Multiple forms of rat liver cytochrome P-450. Immunochemical evidence with antibody against cytochrome P-448.

Purified hepatic cytochrome P-448 from 3-methylcholanthrene-treated rats was used to produce antibody in rabbits. The cytochrome P-448 antibody (IgG fraction) isolated from immune rabbit serum is quite specific and precipitates purified rat liver cytochrome P-448 at low antibody to protein ratios when assayed by the Ouchterlony double diffusion technique. Purified hepatic cytochrome P-450 from phenobarbital-treated rats cross-reacts poorly with the cytochrome P-448 antibody as do purified rabbit hepatic cytochrome P-448 and P-450. No cross-reaction is observed with purified cytochrome P-450 from beef adrenal mitochondria or from Pseudomonas putida in Ouchterlony double diffusion experiments. The cytochrome P-448 antibody produces a single distinct precipitin band with purified rat cytochrome P-448. In contrast, purified liver cytochrome P-450 from phenobarbital-treated rats gives three precipitin bands, all of which contain hemeprotein as judged by benzidine staining. At least two of the three precipitin bands are immunochemically different from the precipitin band formed with cytochrome P-448. When added to the reconstituted system, the cytochrome P-448 antibody inhibits purified rat cytochrome P-448- and P-450-supported N-demethylation of benzphetamine, O-deethylation of ethoxycoumarin, hydroxylation of benzo[a]pyrene, and the hydroxylation of testosterone at the 6beta, 7alpha, and 16alpha positions. Antibody inhibits cytochrome P-448-supported metabolism more than cytochrome P-450-supported metabolism except for benzo[a]pyrene hydroxylation at low antibody to hemeprotein ratios. In addition, the pattern and extent of inhibition of the cytochrome P-450 system depends on the substrate used, suggesting that multiple forms of the hemeprotein are present in the purified preparation from phenobarbital-treated rats. The observed patterns of immunoprecipitation and inhibition of catalytic activity indicate that (a) cytochrome P-448 from 3-methylcholanthrene-treated rats is immunochemically different from cytochrome P-450 from phenobarbital-treated rats, and (b) there appear to be at least three hemeprotein forms in the purified cytochrome P-450 preparation from phenobarbital-treated rats.