Biotransformation, Using Recombinant CYP450-Expressing Baker's Yeast Cells, Identifies a Novel CYP2D6.10A122V Variant Which Is a Superior Metabolizer of Codeine to Morphine Than the Wild-Type Enzyme

© Copyright 2018 American Chemical Society. CYP2D6, a cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzyme, metabolizes codeine to morphine. Within the human body, 0-15% of codeine undergoes O-demethylation by CYP2D6 to form morphine, a far stronger analgesic than codeine. Genetic polymorphisms in wild-type CYP2D6 (CYP2D6-wt) are known to cause poor-to-extensive metabolism of codeine and other CYP2D6 substrates. We have established a platform technology that allows stable expression of human CYP genes from chromosomal loci of baker's yeast cells. Four CYP2D6 alleles, (i) chemically synthesized CYP2D6.1, (ii) chemically synthesized CYP2D6-wt, (iii) chemically synthesized CYP2D6.10, and (iv) a novel CYP2D6.10 variant CYP2D6-C (i.e., CYP2D6.10A122V) isolated from a liver cDNA library, were cloned for chromosomal integration in yeast cells. When expressed in yeast, CYP2D6.10 enzyme shows weak activity compared with CYP2D6-wt and CYP2D6.1 which have moderate activity, as reported earlier. Surprisingly, however, the CYP2D6-C enzyme is far more active than CYP2D6.10. More surprisingly, although CYP2D6.10 is a known low metabolizer of codeine, yeast cells expressing CYP2D6-C transform >70% of codeine to morphine, which is more than twice that of cells expressing the extensive metabolizers, CYP2D6.1, and CYP2D6-wt. The latter two enzymes predominantly catalyze formation of codeine's N-demethylation product, norcodeine, with >55% yield. Molecular modeling studies explain the specificity of CYP2D6-C for O-demethylation, validating observed experimental results. The yeast-based CYP2D6 expression systems, described here, could find generic use in CYP2D6-mediated drug metabolism and also in high-yield chemical reactions that allow the formation of regio-specific dealkylation products

Khellinoflavanone, a Semisynthetic Derivative of Khellin, Overcomes Benzo[ a]pyrene Toxicity in Human Normal and Cancer Cells That Express CYP1A1

Copyright © 2018 American Chemical Society. Cytochrome P450 family 1 (CYP1) enzymes catalyze the metabolic activation of environmental procarcinogens such as benzo[a]pyrene, B[a]P, into carcinogens, which initiates the process of carcinogenesis. Thus, stopping the metabolic activation of procarcinogens can possibly prevent the onset of cancer. Several natural products have been reported to show unique ability in inhibiting CYP1 enzymes. We found that khellin, a naturally occurring furanochromone from Ammi visnaga, inhibits CYP1A1 enzyme with an IC50 value of 4.02 μM in CYP1A1-overexpressing human HEK293 suspension cells. To further explore this natural product for discovery of more potent and selective CYP1A1 inhibitors, two sets of semisynthetic derivatives were prepared. Treatment of khellin with alkali results in opening of a pyrone ring, yielding khellinone (2). Claisen-Schmidt condensation of khellinone (2) with various aldehydes in presence of potassium hydroxide, at room temperature, provides a series of furanochalcones 3a-v (khellinochalcones). Treatment of khellinone (2) with aryl aldehydes in the presence of piperidine, under reflux, affords the flavanone series of compounds 4a-p (khellinoflavanones). The khellinoflavanone 4l potently inhibited CYP1A1 with an IC50 value of 140 nM in live cells, with 170-fold selectivity over CYP1B1 (IC50 for CYP1B1 = 23.8 μM). Compound 4l at 3× IC50 concentration for inhibition of CYP1A1 completely protected HEK293 cells from CYP1A1-mediated B[a]P toxicity. Lung cancer cells, A549 (p53+) and Calu-1 (p53-null), blocked in growth at the S-phase by B[a]P were restored into the cell cycle by compound 4l. The results presented herein strongly indicate the potential of these khellin derivatives for further development as cancer chemopreventive agents.

Biotransformation of Chrysin to Baicalein: Selective C6-Hydroxylation of 5,7-Dihydroxyflavone Using Whole Yeast Cells Stably Expressing Human CYP1A1 Enzyme

© 2017 American Chemical Society. Naturally occurring polyphenolic compounds are of medicinal importance because of their unique antioxidant, anticancer, and chemopreventive properties. Baicalein, a naturally occurring polyhydroxy flavonoid possessing a diverse range of pharmacological activities, has been used in traditional medicines for treatment of various ailments. Apart from its isolation from natural sources, its synthesis has been reported via multistep chemical approaches. Here, we report a preparative-scale biotransformation, using whole yeast cells stably expressing human cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) enzyme that allows regioselective C6-hydroxylation of 5,7-dihydroxyflavone (chrysin) to form 5,6,7-trihydroxyflavone (baicalein). Molecular modeling reveals why chrysin undergoes such specific hydroxylation mediated by CYP1A1. More than 92% reaction completion was obtained using a shake-flask based process that mimics fed-batch fermentation. Such highly efficient selective hydroxylation, using recombinant yeast cells, has not been reported earlier. Similar CYP-expressing yeast cell based systems are likely to have wider applications in the syntheses of medicinally important polyphenolic compounds

