Enzymatic Synthesis of Epoxidized Metabolites of Docosahexaenoic, