Le cytochrome p450 CYP102A1, mieux connu sous le nom de BM3, provient de la bactérie Bacillus megaterium. Cette enzyme possède un groupement prosthétique hémique lui permettant de catalyser l’insertion d’oxygène dans un lien carbone-hydrogène menant généralement à une hydroxylation du substrat, ce qui en fait une monooxygénase. Ce genre de réaction demeure jusqu’à aujourd’hui difficile à effectuer par chimie traditionnelle ce qui confère un intérêt particulier à cette enzyme. Au contraire des autres cytochromes p450, BM3 est soluble (et non membranaire) et est naturellement fusionnée à son partenaire réductase formant ainsi une seule chaîne polypeptidique. Ainsi, au cours des dernières années, BM3 a attiré beaucoup d’attention de la part de l’industrie de la chimie fine et pharmaceutique due à son potentiel biocatalytique important. Cependant, son usage en industrie est restreint par son instabilité ainsi que par le coût prohibitif du cofacteur qui lui est nécessaire pour catalyser ses réactions, le NADPH. Cette thèse décrit le développement de différentes stratégies visant à libérer les réactions effectuées avec BM3 de leur dépendance au NADPH, tout en maximisant le rendement spécifique de la monooxygénase. En place du NADPH, deux autres cofacteurs de moindre coût furent utilisés comme alternative, soit le NADH et le N-benzyle-1,4- dihydronicotinamide (NBAH) en utilisant le mutant R966D/W1046S de BM3. Afin de maximiser le rendement spécifique de BM3, l’une des stratégies de cette thèse, l’optimisation du milieu réactionnel, repose sur deux éléments clés, soit favoriser la stabilité du cofacteur, car celui-ci est plus instable que l’enzyme elle-même, ainsi que d’abaisser au minimum la température de la réaction, car nous avons constaté que ceci avait pour effet d’augmenter le couplage entre les réactions réductase et monooxygénase et donc la stabilité de l’enzyme. L’effet net de la réaction ainsi optimisée fut d’augmenter le rendement spécifique du mutant R966D/W1046S par un facteur situé entre 2 et 2.6 en fonction du cofacteur utilisé. D’autre part, deux stratégies d’ingénierie enzymatique furent explorées afin de générer des mutations pouvant augmenter la performance de BM3. L’une d’entre elles, la mutagenèse par consensus guidé, généra une librairie de mutants de laquelle les mutants NTD5 et NTD6 furent identifiés, augmentant le rendement spécifique de l’enzyme comparativement à leur parent, R966D/W1046S, par un facteur de 5.2 et 2.3 pour le NBAH et le NADH, respectivement. L’autre stratégie explorée fut d’appliquer une pression sélective sur la bactérie Bacillus megaterium pour forcer, par évolution expérimentale, la performance de l’enzyme. De cette stratégie, un nouveau mutant de BM3 nommé DE, possédant 34 acides aminés substitués sur sa séquence, fut généré. Ce dernier a démontré une plus forte résistance aux solvants organiques ainsi qu’une augmentation de son rendement spécifique vis-à-vis le NADPH et le NADH d’un facteur de 1.23 et 1.76, comparativement à BM3 sauvage, respectivement. Les stratégies décrites dans cette thèse présentent une amélioration significative du rendement spécifique de BM3 ainsi que deux iii nouvelles méthodologies avec lesquelles une enzyme peut être optimisée et de nouvelles mutations bénéfiques identifiées. / The p450 cytochrome CYP102A1, better known as BM3, comes from the bacteria Bacillus megaterium. This enzyme possesses a prosthetic heme group enabling it to catalyze the insertion of oxygen into a carbon-hydrogen bond generally resulting in the hydroxylation of the substrate, the enzyme is therefore a monooxygenase. This type of reaction remains difficult to achieve by traditional chemistry. Unlike other p450 cytochromes, BM3 is soluble (is not membrane bound) and is naturally fused to its reductase partner forming a single polypeptide chain. As such, in recent years, BM3 has garnered much attention from the pharmaceutical and fine chemical industries, due to its high biocatalytic potential. However, its use in industry remains constrained by its instability as well as by the prohibitive cost of its cofactor, NADPH. This thesis describes the development of different strategies aiming at liberating reactions driven with BM3 from their dependence to NADPH whilst maximizing the specific yield of the monooxygenase. Instead of NADPH, two other inexpensive cofactors were used, namely NADH and N-benzyl-1,4-dihydronicotinamide (NBAH) by using the BM3 mutant R966D/W1046S. To maximize BM3 specific yield, one of the strategies used in this thesis work, the optimization of the reaction medium, rested on two key elements. Firstly, favouring the stabilization of the cofactor, as it was found to be more unstable than the enzyme itself and secondly lowering the reaction temperature as this effectively augmented oxidase/reductase reactions coupling and as such the stability of the enzyme. The net effect of the optimized reaction was to enhance the specific yield of the BM3 mutant R966D/W1046S