Heterologous expression of high-activity cytochrome P450 in mammalian cells

Sci Rep. 2020 Aug 25;10(1):14193. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-71035-5.

Abstract

The evaluation of Cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymatic activity is essential to estimate drug pharmacokinetics. Numerous CYP allelic variants have been identified; the functional characterisation of these variants is required for their application in precision medicine. Results from heterologous expression systems using mammalian cells can be integrated in in vivo studies; however, other systems such as E. coli, bacteria, yeast, and baculoviruses are generally used owing to the difficulty in expressing high CYP levels in mammalian cells. Here, by optimising transfection and supplementing conditions, we developed a heterologous expression system using 293FT cells to evaluate the enzymatic activities of three CYP isoforms (CYP1A2, CYP2C9, and CYP3A4). Moreover, we established co-expression with cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase and cytochrome b5. This expression system would be a potential complementary or beneficial alternative approach for the pharmacokinetic evaluation of clinically used and developing drugs in vitro.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2 / genetics
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2 / metabolism
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C9 / genetics
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C9 / metabolism
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A / genetics
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A / metabolism
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / genetics*
  • Cytochromes b5 / genetics
  • Cytochromes b5 / metabolism
  • Gene Expression / genetics
  • Gene Expression / physiology
  • Genetic Engineering / methods*
  • HEK293 Cells / metabolism
  • Humans
  • NADPH-Ferrihemoprotein Reductase / genetics
  • NADPH-Ferrihemoprotein Reductase / metabolism
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Protein Isoforms
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics*
  • Transfection / methods

Substances

  • Protein Isoforms
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Cytochromes b5
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C9
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A
  • NADPH-Ferrihemoprotein Reductase