Electrochemical characterisation of the human cytochrome P450 CYP2C9

The electrochemistry of human cytochrome P4502C9 (CYP2C9) was characterised using purified His-tagged enzyme. The His-tagged enzyme was shown to have similar functional characteristics to native CYP2C9 heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli and to the CYP2C9 activity of human liver microsomes. Evidence was observed for a reversible one-electron transfer between the P450 heme and the electrode. Both pH and ionic strength influenced the electrochemical behaviour of CYP2C9. A range of substrates was investigated to determine the effect of the heme-substrate interaction on CYP2C9 redox potential. In the absence of oxygen, tolbutamide, diclofenac, warfarin and sulfaphenazole did not alter the redox potential of the iron heme. In contrast, torsemide, carbon monoxide and oxygen led to an anodic shift in redox potential. These results suggest alternative mechanisms by which CYP2C9 (and by inference other P450 enzymes) may alter redox potential to facilitate electron delivery from physiological donors.