by a factor of 2 and 2,6 depending on which cofactor was used. Two other enzymatic engineering strategies were explored to generate mutations which could enhance the performance of BM3. One of these, consensus guided mutagenesis, generated a library of mutants from which mutants NTD5 and NTD6 were identified enhancing the specific yield of the enzyme comparatively to their parent, R966D/W1046S, by a factor of 5,24 and 2,3 for NBAH and NADH respectively. The other strategy explored was to apply a selective pressure on Bacillus megaterium to force, by experimental evolution, the performance of the enzyme. From this strategy, a new mutant of BM3 called DE, possessing 34 new amino acid substitutions, was generated. This new mutant displayed a greater resistance to organic solvents as well as an augmentation of specific yields when used alongside NADPH and NADH comparatively to wild type BM3 by a factor of 1,23 and 1,76 respectively. The strategies described in this thesis allowed a significative enhancement of BM3 specific yield as well as represent two new methodologies by which new beneficial mutations can be identified.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2003. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 99-107).

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2004 / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains ix, 49 p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 41-48).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2005. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains viii, 141 p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

Dissertation (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study: 1. Compares various heterologous expression systems for high-level expression of cytochromes P450. Limitations of the existing cytochromes P450 expression systems are discussed and possibilities to improve the expression yields of human steroidogenic enzymes, are suggested. In addition the potential applications of human steroidogenic cytochromes P450 expressed in Pichia pastoris are illustrated. 2. Describes the cloning and extracellular expression of a recombinant full-length human cytochrome P450 17a-hydroxylase (p45017a) enzyme in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. After the optimisation of expression conditions, it was shown that this system is not suitable for the expression of full-length human P45017a. 3. Describes the cloning and extracellular expression of the full-length human cytochromes P45017a, aromatase, bs and truncated human cytochrome P45017a in P. pastoris. The limitations using P. pastoris as an export system for expressed P450 enzymes were pointed out. 4. Describes the cloning and intracellular expression of the full-length human cytochrome P45017a in P. pastoris as well as the functional expression of human P45017a in P. pastoris, showing progesterone conversion to 17ahydroxyprogesterone and 16a-hydroxyprogesterone in vivo, for the first time. 5. Evaluates developed methods for the preparation of mierosomes from P. pastoris expressing human P45017a and the spectral characterisation of detergent solubilised human P45017a. 6. Describes the development of protocols for the purification of human P45017a from P. pastoris microsomes. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie ondersoek: 1. Vergelyk verskillende heterologiese proteïen uitdrukkings-sisteme vir die preperatiewe produksie van sitochrome P450. Die tekortkomings van bestaande sitochroom P450-uitdrukkings-sisteme word bespreek en moontlikhede om die opbrengs van menslike steroïedogeniese ensieme te verbeter word voorgestel. Die potensiële aanwendings van menslike steroïedogeniese sitochrome P450, wat in Pichia pas/oris uitgedruk word, word ook geïllustreer. 2. Beskryf die klonering en ekstrasellulêre uitdrukking van die rekombinante vollengte menslike sitochroom P45017a-hidroksilase (P45017a) ensiem in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Na optimisering van die kondisies vir die uitdrukking kon aangetoon word dat hierdie sisteem nie geskik is vir die uitdruk en sekresie van vollengte menslike P45017a nie. 3. Beskryf die klonering en ekstrasellulêre uitdrukking van die vollengte menslike sitochrome P45017a, aromatase, b5 en verkorte menslike sitochroom P45017a in P. pas/oris. Die beperkinge van P. pas/oris as 'n uitvoersisteem vir die uitdrukking van P450 ensieme word bespreek. 4. Besryf die klonering en intrasellulêre ekspressie van die vollengte menslike sitochroom P450 17a. Die funksionele ekspressie van menslike sitochroom P450 17a in P. pas/oris is vir die eerste keer gekarakteriseer. 5. Evalueer die ontwikkelde metodes vir die voorbereiding van mikrosome van P. pas/oris wat menslike P45017a uitdruk en karakteriseer die detergent opgelosbare menslike P45017a t.o.v. spektroskopiese eienskappe. 6. Beskryf die ontwikkelling van protokolle vir die suiwering van die uitgedrukte menslike P45017a vanuit P. pas/oris mikrosome.

