively, in the presence of 2 mM KCN. On the other hand, the Em of liver microsomal cytochrome b5 was -6 mV. The high-potential component of cerebral microsomal b-type cytochromes was identified as brain-b'5 [S. Yoshida, T. Yubisui, and M. Takeshita (1983) Biochem. Int. 7, 291-298] and the low-potential component as brain-b5. The significance of the difference between cerebral and liver microsomal b-type cytochromes was discussed.

Animals↗

Metabolism of acrylonitrile to 2-cyanoethylene oxide in F-344 rat liver microsomes, lung microsomes, and lung cells.

The metabolism of acrylonitrile to the epoxide, 2-cyanoethylene oxide (ANO) was examined in rat liver microsomes, lung microsomes, and isolated enriched lung cell preparations. GC/high resolution MS was used to quantitate ANO in microsomal and cellular extracts by monitoring the fragment ion C2H3N (m/z 41.0265). The limit of detection was 0.05 pmol of ANO/0.5 microliter of standard solution, microsomal extract, or cellular extract injected onto the column, and the linear range of analysis was 0.05 to 12.5 pmol of ANO. Kinetic parameters of Vmax, V/K, and Km were calculated for microsomal ANO formation. Liver microsomes were quantitatively more active than lung microsomes on a mg of protein basis. The Vmax (pmol of ANO formed/min/mg of protein) was 666.61 for liver and 45.07 for lung microsomes. The V/K (pmol of ANO/min/mg of protein/microM) was 12.83 for liver and 0.02 for lung microsomes. The apparent Km was 51.93 microM and 1853.83 microM for liver and lung microsomes, respectively. When calculated as nmol of ANO formed/min/nmol of microsomal P-450, the Vmax for lung was equivalent to the Vmax for liver. ANO formation in the rat lung was cell specific. The rates of metabolism in the Clara cell-enriched fraction, the alveolar type II cell-enriched fraction, and the cell suspension were 2.55, 0.38, and 0.67 pmol of ANO formed/min/mg of protein, respectively. No metabolism was observed in the endothelial (small) cell-enriched fraction or in the alveolar macrophages. The results suggest that the lung contributes to the metabolism and disposition of inhaled acrylonitrile.

Acrylonitrile↗

Binding of products originating from the peroxidation of liver microsomal lipids to the non-lipid constituents of the microsomal membrane.

The binding of products derived from the peroxidation of liver microsomal lipids to the non-lipid constituents of the microsomes was studied. To this end arachidonic acid labelled with tritium at the positions of the double bonds was given to rats and allowed to incorporate into the membrane lipids of the liver cell. When liver microsomes containing labelled arachidonic acid were incubated aerobically in the NADPH-dependent system, a marked production of malonic dialdehyde (MDA) occurred and, concomitantly, there was a consistent release of radioactivity from the microsomes into the incubation medium. The addition of EDTA to the incubation medium prevented, to a large extent, both the MDA formation and the release of radioactivity. Chromatographic studies showed that the bulk of the radioactivity released from the incubated microsomes is not MDA. In the incubated microsomes, the radioactivity decreased in total lipids, while it increased by about 15 times in the non-lipoidal residue. A similar increase in radioactivity was seen in microsomal protein, while no increase was observed in microsomal RNA (the radioactivity was negligible in both the incubated and the non-incubated samples). It seems therefore that products originating from lipoperoxidation of arachidonic acid covalently bind to the microsomal protein. In order to investigate whether alterations similar to those observed in the in vitro peroxidation of liver microsomes could be detected in the in vivo intoxication with carbon tetrachloride, rats given labelled arachidonic acid as above, were poisoned with CCl4. Sixty minutes after poisoning, the radioactivity present in the microsomal lipids was generally lower in the intoxicated rats than in the controls, while the labelling of the non-lipoidal residue and of the protein was higher in the CCl4-poisoned rats.

Animals↗

A comparison of aroclor 1254-induced and uninduced rat liver microsomes to human liver microsomes in phenytoin O-deethylation, coumarin 7-hydroxylation, tolbutamide 4-hydroxylation, S-mephenytoin 4'-hydroxylation, chloroxazone 6-hydroxylation and testosterone 6beta-hydroxylation.

