title: Structural flexibility and functional versatility of cytochrome P450 and rapid evolution.
abstract: P450 represents a large group of heme-thiolate enzymes that exhibit remarkably diverse activities for the metabolism of numerous endogenous and exogenous chemicals. Recent site-directed mutagenesis studies indicate that a single mutation at any of the key residues can be enough to alter the substrate and/or product specificities in the P450 activities. Molecular modeling predicts that these key residues are located within the substrate heme pocket. Structural elements involved in diversifying P450 activity appear to correspond to the B' helix, the F helix and the F/G interhelical loop in the bacterial P450s. Structures represented by these regions are extremely variable despite the fact that the core of the P450 substrate pocket is well conserved. A mutation within these regions may result in a significant geometrical alteration of the pocket and lead to diversify the P450 activity. Phylogenetical analysis shows a relatively high rate of nonsynonymous substitution within these substrate binding regions. The functional versatility of P450 can thus be largely accounted for in terms of pocket change brought about by rapid mutations.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Reproductive and Development Toxicology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Negishi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iwasaki
authors.forename: R O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Juvonen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sueyoshi
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Darden
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Pedersen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001189:Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D065637:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2A6; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D007506:Iron-Sulfur Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D051379:Mice; D006899:Mixed Function Oxygenases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D013250:Steroid Hydroxylases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D007506:Iron-Sulfur Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D006899:Mixed Function Oxygenases; D013250:Steroid Hydroxylases; D001189:Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases; D065637:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2A6