Cytochromes P450 metabolize lipophilic substrates to water-soluble products that are readily excreted from the body. The result of the action of hepatic P450 forms is generally detoxification, whereas P450s of the mammalian adrenal gland are responsible for steroid biosynthesis. To better understand the structure and function of two microsomal P450s of the adrenal cortex, P450 17α and P450 C-21, we have designed potential mechanism-based inactivators. These compounds bind reversibly to the enzyme before being metabolized to reactive intermediates that can then bind covalently to the P450, resulting in enzyme inactivation. Our hypothesis is that alteration of the substrate at the known site of enzyme attack may target the P450 for inactivation. Specifically, replacement of the progesterone 21-methyl group with a difluoromethyl group produced a selective inactivator of bovine adrenal P450 C-21. In contrast, the rabbit adrenal progesterone 21-hydroxylase is selectively inactivated by 21,21-dichloroprogesterone. Whether the substitution at the 17-carbon is a dihalomethyl-keto group, an olefinic group, or an acetylenic group, each compound binds reversibly to P450 C-21 as shown by a type I spectral shift. Inactivation of bovine adrenal P450 C-21 by 21,21-difluoroprogesterone is NADPH-dependent, follows pseudo first-order kinetics, and is virtually eliminated by the addition of the physiological substrate progesterone, thereby fulfilling the criteria for mechanism-based inactivation. Metabolism of the dihalo compounds to 21-pregnenoic acid suggests that an acyl halide intermediate is the chemical species responsible for enzyme inactivation. Both 21,21-dichloro and 21,21-difluoroprogesterone inactivate P450 C-21 by the destruction of P450 heme and by protein modification as evidenced by the loss of spectrally detectable P450 relative to the loss of enzyme activity. In contrast, 17β-ethynylprogesterone inactivates P450 C-21 mainly by protein modification and produces an NADPH-dependent, irreversible type I spectrum. Studies to isolate and identify an active site peptide of P450 C-21 were therefore undertaken using proteolytic digestion and high performance liquid chromatography. These 17β-substituted steroids proved useful as probes of P450 structure and function to obtain unique information about P450 oxidative potential, retention of substrate regioselectivity, catalytic efficiency, and the enzyme active site.

No description available.