Aroclor 1254-induced rat liver homogenate supernatant (liver S-9) is routinely used as an exogenous metabolic activation system for the evaluation of mutagenicity of xenobiotics. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether results obtained with Aroclor 1254-induced liver microsomes would be relevant to human. Aroclor 1254-induced and uninduced rat liver microsomes were compared to human liver microsomes in the metabolism of substrates which are known to be selectively metabolized by the major human cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoforms. The activities studied and the major CYP isoforms involved were as follows: phenacetin O-deethylation (CYP1A2); coumarin 7-hydroxylation, (CYP2A6); tolbutamide 4-hydroxylation (CYP2C9), S-mephenytoin 4'-hydroxylation (CYP2C19); dextromethorphan O-demethylation (CYP2D6); chloroxazone 6-hydroxylation (CYP2E1); and testosterone 6beta-hydroxylation (CYP3A4). We found that both induced and uninduced rat liver microsomes were active in all the pathways studied with the exception of coumarin 7-hydroxylation. Coumarin 7-hydroxylation was observed with human liver microsomes but not the rat liver microsomes. Aroclor-1254 was found to induce all activities measured, with the exception of coumarin 7-hydroxylation. Dextromethorphan O-deethylation activity was higher in the rat liver microsomes than the human liver microsomes. Testosterone 6beta-hydroxylation activity was found to be similar between the human liver microsomes and the induced rat liver microsomes. Our results suggest that experimental data obtained with Aroclor 1254-induced rat liver microsomes may not always be relevant to human.

Animals↗

Selective release of content from microsomal vesicles without membrane disassembly. II. Electrophoretic and immunological characterization of microsomal subfractions.

Rough and smooth microsomes were shown to have similar sets of polypeptide chains except for the proteins of ribosomes bound to the rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER). More than 50 species of polypeptides were detected by acrylamide gel electrophoresis, ranging in molecular weight from 10,000 to approximately 200,000 daltons. The content of rough and smooth microsomes was separated from the membrane vesicles using sublytic concentrations of detergents and differential centrifugation. A specific subset of proteins which consisted of approximately 25 polypeptides was characteristic of the microsomal content. Some of these proteins showed high rates of in vivo incorporation of radioactive leucine or glucosamine, but several others incorporated only low levels of radioactivity within short labeling intervals and appeared to be long-term residents of the lumen of the ER. Seven polypeptides in the content subfractions, including serum albumin, contained almost 50% of the leucine radioactivity incorporated during 5 min and cross-reacted with antiserum against rat serum. Almost all microsomal glycoproteins were at least partly released with the microsomal content. Smooth microsomes contained higher levels of albumin than rough microsomes, but after short times of labeling with [(3)H]leucine the specific activity of albumin in the latter was higher, supporting the notion that newly synthesized serum proteins are transferred from rough to smooth portions of the ER. On the other hand, after labeling for 30 min with [(3)H]glucosamine, smooth microsomes contained higher levels of radioactivity than rough microsomes. This would be expected if glycosidation of newly synthesized polypeptides proceeds during their transit through ER cisternae. The labeling pattern of membrane proteins in microsomes obtained from animals which received three daily injections of [(3)H]leucine, the last administered 1 day before sacrifice, followed the intensity of bands stained with Coomassie blue, with a main radioactive peak corresponding to cytochrome P 450. After the long-term labeling procedure most content proteins had low levels of radioactivity; this was especially true of serum proteins which were highly labeled after 30 min.

Animals↗

Activation of benzo[a]pyrene and aflatoxin B1 to mutagenic chemical species by microsomal preparations from rat liver and small intestine in relation to microsomal epoxide hydrolase.

Rat small intestinal microsomes have been compared with liver preparations for their ability to activate promutagens using the Salmonella mutagenicity assay. Induced levels of arylhydrocarbon hydroxylase and cytochrome P-450 in intestinal microsomes are significantly lower than the corresponding amounts in liver microsomes. Greater activation of benzo[a]pyrene (BP) by liver extracts would thus be expected. Although this was observed at greater than 1 microgram BP/plate, at lower doses comparatively high levels of activation were obtained with intestinal microsomes. This could be due to preferential formation of the mutagenic 4,5-oxide with intestinal microsomes, as opposed to the putative major active metabolite, the 7,8-diol-9,10-epoxide. Microsomal epoxide hydrolase inactivates the K-region epoxide by forming the corresponding dihydro-diol. Differences in the levels of these metabolites may thus be a result of higher activity of the enzyme in liver extracts. This hypothesis has been studied using the epoxide hydrolase inhibitor, 1,2-epoxy-3,3,3-trichloropropylene oxide (TCPO). Enzyme activity has been measured using [3H]-BP-4,5-oxide as substrate. Since aflatoxin B1 (AFB) may also be activated via analogous epoxide intermediates, the effects of TCPO on activation of AFB were also investigated. Intestinal microsomal epoxide hydrolase activities were significantly lower than those in liver preparations obtained from animals pre-treated with enzyme inducers. Enzyme activity and promutagen activation ability of intestinal microsomes, respectively, were less susceptible to and not inhibited by TCPO. However, TCPO strongly inhibited microsomal epoxide hydrolase activity and activation of BP and AFB due to liver microsomes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aflatoxin B1↗

Microsome-mediated covalent binding of 1,2-dichloroethane to lung microsomal protein and salmon sperm DNA.

