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Complementary DNA sequence of 3-methylcholanthrene-inducible P-450 from the rat lung

H Kikuchi1, I Sagami, H Fujii

  • 1Department of Cancer Chemotherapy and Prevention, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.

Insights

Cytochrome P-450MC is induced in rat lungs by 3-methylcholanthrene. Pulmonary P-450MC shows no significant nucleotide sequence difference compared to hepatic P-450c.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Cytochrome P-450 enzymes are crucial for xenobiotic metabolism.
  • Investigating specific isoforms like P-450MC in different tissues is important for understanding drug and carcinogen metabolism.
  • Previous studies have characterized hepatic forms, but pulmonary expression needs further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the induction and characteristics of Cytochrome P-450MC in rat pulmonary microsomes.
  • To determine the presence or absence of Cytochrome P-450d in rat lungs following specific inducer treatments.
  • To compare the nucleotide sequence of pulmonary P-450MC with its hepatic counterpart, P-450c.

Main Methods:

  • Western blot analysis using a polyclonal antibody against cytochrome P-450c.
  • Northern hybridization using a P-450d probe (pcP450mc3).
  • Isolation and nucleotide sequencing of complementary DNA (cDNA) for pulmonary P-450MC.

Main Results:

  • Cytochrome P-450MC was successfully induced in rat pulmonary microsomes by 3-methylcholanthrene and to a lesser extent by isosafrole.
  • Cytochrome P-450d was not detected in rat lungs under the tested conditions using Western blot or Northern hybridization.
  • The nucleotide sequence of pulmonary P-450MC cDNA showed no gross alterations when compared to the reported sequence of hepatic P-450c cDNA.

Conclusions:

  • 3-methylcholanthrene is an effective inducer of Cytochrome P-450MC in rat lungs.
  • Rat lungs do not appear to express detectable levels of Cytochrome P-450d under these experimental conditions.
  • Pulmonary P-450MC is highly similar, if not identical, to hepatic P-450c at the nucleotide sequence level.

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