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., CYP2D6.10
A122V
) 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.