In order to determine whether the covalent binding of the carcinogen 1,2-dichloroethane to macromolecules is dependent on microsomes or cytosol, microsomes and cytosol from lungs of C57BL/6 X C3H/He F1 (hereafter called B6C3F1) mice and Osborne-Mendel rats were incubated with [1,2-14C]dichloroethane and salmon sperm DNA. 1,2-Dichlorothane binds covalently to microsomal protein and DNA only in the presence of microsomes, whereas cytosol has insignificant metabolic activation. The binding to macromolecules was significantly higher in the presence of native microsomes than denatured microsomes. The interaction of 1,2-dichloroethane with DNA was enhanced following pretreatment of the animals with phenobarbital and 3-methylcholanthrene. On the other hand, glutathione reduced the binding. The binding of 1,2- dichloroethane to lung microsomal protein of B6C3F1 mice and to DNA was three and five times higher, respectively, than that of Osborne-Mendel rat lung microsomal proteins. 1,2-Dichloroethane interacts 85% and 100% more with protein and DNA, respectively, in the presence of microsomes obtained from lung than from liver of B6C3F1 mice. These results suggest a correlation between the microsomally mediated binding and species and organ susceptibility to 1,2-dichloroethane-induced tumorigenesis.

Animals↗

Human liver microsomal steroid metabolism: identification of the major microsomal steroid hormone 6 beta-hydroxylase cytochrome P-450 enzyme.

Cytochrome P-450-dependent steroid hormone metabolism was studied in isolated human liver microsomal fractions. 6 beta hydroxylation was shown to be the major route of NADPH-dependent oxidative metabolism (greater than or equal to 75% of total hydroxylated metabolites) with each of three steroid substrates, testosterone, androstenedione, and progesterone. With testosterone, 2 beta and 15 beta hydroxylation also occurred, proceeding at approximately 10% and 3-4% the rate of microsomal 6 beta hydroxylation, respectively, in each of the liver samples examined. Rates for the three steroid 6 beta-hydroxylase activities were highly correlated with each other (r = 0.95-0.97 for 25 individual microsomal preparations), suggesting that a single human liver P-450 enzyme is the principal microsomal 6 beta-hydroxylase catalyst with all three steroid substrates. Steroid 6 beta-hydroxylase rates correlated well with the specific content of human P-450NF (r = 0.69-0.83) and with its associated nifedipine oxidase activity (r = 0.80), but not with the rates for debrisoquine 4-hydroxylase, phenacetin O-deethylase, or S-mephenytoin 4-hydroxylase activities or the specific contents of their respective associated P-450 forms in these same liver microsomes (r less than 0.2). These correlative observations were supported by the selective inhibition of human liver microsomal 6 beta hydroxylation by antibody raised to either human P-450NF or a rat homolog, P-450 PB-2a. Anti-P-450NF also inhibited human microsomal testosterone 2 beta and 15 beta hydroxylation in parallel to the 6 beta-hydroxylation reaction. This antibody also inhibited rat P-450 2a-dependent steroid hormone 6 beta hydroxylation in uninduced adult male rat liver microsomes but not the steroid 2 alpha, 16 alpha, or 7 alpha hydroxylation reactions catalyzed by other rat P-450 forms. Finally, steroid 6 beta hydroxylation catalyzed by either human or rat liver microsomes was selectively inhibited by NADPH-dependent complexation of the macrolide antibiotic triacetyloleandomycin, a reaction that is characteristic of members of the P-450NF gene subfamily (P-450 IIIA subfamily). These observations establish that P-450NF or a closely related enzyme is the major catalyst of steroid hormone 6 beta hydroxylation in human liver microsomes, and furthermore suggest that steroid 6 beta hydroxylation may provide a useful, noninvasive monitor for the monooxygenase activity of this hepatic P-450 form.