Chan Pat Chun. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 153-177). / Acknowledgments --- p.i / Presentations Derived from the Present thesis Work --- p.ii / Abstract --- p.iii / Abbreviations --- p.v / Abbreviation Table for Amino Acids --- p.viii / List of Figures --- p.ix / List of Tables --- p.xi / Contents --- p.xii / Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Environmental Pollutants --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Pollutant Inducible Genes (PIGs) --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Classification of PIGS --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2.1.1 --- Drug Metabolizing Enzymes/Proteins --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2.1.2 --- Stress Proteins --- p.5 / Chapter 1.2.1.3 --- Antioxidant Enzymes --- p.6 / Chapter 1.2.1.4 --- "Hormones, Growth Factors and Their Receptors" --- p.6 / Chapter 1.2.1.5 --- Enzymes/Proteins Involved in Bioenergetics --- p.6 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- PIGs as a Field of Study --- p.8 / Chapter 1.2.2.1 --- Study of the Mechanism of Detoxification and Toxication --- p.8 / Chapter 1.2.2.2 --- Biomarker Study --- p.9 / Chapter 1.2.2.3 --- Study of Regulation of Gene Expression --- p.11 / Chapter 1.2.2.4 --- Study of Evolution --- p.12 / Chapter 1.3 --- Aims and Rational of the Present Study --- p.12 / Chapter 2 --- General Methodology --- p.15 / Chapter 2.1 --- Materials --- p.15 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Reagents --- p.15 / Chapter 2.1.1.1 --- Preparation of Plasmid DNA --- p.15 / Chapter 2.1.1.2 --- Preparation of Genomic DNA --- p.15 / Chapter 2.1.1.3 --- Purification of Total RNA --- p.16 / Chapter 2.1.1.4 --- Restriction Enzyme Digestion --- p.16 / Chapter 2.1.1.5 --- Capillary Blotting of DNA (Southern Blotting) --- p.16 / Chapter 2.1.1.6 --- Capillary Blotting of Total RNA (Northern Blotting) --- p.17 / Chapter 2.1.1.7 --- Hybridization --- p.17 / Chapter 2.1.1.8 --- Library Screening --- p.18 / Chapter 2.1.1.9 --- Polymerase Chain Reaction --- p.18 / Chapter 2.1.1.10 --- Transformation of E. coli Competent Cells --- p.19 / Chapter 2.1.1.11 --- Nucleotide Sequence Determination --- p.19 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- List of Primers --- p.20 / Chapter 2.1.2.1 --- Primers used for Nucleotide Sequence Determination --- p.20 / Chapter 2.1.2.2 --- Primer Used for First Strand cDNA Synthesis --- p.20 / Chapter 2.1.2.3 --- Primers for Amplifying Actin cDNA Fragment --- p.20 / Chapter 2.1.2.4 --- Common Carp MT Specific Primers --- p.20 / Chapter 2.1.2.5 --- Teleost CYP1A Specific Primers --- p.21 / Chapter 2.1.2.6 --- Common Carp CYP1A Specific Primers --- p.21 / Chapter 2.1.2.7 --- Primers and Cassettes for the Cloning of5' Upstream Regions of MT Genes --- p.21 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Accession Numbers of Selected P450 and MT Nucleotide and Amino Acid Sequences in the Genebank --- p.21 / Chapter 2.1.3.1 --- MTs of Different Teleost Species --- p.21 / Chapter 2.1.3.2 --- MTs of Other Vertebrate Species' --- p.22 / Chapter 2.1.3.3 --- P450s of Different Teleost Species --- p.22 / Chapter 2.1.3.4 --- CYP1s of Different Mammalian Species --- p.22 / Chapter 2.2 --- Methods --- p.23 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Preparation of Plasmid --- p.23 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Preparation of Genomic DNA --- p.23 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Purification of Total RNA --- p.24 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Restriction Enzyme Digestion --- p.25 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- Capillary Blotting of DNA (Southern Blotting) --- p.25 / Chapter 2.2.5.1 --- Semi-dry Capillary Blotting --- p.25 / Chapter 2.2.5.2 --- Alkaline Transfer --- p.25 / Chapter 2.2.5.3 --- Transfer of Digested Genomic DNA on to Nylon Membrane --- p.26 / Chapter 2.2.6 --- Capillary Blotting of Total RNA (Northern Blotting) --- p.26 / Chapter 2.2.7 --- Radioactive Labeling of Nucleic Acid Probes --- p.26 / Chapter 2.2.8 --- Hybridization --- p.27 / Chapter 2.2.9 --- Library Screening --- p.27 / Chapter 2.2.9.1 --- Construction of Liver cDNA Library of Adult Common Carp --- p.27 / Chapter 2.2.9.2 --- Preparation of Plating Cells --- p.27 / Chapter 