Cytochrome P450 was examined in both insecticide resistant and insecticide susceptible strains of Drosophila melanogaster. Much higher levels were observed in the resistant strain IIID when compared to the susceptible strain Canton S. This increase appeared to be the result of an overproduction of a few existing forms. Two heme-staining microsomal proteins found in strain IIID were identified as putative cytochrome P450 isozymes. Polyclonal antibodies produced against these two proteins were used in the immunoanalysis of microsomal proteins from both strains. A lambda gtll cDNA expression vector library was created by inserting cDNA fragments from a Drosophila lambda gt10 library into lambda gtll arms. The library was screened with the polyclonal antiserum. Three clones were isolated, of which one, gtll-Al, was most highly reactive with the antiserum. Analysis of the gtll-Al lysogen indicated a 130 kd fusion protein was produced of which 16 kd was coded for by the cDNA insert. A .5 kb cDNA insert was isolated from the clone as part of a 1.5 kb Kpnl/EcoRl fragment and was used in the analysis of Drosophila genomic DNA and total RNA. Southern analysis revealed an EcoRl polymorphism existed between strain IIID and Canton S. RNA analysis suggested strain IIID produced more coding message for the Al insert in the larval and adult stages than did Canton S. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

Le cytochrome P450 3A4 hépatique humain (CYP3A4) est le cytochrome P450 le plus abondant. Celui-ci est impliqué dans la dégradation de plus de 50% des médicaments que nous absorbons. Les cytochromes P450 forment une grande famille d'enzymes, caractérisée par la présence d'un hème au site actif, que l'on retrouve chez tous les organismes vivants. La réaction générale catalysée par les cytochromes P450 est une réaction d'oxygénation de substrats qui consomme de l'oxygène et du NADPH. L'étude du CYP3A4 nous a permis de constater que le site actif de cette enzyme est très sensible à la pression et qu'il était essentiel de privilégier un mode de lyse des cellules exprimant le CYP3A4 aux ultra-sons. L'expression en grande quantité du polypeptide a été réussie par l'utilisation en combinaison du vecteur d'expression pET-30a et de la souche Escherichia coli C41 (DE3). Les premières études de spectroscopie de résonance Raman du CYP3A4 purifié nous ont permis d'assigner le mode de vibration VFe-co comme étant situé à 476 cm"1 . De plus les spectres de résonance Raman dans la région des basses fréquences n'ont démontré qu'un très léger déplacement du mode VFeco lors de l'ajout des substrats imipramine et nifédipine. Ce résultat est compatible avec le fait que le site actif du CYP3A4 est flexible et relativement grand de sorte que la molécule de CO liée à Thème n'est presque pas été affectée par l'ajout de ces substrats.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 173-184).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Uppsala universitet, 2004. / Available also in print. Description based on contents viewed Aug. 12, 2004; title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references (p. 69-77).

In cellular respiration, electron transfer from the breakdown of foodstuff is coupled to the formation of an electrochemical proton gradient. This is accomplished through proton translocation by respiratory complexes, and the proton gradient is subsequently used e.g. to drive ATP production. Consequently, proton- and electron-transfer reactions through the hydrophobic interior of membrane proteins are central to cellular respiration. In this thesis, proton- and electron transfer through an aa3-type terminal oxidase, cytochrome c oxidase (CytcO) from Rhodobacter sphaeroides, have been studied with the aim of understanding the molecular proton-transfer machinery of this proton pump. In the catalytic site of CytcO the electrons combine with protons and the terminal electron acceptor O2 to form water in an exergonic reaction that drives proton pumping. Therefore, CytcO must transfer both protons that are pumped and protons for the oxygen chemistry through its interior. This is done through its two proton-transfer pathways, termed the D pathway and the K pathway. Our studies have shown that the protons pumped during oxidation of CytcO are taken through the D pathway, and that this process does not require a functional K pathway. Furthermore, our data suggests that the K pathway is used for charge compensation of electron transfer to the catalytic site, but only in the A2 → P3 state transition. Our data also show that the water molecules identified in the crystal structures of CytcO play an important role in proton transfer through the D pathway. Finally, the effects of liposome reconstitution of CytcO on D-pathway proton transfer were investigated. The results suggest that the membrane modulates the rates of proton transfer through the D pathway, and also influences the extent of electron transfer between redox-active sites CuA and heme a.

This thesis describes a study of the substrate selectivity of active site mutants of the monooxygenase cytochrome P450_cam. A range of mutants was constructed which replaced the phenolic side-chain at the Tyr-96 position by various hydrophobic amino acid residues. These 'hydrophobic mutants' were then combined with other mutations around the active site (Val-247, Phe-87, Ile-395 and Phe-193) which altered the space available at different positions in the active site. These mutants were then tested with an in vitro reconstituted P450_cam system with a range of substrates related to diphenylmethane and phenylcylcohexane. All of these large compounds were poor substrates for the wild-type enzyme. It was found that it was necessary to increase both the space available in the active site and the active site hydrophobicity to achieve substrate turnover. The substrates were oxidised preferentially on the aliphatic cyclohexyl ring over the more constrained phenyl ring suggesting that the active site is predisposed to binding the cyclohexyl ring close to the haem. Hydroxylation using the in vitro reconstituted P450_cam system is limited by catalyst lifetime and the need for the expensive cofactor NADH. For P450_cam hydroxylation to become a viable synthetic method it is necessary to find ways to bypass the use of NADH. For this reason various self-sufficient P450_cam system were constructed and expressed in E. coli. The best of these, despite limited protein expression, was found to turnover camphor with the wild-type P450_cam enzyme and other substrates with the Y96A mutant. The in vivo catalytic system was then used to screen many P450_cam mutants for the oxidation of natural products, monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes (e.g. limonene, pinene and valencene). Most of the target substrates are not oxidised by the wild-type enzyme but all are hydroxylated by some if not all of the P450_cam mutants with different degrees of selectivity. Some of the products identified so far are important compounds in the field of flavour and fragrance chemistry (e.g. verbenol and nookatone).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2007. / Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 70-82). Also available for download via the World Wide Web; free to University of Oregon users.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1997. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 171-191).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2005. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains viii, 153 p. : ill. (some col.). Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 136-149).

Thesis (M.S.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Biology, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references.