Androstenedione↗

Microsomal acetyl-CoA carboxylase: evidence for association of enzyme polymer with liver microsomes.

Fatty acid synthesis is traditionally viewed as being confined to the cytosolic cellular fraction, although a substantial body of data indicates that both microsomes and mitochondria are capable of initiating fatty acid synthesis and may contain acetyl-CoA carboxylase [acetyl-CoA:carbon-doxide ligase (ADP-forming), EC 6.4.1.2], fatty acid synthetase, and ATP-citrate lyase [ATP citrate (pro-3S)-lyase; ATP:citrate oxaloacetate-lyase (pro-3S-CH2COO- leads to acetyl-CoA; ATP-dephosphorylating), EC 4.1.3.8] activities. We have identified 32P-labeled acetyl-CoA carboxylase and 32P-labeled ATP-citrate lyase by immunoprecipitation of a rat hepatocyte microsomal preparation. In the transition between the fasting state (low rates of lipogenesis) and fasting/re-feeding (high rates), the fraction of total cytosolic plus microsomal acetyl-CoA carboxylase in the microsomes increases from 6% to 43%, whereas the microsomal proportion of total fatty acid synthetase and ATP-citrate lyase remains approximately 10%. Microsome isolation conditions favoring carboxylase polymerization (presence of citrate) promote microsomal association, whereas conditions favoring enzyme protomerization (malonyl-CoA, preincubation with cyclic AMP/ATP/Mg2+) diminish this association. The microsomal enzyme has a 5-fold higher specific activity than the cytosolic enzyme as determined by immunotitration. Sucrose density gradient analysis of the microsomal fraction indicates that a substantial portion of carboxylase activity sediments with marker enzymes for endoplasmic reticulum, plasma membrane, Golgi apparatus, and outer mitochondrial membrane, while cytosolic enzyme or isolated enzyme incubated under polymerizing conditions does not penetrate the gradient. These data suggest that the microsomes may be a significant locus of fatty acid synthesis initiated with association of acetyl-CoA carboxylase polymer with this fraction.

Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase↗

Spatial orientation of glycoproteins in membranes of rat liver rough microsomes. I. Localization of lectin-binding sites in microsomal membranes.

Carbohydrate-containing structures in rat liver rough microsomes (RM) were localized and characterized using iodinated lectins of defined specificity. Binding of [125I]Con A increased six- to sevenfold in the presence of low DOC (0.04--0.05%) which opens the vesicles and allows the penetration of the lectins. On the other hand, binding of [125I]WGA and [125I]RCA increased only slightly when the microsomal vesicles were opened by DOC. Sites available in the intact microsomal fraction had an affinity for [125I]Con A 14 times higher than sites for lectin binding which were exposed by the detergent treatment. Lectin-binding sites in RM were also localized electron microscopically with lectins covalently bound to biotin, which, in turn, were visualized after their reaction with ferritin-avidin (F-Av) markers. Using this method, it was demonstrated that in untreated RM samples, binding sites for lectins are not present on the cytoplasmic face of the microsomal vesicles, even after removal of ribosomes by treatment with high salt buffer and puromycin, but are located on smooth membranes which contaminate the rough microsomal fraction. Combining this technique with procedures which render the interior of the microsomal vesicles accessible to lectins and remove luminal proteins, it was found that RM membranes contain binding sites for Con A and for Lens culinaris agglutinin (LCA) located exclusively on the cisternal face of the membrane. No sites for WGA, RCA, soybean (SBA) and Lotus tetragonobulus (LTA) agglutinins were detected on either the cytoplasmic or the luminal faces of the rough microsomes. These observations demonstrate that: (a) sugar moieties of microsomal glycoproteins are exposed only on the luminal surface of the membranes and (b) microsomal membrane glycoproteins have incomplete carbohydrate chains without the characteristic terminal trisaccharides N-acetylglucosamine comes from galactose comes from sialic acid or fucose present in most glycoproteins secreted by the liver. The orientation and composition of the carbohydrate chains in microsomal glycoproteins indicate that the passage of these glycoproteins through the Golgi apparatus, followed by their return to the endoplasmic reticulum, is not required for their biogenesis and insertion into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane.

Animals↗

Vitamin E and glutathione are required for preservation of microsomal glutathione S-transferase from oxidative stress in microsomes.