2.2.9.3 --- Phage Tittering --- p.27 / Chapter 2.2.9.4 --- Primary Screening --- p.28 / Chapter 2.2.9.5 --- Secondary Screening / Chapter 2.2.9.6 --- Conversion of Phage DNA to Phagemid by invivo Excision --- p.28 / Chapter 2.2.10 --- First Strand cDNA Synthesis --- p.29 / Chapter 2.2.11 --- Polymerase Chain Reaction --- p.29 / Chapter 2.2.12 --- Ligation of DNA with Linearized Plasmid --- p.30 / Chapter 2.2.13 --- Transformation of E. coli Competent Cell --- p.30 / Chapter 2.2.14 --- Nucleotide Sequence Determination --- p.31 / Chapter 2.2.15 --- Densitometric Analysis --- p.31 / Chapter 3 --- "Cloning of Common Carp MT cDNA and Gene, and Induction of MT mRNA Expression" --- p.32 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.32 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- Metals in Biological System --- p.32 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- Metallothionein --- p.33 / Chapter 3.1.2.1 --- Functions of MT --- p.26 / Chapter 3.1.2.2 --- Regulation of MT Expression --- p.39 / Chapter 3.1.3 --- Fish MTs --- p.44 / Chapter 3.1.3.1 --- Detection of MT in Teleost --- p.46 / Chapter 3.1.3.2 --- MT Studies in Common Carp --- p.47 / Chapter 3.1.4 --- Specific Aims of This Chapter --- p.49 / Chapter 3.2 --- Strategies --- p.50 / Chapter 3.3 --- Specific Methods --- p.50 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Cloning of MT cDNAs of Common Carp --- p.50 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Analysis of MT cDNA Sequences --- p.51 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Southern Blot Analysis of Common Carp Genomic DNA --- p.52 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- Amplification of MT Gene Fragments Using PCR --- p.52 / Chapter 3.3.5 --- Amplification of the 5' Upstream Regions of MT Genes Using PCR --- p.52 / Chapter 3.3.6 --- Endogenous MT mRNA Expression of Juvenile and Adult Common Carp --- p.54 / Chapter 3.3.7 --- Induction of MT mRNA of Juvenile Common Carp Injected with Cadmium --- p.55 / Chapter 3.4 --- Results --- p.56 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Cloning of Common Carp MT cDNAs --- p.56 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Analysis of the MT cDNA Sequences --- p.57 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Southern Blot Analysis of the Common Carp Genomic DNA --- p.59 / Chapter 3.4.4 --- Amplification of the MT Gene Fragments of Common Carp Using PCR --- p.62 / Chapter 3.4.5 --- Amplification of the 5' Upstream Regions of MT Genes using PCR --- p.65 / Chapter 3.4.6 --- Endogenous MT mRNA Expression of Juvenile and Adult Common Carp --- p.67 / Chapter 3.4.7 --- Induction of MT mRNA of Juvenile Common Carp Injected with Cadmium --- p.68 / Chapter 3.5 --- Discussion --- p.72 / Chapter 3.5.1 --- MT cDNAs of Common Carp --- p.72 / Chapter 3.5.1.1 --- Coding Region --- p.72 / Chapter 3.5.1.2 --- The 3' Untranslated Region --- p.75 / Chapter 3.5.1.3 --- The 5' Untranslated Region --- p.76 / Chapter 3.5.2 --- MT Genes of Common Carp --- p.77 / Chapter 3.5.3 --- MT mRNA Expression of Common Carp --- p.82 / Chapter 3.5.4 --- Normalization of the Signals of Northern Blot Analysis --- p.85 / Chapter 3.5.5 --- Common Carp MT mRNA as Biomarker of Heavy Metal Exposure? --- p.87 / Chapter 3.6 --- Conclusion --- p.89 / Chapter 4 --- Cloning of Common Carp CYP1A cDNAs and Induction of CYP1A mRNA Expression --- p.90 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.90 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- Cytochrome P450s --- p.90 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- Cytochrome P450 1 (CYP1) --- p.93 / Chapter 4.1.3 --- AhR Mediated CYP1A1 Gene Induction --- p.94 / Chapter 4.1.3.1 --- Anthropogenic Sources of AhR Ligands --- p.95 / Chapter 4.1.3.2 --- Natural Sources of AhR Ligands --- p.97 / Chapter 4.1.3.3 --- Potency of Inducibility --- p.97 / Chapter 4.1.3.4 --- Induction of CYP1A1 Gene Transcription by AhR --- p.98 / Chapter 4.1.3.5 --- Non-AhR Mediated CYP1A1 Gene Transcription? --- p.105 / Chapter 4.1.4 --- CYP1A Studies in Teleost Species --- p.107 / Chapter 4.1.4.1 --- Regulation of CYP1A in Teleost --- p.109 / Chapter 4.1.4.2 --- Detection of CYP1A in Teleost --- p.111 / Chapter 4.1.4.3 --- CYP1A Studies of Common Carp --- p.113 / Chapter 4.1.5 --- Specific Aims of This