title: Studies on the cytochrome P-450 of avocado (Persea [corrected] americana) mesocarp microsomal fraction.
abstract: 1. Because of the low concentration of cytochrome P-450 in avocado fruit, microsomal fractions were prepared using polyethylene glycol aggregation and low-speed centrifugation, thus avoiding the need for high-speed centrifugation of large volumes of post-mitochondrial supernatant. Recoveries of cytochrome P-450 by this means (0.29 nmol/g tissue) were similar to those after the usual high-speed centrifugation preparation (0.26 nmol/g). The cytochrome P-450 content of tulip bulb (0.30 nmol/g) was similar to that of avocado, but both plant tissues had much lower P-450 contents than did rat liver (13.0 nmol/g). 2. Spectral studies indicate that cytochrome P-450 of avocado mesocarp microsomal fraction binds fewer substrates than does the rat liver enzyme system. Type I binding spectra are given by fatty acids (C7-C14), aryl hydrocarbons (C7-C12), p-chloro-N-methylaniline and N,N-dimethylaniline. Type II binding is seen with inhibitors of mammalian cytochrome P-450 such as metyrapone, and with the imidazole antifungal agents such as clotrimazole. 3. These binding spectra provide a rapid method for identifying possible substrates and inhibitors of avocado cytochrome P-450, and also provide information concerning the nature of the active site of avocado cytochrome P-450. 4. Avocado cytochrome P-450 catalysed the N-demethylation of N,N-dimethylaniline (17.1 nmol/min per nmol P-450) and p-chloro-N-methylaniline (13.1 nmol/min per nmol P-450), and the hydroxylation of lauric (dodecanoic) acid (1.1 nmol/min per nmol P-450).
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cottrell
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Hartman
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: D V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Parke
mesh_terms: D000814:Aniline Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002458:Cell Fractionation; D003198:Computer Simulation; D065607:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme Inhibitors; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D005638:Fruit; D007700:Kinetics; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D008861:Microsomes / Q000201:enzymology*; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D010944:Plants / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011485:Protein Binding; D051381:Rats; D013379:Substrate Specificity
chemical_list: D000814:Aniline Compounds; D065607:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme Inhibitors; C011716:4-chloro-N-methylaniline; C015157:N,N-dimethylaniline; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System