Cloning, expression and characterisation of CYP102A2, a self-sufficient P450 monooxygenase from Bacillus subtilis.

The gene encoding CYP102A2, a novel P450 monooxygenase from Bacillus subtilis, was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant enzyme formed was purified by immobilised metal chelate affinity chromatography (IMAC) and characterised. CYP102A2 is a 119-kDa self-sufficient monooxygenase, consisting of an FMN/FAD-containing reductase domain and a heme domain. The deduced amino acid sequence of CYP102A2 exhibits a high level of identity with the amino acid sequences of CYP102A1 from B. megaterium (59%) and CYP102A3 from B. subtilis (60%). In reduced, CO-bound form, the enzyme shows a typical Soret band at 449 nm. It catalyses the oxidation of even- and odd-chain saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. In all reactions investigated, the products were the respective omega-3, omega-2 and omega-1 hydroxylated fatty acids. Activity was highest towards oleic acid (K(M)=17.36+/-1.4 microM, k(cat)=2,244+/-72 min(-1)) and linoleic acid (K(M)=12.25+/-1.8 microM, k(cat)=1,950+/-84 min(-1)). Comparison of a CYP102A2 homology model with the CYP102A1 crystal structure revealed significant differences in the substrate access channels, which might explain the differences in the catalytic properties of these two enzymes.

Characteristics of the binding of [3H]nitrendipine to rabbit ventricular membranes: modification by other Ca++ channel antagonists and by the Ca++ channel agonist Bay K 8644.

This study was carried out to characterize [3H]nitrendipine binding to cardiac membranes and to test the hypothesis that high affinity binding of Ca++ channel antagonists and agonists is to Ca++ channels. Binding was specific, rapid, reversible and stereoselective. The relative order of potency of nifedipine analogs for inhibition of binding was the same as that for inhibition of smooth and cardiac muscle contraction. Results with diltiazem, verapamil and lidoflazine were consistent with the hypothesis that nondihydropyridine Ca++ channel antagonists act at one or more sites allosterically linked to the 1,4-dihydropyridine site in cardiac cells. The Ca++ channel agonist Bay K 8644 [methyl-1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-3-nitro-4-(2-trifluoromethylphenyl)-pyr idine- 5-carboxylate] displaced specifically bound [3H]nitrendipine in an apparently competitive manner with an IC50 value of 5 nM. The results suggest that organic antagonists do not act by physically blocking the Ca++ channel. The data also support the hypothesis that the high affinity binding sites for [3H]nitrendipine in isolated cardiac membranes are associated with Ca++ channels that are inactivated or are otherwise unavailable for opening.

Effects of metal cations and calmodulin antagonists on [3H] nitrendipine binding in smooth and cardiac muscle.

It was previously reported that [3H]nitrendipine binding to a microsomal fraction from intestinal smooth muscle was dependent upon the presence of divalent metal cations (Bolger et al., J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 225: 291-309, 1983). The effects of cations and calmodulin antagonists on [3H]nitrendipine binding in smooth and cardiac muscle have been studied further. Treatment of ileal and aortic smooth muscle and cardiac muscle with EDTA reduced specific [3H]nitrendipine binding by 70 to 95%. Microsomes from rabbit ventricle were more resistant to EDTA treatment than were those from ileal smooth muscle, but low concentrations of Ca++ (less than 10(-5) M) produced half-maximal restoration of binding in both tissues. The ability of cations at a concentration of 10(-3) M to restore binding to membranes from guinea-pig ileum was in the sequence, Ca++ = Sr++ greater than Mg++ = Mn++ = Co++ greater than Ba++ = Ni++ greater than Zn++ = Cd++ greater than La = Sm = Tm . In contrast to the activation of calmodulin-dependent processes, the ability of these cations to restore [3H]nitrendipine binding did not correlate linearly with ionic radius. However, calmodulin antagonists were found to inhibit [3H]nitrendipine binding with the order of potency: pimozide greater than less than calmidazolium (R 24571) greater than trifluoperazine greater than chlorpromazine greater than promethazine greater than chlorpromazine sulfoxide, that correlates quite well with the potency of these drugs as inhibitors of calmodulin-dependent processes. The results suggest that calmodulin antagonists bind to a protein associated with the [3H]nitrendipine binding site that has a hydrophobic domain similar to that exposed on calmodulin by Ca++, but that this protein is not calmodulin itself.

Binding of [3H]nimodipine to cardiac and smooth muscle membranes.

Specific binding of [3H]nimodipine to membranes from rat ventricle and guinea pig ileal longitudinal smooth muscle was studied. Dissociation constants were 0.24 and 0.12 nM, and the maximal number of binding sites were 0.4 and 0.75 pmol/mg protein for cardiac and smooth muscle, respectively. The values obtained for both types of muscle were similar to those obtained for [3H]nitrendipine binding, as were the potencies of a series of dihydropyridines for competing with [3H]nimodipine. These results support the hypothesis that the binding site characterized is that mediating the pharmacological effects of these compounds.

Stimulation of Ca2+-dependent neurotransmitter release and presynaptic nerve terminal protein phosphorylation by calmodulin and a calmodulin-like protein isolated from synaptic vesicles.

Synaptic vesicles have a Ca(2+)-dependent protein kinase system that may play a role in mediating Ca(2+)-stimulated neurotransmitter release and vesicle function. Calcium's ability to initiate norepinephrine release and protein phosphorylation in synaptic vesicle preparations was shown to be stimulated by the presence of an endogenous heat-stable vesicle protein fraction. The heat stability and characteristics of this endogenous vesicle fraction were similar to those of calmodulin (Ca(2+)-dependent regular protein) isolated from rat and bovine brain. Calmodulin, like endogenous heat-stable vesicle factor, restored calcium's ability to stimulate vesicle neurotransmitter release and protein kinase activity. Calmodulin-like vesicle protein and purified calmodulin were also equally effective in stimulating cyclic nucleotide-dependent phosphodiesterase, further indicating that these two proteins are functionally equivalent. Depolarization-dependent Ca(2+) uptake in intact synaptosomes simultaneously stimulated release of neurotransmitter and phosphorylation of particular synaptic vesicle proteins that were shown in the isolated vesicle preparation to be dependent on Ca(2+) and calmodulin. The results suggest that calcium's effects on neurotransmitter release and presynaptic nerve terminal protein phosphorylation may be mediated by endogenous calmodulin-like proteins.