Chapter --- p.114 / Chapter 4.2 --- Strategies --- p.115 / Chapter 4.3 --- Specific Methods --- p.119 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- RT-PCR of CYP1A cDNAs of Common Carp --- p.119 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Determination of the Nucleotide Sequences of the CYP1A cDNAs of Common Carp --- p.119 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Library Screening --- p.119 / Chapter 4.3.4 --- Analysis of the CYP1A Genes of Common Carp --- p.121 / Chapter 4.3.5 --- Induction of CYP1A mRNA of Common Carp Injected with 3-MC --- p.122 / Chapter 4.4 --- Results --- p.123 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- RT-PCR of CYP1A cDNAs of Common Carp --- p.123 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Determination of the Nucleotide Sequences of the CYP1A cDNAs of Common Carp --- p.124 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- Library Screening --- p.124 / Chapter 4.4.4 --- Analysis of the CYP1A Genes of Common Carp --- p.128 / Chapter 4.4.5 --- Induction of CYP1A mRNA of Common Carp Injected with 3-MC --- p.131 / Chapter 4.5 --- Discussion --- p.134 / Chapter 4.5.1 --- On the Use of Rainbow Trout CYP1A1 cDNA Probe --- p.134 / Chapter 4.5.2 --- CYP1A cDNAs of Common Carp --- p.134 / Chapter 4.5.3 --- CYP1A Genes of Common Carp --- p.138 / Chapter 4.5.4 --- CYP1A Expression in Uninduced and Induced Tissues --- p.142 / Chapter 4.5.5 --- The Use of CYP1A cDNAs As Biomarkers --- p.146 / Chapter 4.6 --- Conclusion --- p.148 / Chapter 5 --- General Conclusion --- p.149 / Chapter 6 --- References --- p.153

Yung Cheuk Man. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 89-113). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract (in English) --- p.i / Abstract (in Chinese) --- p.iii / Acknowledgement --- p.v / Table of content --- p.vii / List of figures --- p.xi / Symbols and abbreviations --- p.xiii / Scientific names --- p.xv / Chapter Chapter 1 --- General Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Structure of ovarian follicles --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2 --- Steroidogenesis in the ovary --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Two-cell-type model --- p.5 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Steroidogenic shift --- p.8 / Chapter 1.3 --- Aromatase --- p.8 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Structure --- p.8 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Function --- p.9 / Chapter 1.3.3 --- Mechanism of aromatase action --- p.11 / Chapter 1.3.4 --- Expression --- p.13 / Chapter 1.3.5 --- Regulation --- p.14 / Chapter 1.3.5.1 --- Gonadotropins --- p.15 / Chapter 1.3.5.2 --- Insulin-like growth factor-I --- p.17 / Chapter 1.3.5.3 --- Activin --- p.19 / Chapter 1.4 --- Objectives of the present study --- p.23 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Expression profiles of the ovarian aromatase in the zebrafish --- p.25 / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.25 / Chapter 2.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.27 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Animals --- p.27 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Total RNA extraction from intact ovaries and ovarian follicles --- p.27 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Validation of semi-quantitative RT-PCR assays for aromatase and GAPDH --- p.28 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Data analysis --- p.29 / Chapter 2.3 --- Results --- p.30 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Validation of the semi-quantitative RT-PCR assays for aromatase and GAPDH --- p.30 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Developmental expression profile of aromatase in the whole ovary during sexual maturation --- p.32 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Stage-dependent expression of aromatase in the ovarian follicles of mature gravid zebrafish --- p.35 / Chapter 2.4 --- Discussion --- p.37 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Regulation of aromatase expression in vitro --- p.42 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.42 / Chapter 3.