Glutathione (GSH) inhibited lipid peroxidation induced by NADPH-BrCCl3 in vitamin E sufficient microsomes, but did not in phenobarbital (PB)-treated microsomes (containing about 60% of normal vitamin E) or in vitamin E-deficient microsomes (containing about 30% of normal vitamin E). There was a good correlation between the increased formation of CHCl3 from BrCCl3 in the presence of GSH under anaerobic conditions and the vitamin E level in the microsomes. A normal level of vitamin E in microsomes was thus very important for GSH-dependent inhibition of lipid peroxidation and for the efficient formation of CHCl3 from BrCCl3. Bromosulfophthalein (BSP) eliminated the effects of GSH on lipid peroxidation and CHCl3 formation. The apparent Km and Vmax of substrates for GSH S-transferase were changed by in vivo depletion of vitamin E in microsomes, and the Vmax/Km values were significantly reduced. The enzyme activity in microsomes was inactivated following the loss of vitamin E during in vitro lipid peroxidation, and GSH prevented the loss of vitamin E and protected the enzyme from attack by free radicals. GSH inhibited lipid peroxidation induced by NADPH-Fe2+ and the loss of GSH S-transferase activity during the peroxidation in PB-treated microsomes, but did not in the case of induction by NADPH-BrCCl3. A possible relation between the microsomal GSH S-transferase activity and defense by GSH against lipid peroxidation in microsomes is discussed.

Animals↗

Rat hepatic microsomal acetoacetyl-CoA reductase. A beta-ketoacyl-CoA reductase distinct from the long chain beta-ketoacyl-CoA reductase component of the microsomal fatty acid chain elongation system.

The present study provides evidence for a new rat liver microsomal enzyme, a short chain beta-ketoacyl (acetoacetyl)-CoA reductase, which is separate from the long chain beta-ketoacyl-CoA reductase component of the microsomal fatty acid chain elongation system. This microsomal reductase converts acetoacetyl-CoA to beta-hydroxybutyryl-CoA at a rate of 70 nmol/min/mg of protein; the enzyme has a specific requirement for NADH and appears to obtain electrons directly from the reduced pyridine nucleotide without the intervention of cytochrome b5 and its flavoprotein reductase. The apparent Km of the enzyme of the acetoacetyl-CoA was 21 microM and for the cofactor, 18 microM. The pH optimum was broad, ranging from 6.5 to 8.0. The product formed is the D-isomer of beta-hydroxybutyryl-CoA. High carbohydrate fat-free diet resulted in a small but significant (35%) increase in microsomal acetoacetyl-CoA reductase activity. The cytosol also contains this enzyme activity, measuring approximately 57% of that found in the microsomes. The mitochondrial activity which is 20-25% higher than the microsomal activity appears to be due to L-beta-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase which converts acetoacetyl-CoA to L-beta-hydroxybutyryl-CoA. The microsomal acetoacetyl-CoA reductase activity was extracted from the microsomal membrane by 0.4 M KCl, resulting in an 8- to 10-fold purification; in addition, the long chain fatty acid elongation system was unaffected by this extraction procedure. Employing beta- hydroxyhexanoyl -CoA as a substrate, evidence is also provided for a separate dehydratase which acts on short chain substrates. Lastly, the liver microsomes had no detectable acetoacetyl-CoA synthetase or acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase activities. Hence, the possible involvement of the rat hepatic microsomal short chain beta-ketoacyl-CoA reductase, short chain beta-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydratase, and the previously reported short chain trans-2-enoyl-CoA reductase in the hepatic utilization of acetoacetyl-CoA and in the synthesis of butyryl-CoA for hepatic lipogenesis is discussed.

Acetoacetates↗

Intraadrenal steroid metabolism in the guinea pig: guinea pig adrenal microsomes metabolize androstenedione in a manner distinct from liver microsomes.

