Cytochrome production

Another example is uptake of the iron-containing protein, transferrin, which circulates in the blood. It binds to its receptor to form a complex that enters the cell via endocytosis. The iron is then released from the endosome for use in the cell (e.g. haemoglobin formation for erythrocyte production or cytochrome production in proliferating cells). The number of transferrin receptors in the plasma membrane increases in proliferating cells and the number in the liver is increased by cytokines during infection. This results in a lower concentration of iron in the blood which decreases the proliferation of invading pathogens (Chapters 15 and 18). 

Hydroxy vitamin D pools ia the blood and is transported on DBF to the kidney, where further hydroxylation takes place at C-1 or C-24 ia response to calcium levels. l-Hydroxylation occurs primarily ia the kidney mitochondria and is cataly2ed by a mixed-function monooxygenase with a specific cytochrome P-450 (52,179,180). 1 a- and 24-Hydroxylation of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol has also been shown to take place ia the placenta of pregnant mammals and ia bone cells, as well as ia the epidermis. Low phosphate levels also stimulate 1,25-dihydtoxycholecalciferol production, which ia turn stimulates intestinal calcium as well as phosphoms absorption. It also mobilizes these minerals from bone and decreases their kidney excretion. Together with PTH, calcitriol also stimulates renal reabsorption of the calcium and phosphoms by the proximal tubules (51,141,181—183). 

Cytochrome P450 enzymes have been the subject of a number of recent reviews in which their mechanism and scope of action are covered in much detail [1, 6, 10, 11]. The reader is referred to these articles for a more thorough account of the mechanism and reactivity of cytochrome P450 enzymes, while we present a few representative examples of cytochrome P450-catalyzed epoxidation below. The enzymes we chose are all involved in the biosynthesis of polyketide natural products. Polyketides are a large, structurally diverse family of compounds and have provided a wealth of therapeutically useful drugs and drug leads. 

The metabolism of foreign compounds (xenobiotics) often takes place in two consecutive reactions, classically referred to as phases one and two. Phase I is a functionalization of the lipophilic compound that can be used to attach a conjugate in Phase II. The conjugated product is usually sufficiently water-soluble to be excretable into the urine. The most important biotransformations of Phase I are aromatic and aliphatic hydroxylations catalyzed by cytochromes P450. Other Phase I enzymes are for example epoxide hydrolases or carboxylesterases. Typical Phase II enzymes are UDP-glucuronosyltrans-ferases, sulfotransferases, N-acetyltransferases and methyltransferases e.g. thiopurin S-methyltransferase. 

Any of the collection of oxygenated metabolites of arachidonic acid that are the product of cyclooxygenase, cytochrome P450, or lipoxygenase pathways. 

For recreational use, ketamine is often snorted or smoked with marijuana or tobacco products, but it may also be injected intramuscularly (Weiner et al. 2000). The typical street dose of ketamine ranges from 30 to 300 mg. These amounts are in contrast to the chnical doses used for anesthesia, which range from 2 to 10 mg/kg. Ketamine has a half-life of less than 2 hours and is metabohzed by the cytochrome P450 en2yme system (Koesters et al. 2002 Reich and SUvay 1989). 

In the presence of cytochrome C, changes in transmittance at 550 nm reflect oxidant production as superoxide reduces the cytochrome C. This is usually done as an absorbance assay in a spectrophotometer, but it can be performed as a transmittance assay on the SLM fluorometer (20). 

Moreover, an electron transfer chain could be reconstituted in vitro that is able to oxidize aldehydes to carboxylic acids with concomitant reduction of protons and net production of dihydrogen (213, 243). The first enzyme in this chain is an aldehyde oxidoreductase (AOR), a homodimer (100 kDa) containing one Mo cofactor (MOD) and two [2Fe—2S] centers per subunit (199). The enzyme catalytic cycle can be regenerated by transferring electrons to flavodoxin, an FMN-con-taining protein of 16 kDa (and afterwards to a multiheme cytochrome and then to hydrogenase) ... 

The wide range of oxidations catalyzed by cytochrome P450 is illustrated by the examples given in Figure 2.5. Aromatic rings are hydroxylated, as in the case of 2,6 -dichlorobiphenyl. The initial product is usually an epoxide, but this rearranges... 

FIG. 21 Schematic diagram of cytochrome P450 mono-oxygenase reaction with substrate RH and product ROH. 

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