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.45 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Animals --- p.45 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Chemicals and hormones --- p.45 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Preparation of goldfish pituitary extract --- p.45 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Primary follicle cell culture --- p.46 / Chapter 3.2.5 --- Preparation of freshly isolated mid-vitellogenic follicles --- p.46 / Chapter 3.2.6 --- Preparation of ovarian fragments --- p.47 / Chapter 3.2.7 --- "Total RNA extraction from cultured follicle cells, ovarian follicles and ovarian fragments" --- p.47 / Chapter 3.2.8 --- Validation of semi-quantitative RT-PCR assays --- p.48 / Chapter 3.2.9 --- Data analysis --- p.48 / Chapter 3.3 --- Results --- p.49 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Validation of the semi-quantitative RT-PCR assays for aromatase and GAPDH --- p.49 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Expression of aromatase in the zebrafish primary follicle cell culture system --- p.52 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Gonadotropin regulation of aromatase expression in the zebrafish ovarian fragments and freshly isolated intact follicles --- p.54 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- Effects of db-cAMP and forskolin on aromatase expression in cultured zebrafish follicle cells --- p.59 / Chapter 3.3.5 --- Involvement of protein kinase A (PKA) in the regulation of aromatase expression by db-cAMP in cultured zebrafish follicle cells --- p.64 / Chapter 3.3.6 --- Effects of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) on aromatase expression in zebrafish ovarian fragments --- p.66 / Chapter 3.3.7 --- Effects of activin on aromatase expression in zebrafish ovarian fragments --- p.68 / Chapter 3.4 --- Discussion --- p.71 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- General Discussion --- p.78 / Chapter 4.1 --- Expression profiling of aromatase in the zebrafish ovarian and follicle development --- p.81 / Chapter 4.2 --- Mechanisms for the dynamic expression of aromatase --- p.84 / Chapter 4.3 --- Contribution of the present study --- p.87 / Chapter 4.3 --- Future prospects --- p.88 / References --- p.89

The cytochrome P450 (CYP) superfamily of enzymes catalyses the oxidative metabolism of lipophilic xenobiotics such as drugs and environmental chemicals, and also plays an essential role in the biosynthesis and metabolism of endogenous compounds such as cholesterol and bile acids, vitamins, steroids, arachidonic acid and eicosanoids. Cytochrome P450 2J2 (CYP2J2) is a recently identified member of the human CYP protein family that is highly expressed in the heart, vasculature, liver and other tissues. CYP2J2 metabolises arachidonic acid (AA) into epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs), which have a number of potent biological activities including cytoprotective, vasodilatory and anti-inflammatory effects. Given its widespread tissue distribution and the biological actions of EETs, CYP2J2 is likely to play an important role in cellular physiology, and altered expression of CYP2J2 may have pathophysiological consequences. Indeed, recent literature studies have indicated that CYP2J2 protein levels are decreased in vascular endothelial cells exposed to hypoxia and reoxygenation, and that maintenance of CYP2J2 expression enhances cell survival. Thus, CYP2J2 expression may be impaired in diseases or conditions associated with decreased oxygen availability, such as ischaemic heart disease, stroke and atherosclerosis, and this may contribute to their pathogenic consequences. Despite its likely importance in human physiology and pathophysiology, very little is known about the regulation of CYP2J2 gene expression. The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular mechanisms that control expression of the CYP2J2 gene. In particular, this study was designed to identify factors that regulate the expression of the CYP2J2 gene in the liver-derived HepG2 cell line during normoxia and hypoxia. A 2.4 kb fragment of the 5???