Several immunochemical homologs of hepatic cytochromes P450 (CYPs) capable of steroid catabolism have been identified in the guinea pig adrenal cortex. Their predominance in males suggests a role in sex-differentiated metabolism of androgens. Therefore, we examined the ability of microsomes from male guinea pig adrenals and liver to metabolize androstenedione. Microsomes were incubated in the presence of radiolabeled steroids, the products of the reaction extracted, separated by TLC, and visualized by autoradiography. Metabolites were identified by comigration with commercially available standards in several solvent systems, in one and two dimensional TLC. Microsomes from both tissues metabolized androstenedione. However, the products formed differed markedly in the two tissues. Liver microsomes formed one major metabolite, testosterone. It represented 85% of the metabolized androstenedione. 6 beta-Hydroxylated androstenedione and testosterone each comprised 3-4% of the liver metabolites. In addition, at least 10 other products were formed, but taken together they constituted less than 8% of the metabolized androdostenedione. Adrenal microsomes, on the other hand, produced several major metabolites: 16 alpha-, 16 beta-, and 6 beta-hydroxy-androstenedione, plus one unidentified product constituted 93% of the metabolized androstenedione. 16 alpha-Hydroxylation of androstenedione was 60 fold, 16 beta-hydroxylation 12 fold, and 6 beta-hydroxylation 2.5 fold greater in adrenal than in liver microsomes. The unidentified product, which was the least polar, was formed exclusively by adrenal microsomes. The hydroxylation reactions performed by adrenal tissue are consistent with the presence in adrenal microsomes of immunochemical homologues of members of the CYP1A, 2B, 2C and 3A families which have known steroid hydroxylation functions in liver. The Kms of the formation of 16 alpha-, 16 beta- and 6 beta-hydroxyandrostenedione by adrenal microsomes are in the range reported for steroid hydroxylation reactions in rat liver tissue. Their distinct values suggest that these hydroxylation steps are performed by different CYPs. However, assignment of site-specific steroid hydroxylation reactions to individual hepatic CYP homologs in the adrenal requires further investigation and is being pursued using combined techniques of biochemistry and molecular biology.

Adrenal Glands↗

Effect of storage and in vitro ischemia on the ultrasture of microsomal membranes and on microsomal enzymes.

Pieces of liver (in vitro ischemia) and isolated microsomes were subjected to incubation at 4 degrees C and 37 degrees C for various time intervals. The effects on microsomal protein, phospholipids, and cholesterol and on microsomal phosphatases and electron transport enzymes were followed as a functional of time and temperature. NADH-cytochrome c reductase was very labile and was completely inactivated by 1 h, whereas G6Pase lost 50% of its activity after 2 h at 37 degrees C. IDPase and NADPH-cyt. c red. were of intermediate susceptibility whereas cytochromes b5 and P-450 were the most stable enzymes assayed. After 24 h of incubation of isolated microsomes at 37 degrees C there was no significant detachment of membrane components (protein, PLP or cholesterol), indicating that the inactivation of the enzymes was not primarily attributable to their solubilization. Instead, experiments with 14C-leucine and 14C-glycerol prelabeled microsomes demonstrated that the proteins detached from microsomes during incubation originated mainly from the intravesicular space due to repture of the microsomal membranes. The addition of a lysosomal extract during incubation did not alter either the rate of inactivation of the enzymes or the proportion of solubilized membrane components indicating that attack from the outside by proteolytic enzymes is not the mechanism for enzyme inactivation. There was no apparent correlation between the rates of inactivation of enzymes in vitro and their calculated half-lives in vivo or their postulated intramembranous localization. Ultrastructurally, enzyme inactivation was initially associated with alterations of the microsomal membranes, such as vesicle aggregation, membrane rupture, loss of unit membrane structure, and subsequently, thickening of membranes and transformation of the microsomes into nonrecognizable amorphous material.

Animals↗

Effects of cytochrome p-448 and p-450 inducers on microsomal dimethylnitrosamine demethylase activity and the capacity of isolated microsomes to activate dimethylnitrosamine to a mutagen.

The relationship between microsomal dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) demethylase activity and the capacity of isolated hepatic microsomes to activate DMN to a mutagen was examined using microsomes from C57 and DBA/2 mice which had been exposed to three different types of microsomal enzyme inducers: phenobarbital, which induces cytochrome P-450, 3-methylcholanthrene, which induces cytochrome P-448, and the polychlorinated biphenyl, Aroclor 1254 which appears to induce both types of cytochromes. DNM induced mutagenesis was assayed by a Salmonella auxotroph reversion test. With the C57 mice all three inducers increased both the activity of microsomal DMN demethylase and the capacity of the microsomes to activate DMN mutagenicity. In each case, however, the increase in mutagenicity was disproportionately greater than the increase in DMN demethylase activity. This was particularly evident with microsomes prepared from Aroclor induced mice. Microsomes from 3-methylcholanthrene treated DBA/2 mice were not induced for DMN demethylase or the activation of DMN mutagenicity. In addition the capacity of Aroclor to function as an inducer was relatively poor in this strain. Both DMN demethylation and mutagenesis were inhibited by the addition of either SKF 525-A or benzo (a)pyrene to the reaction mixtures. Thus microsomal activation of DMN to a mutagen and DMN demethylase appear to involve both cytochromes P-450 and P-448.

Animals↗