Background: Human cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) activates procarcinogens, but the basis of their binding is unknown. Results: A 2.6 Å structure with the inhibitor ␣-naphthoflavone and docking simulations suggest key active site features. Conclusion: CYP1A1 has a planar active site that restricts ligand orientations.Significance: This provides a useful framework for understanding CYP1A1 interactions with a variety of substrates and inhibitors.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons such as 3-methylcholanthrene are toxic to rat epidermal cells in low passages (3 to 6), but cultures of high passage ( 15)

ABSTRACT:Cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes are mixed-function oxidases that catalyze the metabolism of xenobiotics and endogenous biochemicals. Selective inhibitors are needed to accurately distinguish the contributions of individual P450 enzymes in the metabolism of drugs and the activation of procarcinogens in human tissues, but very frequently these enzymes have substantial overlapping selectivity. We evaluated a chemically diverse set of nine previously identified CYP2A6 inhibitors to determine which are able to discriminate between human CYP2A enzymes CYP2A6 and the 94%-identical CYP2A13 enzyme. Inhibitor binding to recombinant purified enzyme was evaluated, and affinities were determined.

Treatment of cultures of spontaneously immortalized human epidermal cells with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) sensitized them to carcinogen toxicity. While the tryptophan pyrolysis product 3-amino-1,4-dimethyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole (Trp-P-1) and the mycotoxin sterigmatocystin were highly toxic to the cultures at moderate concentration (1 microgram/ml), the potency of each agent was increased > or = 10-fold in the presence of TCDD. A toxicity increase was also evident in the several-fold stimulation by TCDD of protein and DNA adducts formed by Trp-P-1. In contrast, the cells were insensitive to toxicity from 3-amino-1-methyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole. DNA damage mediated by Trp-P-1 was capable of producing inheritable effects, as judged by the induction of hprt mutants in a TCDD-stimulated fashion. Northern blotting showed that TCDD strongly stimulated expression of P4501A1 and 1B1 in the cells, enzymes important for xenobiotic metabolism. These findings demonstrate the potential usefulness of SIK cultures as a model for studying keratinocyte responses to carcinogens activated by TCDD-induced cytochromes P450.