Furanoflavones pongapin and lanceolatin B blocks the cell cycle and induce senescence in CYP1A1-overexpressing breast cancer cells

© 2018 Elsevier Ltd Expression of cytochrome P450-1A1 (CYP1A1) is suppressed under physiologic conditions but is induced (a) by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) which can be metabolized by CYP1A1 to carcinogens, and (b) in majority of breast cancers. Hence, phytochemicals or dietary flavonoids, if identified as CYP1A1 inhibitors, may help in preventing PAH-mediated carcinogenesis and breast cancer. Herein, we have investigated the cancer chemopreventive potential of a flavonoid-rich Indian medicinal plant, Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre. Methanolic extract of its seeds inhibits CYP1A1 in CYP1A1-overexpressing normal human HEK293 cells, with IC50 of 0.6 µg/mL. Its secondary metabolites, the furanoflavonoids pongapin/lanceolatin B, inhibit CYP1A1 with IC50 of 20 nM. Although the furanochalcone pongamol inhibits CYP1A1 with IC50 of only 4.4 µM, a semisynthetic pyrazole-derivative P5b, has ∼10-fold improved potency (IC50, 0.49 μM). Pongapin/lanceolatin B and the methanolic extract of P. pinnata seeds protect CYP1A1-overexpressing HEK293 cells from B[a]P-mediated toxicity. Remarkably, they also block the cell cycle of CYP1A1-overexpressing MCF-7 breast cancer cells, at the G0-G1 phase, repress cyclin D1 levels and induce cellular-senescence. Molecular modeling studies demonstrate the interaction pattern of pongapin/lanceolatin B with CYP1A1. The results strongly indicate the potential of methanolic seed-extract and pongapin/lanceolatin B for further development as cancer chemopreventive agents

Glycyrrhiza glabra extract and quercetin reverses cisplatin resistance in triple-negative MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cells via inhibition of cytochrome P450 1B1 enzyme

The development of multi-drug resistance to existing anticancer drugs is one of the major challenges in cancer treatment. The over-expression of cytochrome P450 1B1 enzyme has been reported to cause resistance to cisplatin. With an objective to discover cisplatin-resistance reversal agents, herein, we report the evaluation of Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) extracts and its twelve chemical constituents for inhibition of CYP1B1 (and CYP1A1) enzyme in Sacchrosomes and live human cells. The hydroalcoholic extract showed potent inhibition of CYP1B1 in both Sacchrosomes as well as in live cells with IC50 values of 21 and 16 mg/ mL, respectively. Amongst the total of 12 constituents tested, quercetin and glabrol showed inhibition of CYP1B1 in live cell assay with IC50 values of 2.2 and 15 mM, respectively. Both these natural products were found to be selective inhibitors of CYP1B1, and does not inhibit CYP2 and CYP3 family of enzymes (IC50 > 20 mM). The hydroalcoholic extract of G. glabra and quercetin (4) showed complete reversal of cisplatin resistance in CYP1B1 overexpressing triple negative MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cells. The selective inhibition of CYP1B1 by quercetin and glabrol over CYP2 and CYP3 family of enzymes was studied by molecular modeling studies

Glycyrrhiza glabra extract and quercetin reverses cisplatin resistance in triple-negative MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cells via inhibition of cytochrome P450 1B1 enzyme

© 2017 Elsevier Ltd The development of multi-drug resistance to existing anticancer drugs is one of the major challenges in cancer treatment. The over-expression of cytochrome P450 1B1 enzyme has been reported to cause resistance to cisplatin. With an objective to discover cisplatin-resistance reversal agents, herein, we report the evaluation of Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) extracts and its twelve chemical constituents for inhibition of CYP1B1 (and CYP1A1) enzyme in Sacchrosomes and live human cells. The hydroalcoholic extract showed potent inhibition of CYP1B1 in both Sacchrosomes as well as in live cells with IC50 values of 21 and 16 µg/mL, respectively. Amongst the total of 12 constituents tested, quercetin and glabrol showed inhibition of CYP1B1 in live cell assay with IC50 values of 2.2 and 15 µM, respectively. Both these natural products were found to be selective inhibitors of CYP1B1, and does not inhibit CYP2 and CYP3 family of enzymes (IC50 > 20 µM). The hydroalcoholic extract of G. glabra and quercetin (4) showed complete reversal of cisplatin resistance in CYP1B1 overexpressing triple negative MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cells. The selective inhibition of CYP1B1 by quercetin and glabrol over CYP2 and CYP3 family of enzymes was studied by molecular modeling studies

Synthesis and biological evaluation of pyrrole-based chalcones as CYP1 enzyme inhibitors, for possible prevention of cancer and overcoming cisplatin resistance