-flanking region of the CYP2J2 gene (corresponding to nucleotides -2341 to +98, relative to the translation start site) was isolated from a human genomic library. Automated searching of the upstream regulatory region of CYP2J2 identified several putative binding sites for the transcription factor activator protein-1 (AP-1). Because AP-1 activity is altered in hypoxia, the possibility that AP-1 may participate in the regulation of CYP2J2 expression in hypoxia was explored. Cell culture studies examined the relationship between the expression of CYP2J2, and the AP-1 genes c-fos and c-jun, in HepG2 cells cultured in normoxia and hypoxia. Down-regulation of CYP2J2 mRNA and protein in hypoxic HepG2 cells was associated with the pronounced up-regulation of c-Fos protein from an undetectable level in normoxic cells; c-Jun protein levels were readily detectable in normoxia, and were also increased in hypoxia. Transient transfection studies revealed distinct effects of Fos and Jun proteins on CYP2J2 promoter activity. While the CYP2J2 promoter was strongly activated by c-Jun, c-Fos was inactive, and also abolished gene transactivation elicited by c-Jun. These results suggest that the constitutively expressed c-Jun is important in the maintenance of CYP2J2 expression in normoxic cells. The up-regulation of c-Fos in hypoxia stimulates the formation of c-Fos/c-Jun heterodimers, which do not support CYP2J2 transcription, leading to gene down-regulation. Experiments with CYP2J2 promoter deletion constructs revealed that the region between -152 to -50 bp relative to the translation start site was crucial for activation of CYP2J2 by c-Jun. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) and transfection studies identified two distinct elements within this region that were involved in c-Jun-dependent transactivation: an AP-1-like element at -56 to -63 bp, and an atypical AP-1 element at -105 to -95 bp. c-Jun homodimers interacted specifically with both elements. Separate mutagenesis of either element significantly impaired c-Jun-dependent transactivation of CYP2J2, while mutagenesis of both elements eliminated c-Jun-responsiveness. EMSAs established that c-Jun, but not c-Fos, interacted with both elements in normoxic HepG2 cells. Furthermore, mutagenesis of either c-Jun-response element significantly decreased the basal transcriptional activity of the CYP2J2 promoter in HepG2 cells, while mutagenesis of both elements almost completely suppressed basal promoter activity. These findings indicate a pivotal role for c-Jun in the maintenance of CYP2J2 expression in normoxic cells. Transfection studies indicated that c-Fos suppresses c-Jun-dependent activation of CYP2J2 at both the -56/-63 bp and -105/-95 bp c-Jun-response elements. However, c-Fos-dependent inhibition appears to be mediated by distinct mechanisms at these two regulatory elements. While both elements interacted with c-Jun homodimers, only the -105/-95 bp element was able to interact with c-Fos/c-Jun heterodimers. Thus, the up-regulation of c-Fos in hypoxia, and the shift from c-Jun homodimers to c-Fos/c-Jun heterodimers, directly decreased c-Jun binding and transactivation at the -56/-63 bp element. In contrast, up-regulation of c-Fos in hypoxia altered the composition of proteins bound at the -105/-95 bp element from c-Jun to c-Fos/c-Jun. Inhibition of promoter activity occurs because c-Fos/c-Jun heterodimers can occupy, but not transactivate, the CYP2J2 promoter via the -105/-95 bp element. In summary, this thesis provides novel information on the molecular mechanisms that control the differential expression of the human CYP2J2 gene in normoxia and hypoxia. In particular, this study has established that the AP-1 proteins c-Jun and c-Fos play a crucial role in modulating the transcriptional activation of the CYP2J2 promoter in response to cellular stress. Binding of c-Jun to two distinct c-Jun-response elements within the CYP2J2 proximal promoter induces transcriptional activation of the CYP2J2 gene and is essential for maintenance of CYP2J2 expression in normoxic cells. The up-regulation of c-Fos in hypoxia promotes the formation of c-Fos/c-Jun heterodimers, which inhibit transcriptional activation of the CYP2J2 promoter by c-Jun, thus contributing to decreased CYP2J2 expression in hypoxia. Impaired expression of CYP2J2 may contribute to cellular injury in diseases such as atherosclerosis and stroke, and a greater understanding of the mechanisms responsible for mediating altered CYP2J2 expression may eventually lead to therapeutic strategies that manipulate the expression of this important human gene.