Coexpression of a human P450 (CYP3A4) and P450 reductase generates a highly functional monooxygenase system in Escherichia coli

FEBS Lett. 1996 Nov 18;397(2-3):210-4. doi: 10.1016/s0014-5793(96)01196-9.

Abstract

The catalytic activities of recombinant cytochrome P450s expressed in E. coli have been impeded by the absence of endogenous P450 reductase. To solve this problem, we coexpressed P450 reductase with CYP3A4. Membranes from this strain contained 215 pmol P450/mg protein and a reductase activity of 1315 nmol cytochrome c reduced/min per mg. We detected 6beta-hydroxylation of testosterone and oxidation of nifedipine in vivo with turnover numbers of 15.2 and 17.3 min(-1), respectively. These values compare favourably with those obtained using an optimally reconstituted system. Our data demonstrate that a catalytically efficient human P450 system can be generated in E. coli.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / genetics
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / metabolism*
  • Escherichia coli / enzymology
  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Gene Expression
  • Humans
  • Hydroxylation
  • Mixed Function Oxygenases / genetics
  • Mixed Function Oxygenases / metabolism*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases / genetics
  • NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases / metabolism*
  • NADPH-Ferrihemoprotein Reductase
  • Nifedipine / metabolism
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Plasmids
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Testosterone / metabolism

Substances

  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Testosterone
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System
  • Mixed Function Oxygenases
  • CYP3A protein, human
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A
  • CYP3A4 protein, human
  • NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases
  • NADPH-Ferrihemoprotein Reductase
  • Nifedipine