© 2017 Elsevier Ltd Inhibitors of CYP1 enzymes may play vital roles in the prevention of cancer and overcoming chemo-resistance to anticancer drugs. In this letter, we report synthesis of twenty-three pyrrole based heterocyclic chalcones which were screened for inhibition of CYP1 isoforms. Compound 3n potently inhibited CYP1B1 with an IC50 of ∼0.2μM in Sacchrosomes™ and CYP1B1-expressing live human cells. However, compound 3j which inhibited both CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 with an IC50 of ∼0.9µM, using the same systems, also potently antagonized B[a]P-mediated induction of AhR signaling in yeast (IC50, 1.5µM), fully protected human cells from B[a]P toxicity and completely reversed cisplatin resistance in human cells that overexpress CYP1B1 by restoring cisplatin's cytotoxicity. Molecular modeling studies were performed to rationalize the observed potency and selectivity of enzyme inhibition by compounds 3j and 3n

CYP enzymes, expressed within live human suspension cells, are superior to widely-used microsomal enzymes in identifying potent CYP1A1/CYP1B1 inhibitors: Identification of quinazolinones as CYP1A1/CYP1B1 inhibitors that efficiently reverse B[a]P toxicity and cisplatin resistance

Microsomal cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes, isolated from recombinant bacterial/insect/yeast cells, are extensively used for drug metabolism studies. However, they may not always portray how a developmental drug would behave in human cells with intact intracellular transport mechanisms. This study emphasizes the usefulness of human HEK293 kidney cells, grown in ‘suspension’ for expression of CYPs, in finding potent CYP1A1/CYP1B1 inhibitors, as possible anticancer agents. With live cell-based assays, quinazolinones 9i/9b were found to be selective CYP1A1/CYP1B1 inhibitors with IC50 values of 30/21 nM, and > 150-fold selectivity over CYP2/3 enzymes, whereas they were far less active using commercially-available CYP1A1/CYP1B1 microsomal enzymes (IC50, >10/1.3–1.7 μM). Compound 9i prevented CYP1A1-mediated benzo[a]pyrene-toxicity in normal fibroblasts whereas 9b completely reversed cisplatin resistance in PC-3/prostate, COR-L23/lung, MIAPaCa-2/pancreatic and LS174T/colon cancer cells, underlining the human-cell-assays' potential. Our results indicate that the most potent CYP1A1/CYP1B1 inhibitors would not have been identified if one had relied merely on microsomal enzymes

Identification of karanjin isolated from the Indian beech tree as a potent CYP1 enzyme inhibitor with cellular efficacy via screening of a natural product repository

Dr Neill Horley, De Montfort University provided training and recommended methodologies that would prove very useful for doing much of the biological parts of this work.CYP1A1 is thought to mediate carcinogenesis in oral, lung and epithelial cancers. In order to identify a CYP1A1 inhibitor from an edible plant, 394 natural products in the IIIM's natural product repository were screened, at 10 μM concentration, using CYP1A1-Sacchrosomes™ (i.e. microsomal enzyme isolated from recombinant baker's yeast). Twenty-seven natural products were identified that inhibited 40–97% of CYP1A1's 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase activity. The IC50 values of the ‘hits’, belonging to different chemical scaffolds, were determined. Their selectivity was studied against a panel of 8 CYP-Sacchrosomes™. In order to assess cellular efficacy, the ‘hits’ were screened for their capability to inhibit CYP enzymes expressed within live recombinant human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells from plasmids encoding specific CYP genes (1A2, 1B1, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, 3A4). Isopimpinellin (IN-475; IC50, 20 nM) and karanjin (IN-195; IC50, 30 nM) showed the most potent inhibition of CYP1A1 in human cells. Isopimpinellin is found in celery, parsnip, fruits and in the rind and pulp of limes whereas different parts of the Indian beech tree, which contain karanjin, have been used in traditional medicine. Both isopimpinellin and karanjin negate the cellular toxicity of CYP1A1-mediated benzo[a]pyrene. Molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulations with CYP isoforms rationalize the observed trends in the potency and selectivity of isopimpinellin and karanjin

Quinazoline derivatives as selective CYP1B1 inhibitors

CYP1B1 is implicated to have a role in the development of breast, ovarian, renal, skin and lung carcinomas. It has been suggested that identification of potent and specific CYP1B1 inhibitors can lead to a novel treatment of cancer. Flavonoids have a compact rigid skeleton which fit precisely within the binding cavity of CYP1B1. Systematic isosteric replacement of flavonoid 'O' atom with 'N' atom led to the prediction that a 'quinazoline' scaffold could be the basis for designing potential CYP1B1 inhibitors. A total of 20 quinazoline analogs were synthesized and screened for CYP1B1 and CYP1A1 inhibition in Sacchrosomes™. IC50 determinations of six compounds with capability of inhibiting CYP1B1 identified quinazolines 5c and 5h as the best candidates for CYP1B1 inhibition, with IC50 values in the nM range. Further selectivity studies with homologous CYPs, belonging to the CYP1, CYP2 and CYP3 family of enzymes, showed that the compounds are likely to be free from critical drug-drug interaction liability. Molecular modelling studies were performed to rationalize the observed enzymatic inhibitions. Further biological studies in live yeast and human cells, harboring CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 enzymes, have illustrated the most potent compounds' cellular permeability and capability of potently inhibiting CYP1B1 enzyme expressed within live cells