Publications

• Structural basis for three-step sequential catalysis by the cholesterol side chain cleavage enzyme CYP11A1.

  Mast N., Annalora A.J., Lodowski D.T., Palczewski K., Stout C.D., Pikuleva I.A.

  Mitochondrial cytochrome P450 11A1 (CYP11A1 or P450 11A1) is the only known enzyme that cleaves the side chain of cholesterol, yielding pregnenolone, the precursor of all steroid hormones. Pregnenolone is formed via three sequential monooxygenation reactions that involve the progressive production ... >> More

  Mitochondrial cytochrome P450 11A1 (CYP11A1 or P450 11A1) is the only known enzyme that cleaves the side chain of cholesterol, yielding pregnenolone, the precursor of all steroid hormones. Pregnenolone is formed via three sequential monooxygenation reactions that involve the progressive production of 22R-hydroxycholesterol (22HC) and 20α,22R-dihydroxycholesterol, followed by the cleavage of the C20-C22 bond. Herein, we present the 2.5-Å crystal structure of CYP11A1 in complex with the first reaction intermediate, 22HC. The active site cavity in CYP11A1 represents a long curved tube that extends from the protein surface to the heme group, the site of catalysis. 22HC occupies two-thirds of the cavity with the 22R-hydroxyl group nearest the heme, 2.56 Å from the iron. The space at the entrance to the active site is not taken up by 22HC but filled with ordered water molecules. The network formed by these water molecules allows the "soft" recognition of the 22HC 3β-hydroxyl. Such a mode of 22HC binding suggests shuttling of the sterol intermediates between the active site entrance and the heme group during the three-step reaction. Translational freedom of 22HC and torsional motion of its aliphatic tail are supported by solution studies. The CYP11A1-22HC co-complex also provides insight into the structural basis of the strict substrate specificity and high catalytic efficiency of the enzyme and highlights conserved structural motifs involved in redox partner interactions by mitochondrial P450s. << Less

  J. Biol. Chem. 286:5607-5613(2011) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

  This publication is cited by 3 other entries.

• Structural basis for pregnenolone biosynthesis by the mitochondrial monooxygenase system.

  Strushkevich N., MacKenzie F., Cherkesova T., Grabovec I., Usanov S., Park H.W.

  In humans, the precursor to all steroid hormones, pregnenolone, is synthesized from cholesterol by an enzyme complex comprising adrenodoxin reductase (AdR), adrenodoxin (Adx), and a cytochrome P450 (P450scc or CYP11A1). This complex not only plays a key role in steroidogenesis, but also has long b ... >> More

  In humans, the precursor to all steroid hormones, pregnenolone, is synthesized from cholesterol by an enzyme complex comprising adrenodoxin reductase (AdR), adrenodoxin (Adx), and a cytochrome P450 (P450scc or CYP11A1). This complex not only plays a key role in steroidogenesis, but also has long been a model to study electron transfer, multistep catalysis, and C-C bond cleavage performed by monooxygenases. Detailed mechanistic understanding of these processes has been hindered by a lack of structural information. Here we present the crystal structure of the complex of human Adx and CYP11A1--the first of a complex between a eukaryotic CYP and its redox partner. The structures with substrate and a series of reaction intermediates allow us to define the mechanism underlying sequential hydroxylations of the cholesterol and suggest the mechanism of C-C bond cleavage. In the complex the [2Fe-2S] cluster of Adx is positioned 17.4 Å away from the heme iron of CYP11A1. This structure suggests that after an initial protein-protein association driven by electrostatic forces, the complex adopts an optimized geometry between the redox centers. Conservation of the interaction interface suggests that this mechanism is common for all mitochondrial P450s. << Less

  Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 108:10139-10143(2011) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

  This publication is cited by 3 other entries.

• Mass spectrometric study of the enzymatic conversion of cholesterol to (22R)-22-hydroxycholesterol, (20R,22R)-20,22-dihydroxycholesterol, and pregnenolone, and of (22R)-22-hydroxycholesterol to the lgycol and pregnenolone in bovine adrenocortical preparations. Mode of oxygen incorporation.

  Burstein S., Middleditch B.S., Gut M.

  Incubation of cholesterol with a bovine adrenocortical mitochondrial acetone-dried powder preparation yielded (22R)-22-hydroxycholesterol (I), (20R,22R)-20,22-dihydroxycholesterol(II), and pregnenolone (III) which were conclusively identified by combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Incub ... >> More

  Incubation of cholesterol with a bovine adrenocortical mitochondrial acetone-dried powder preparation yielded (22R)-22-hydroxycholesterol (I), (20R,22R)-20,22-dihydroxycholesterol(II), and pregnenolone (III) which were conclusively identified by combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Incubations with [4-14C]cholesterol yielded I, II, and III with specific activities (determined from partial mass-spectral scans) not significantly different from those of the used substrate or the cholesterol reisolated after the incubation, demonstrating that the isolated compounds arose mostly, if not entirely, from the substrate cholesterol. Incubations in an 18O-enriched atmosphere yielded I, II, and III with 18O at position C-22, C-20 and C-22, and C-20, respectively, providing evidence that the hydroxyl groups of the side chain of I and II and the C-20 oxygen atom of III originated from molecular oxygen. The distribution of the oxygen atoms in II after incubation with 18O2 and 16O2 (devoid of 16O18O) proved that the hydroxyl groups of the side chain of II were introduced from two different molecules of oxygen, consistent with a sequential hydroxylation of cholesterol. No (20S)-20-hydroxycholesterol was found. Incubation of I in an 18O-enriched atmosphere afforded II and III with 18O at C-20. << Less

  J Biol Chem 250:9028-9037(1975) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

  This publication is cited by 3 other entries.

• Stoichiometry of mitochondrial cytochromes P-450, adrenodoxin and adrenodoxin reductase in adrenal cortex and corpus luteum. Implications for membrane organization and gene regulation.

  Hanukoglu I., Hanukoglu Z.

  We have estimated the concentrations of cytochromes P-450scc and P-45011 beta and the electron-transfer proteins adrenodoxin reductase and adrenodoxin in the adrenal cortex and corpus luteum using specific antibodies against these enzymes. While in the adrenal cortex the concentrations of these en ... >> More

  We have estimated the concentrations of cytochromes P-450scc and P-45011 beta and the electron-transfer proteins adrenodoxin reductase and adrenodoxin in the adrenal cortex and corpus luteum using specific antibodies against these enzymes. While in the adrenal cortex the concentrations of these enzymes are relatively constant in different animals and show no significant sex differences, in corpora lutea they vary considerably and can increase at least up to fifty-fold over the levels found in the ovary. The average relative concentrations of adrenodoxin reductase, adrenodoxin and P-450 are 1:3:8 in the adrenal cortex (which has two cytochromes P-450, P-450scc and P-450(11) beta, in equal concentrations) and 1:2.5:3 in the corpus luteum (which has only P-450scc). We further present evidence that the levels of cytochrome c oxidase also show a degree of correlation with the levels of the mitochondrial steroidogenic enzymes. << Less

  Eur. J. Biochem. 157:27-31(1986) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

  This publication is cited by 4 other entries.

• Adrenal mitochondrial cytochrome P-450scc. Cholesterol and adrenodoxin interactions at equilibrium and during turnover.

  Hanukoglu I., Spitsberg V., Bumpus J.A., Dus K.M., Jefcoate C.R.

  J Biol Chem 256:4321-4328(1981) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

  This publication is cited by 3 other entries.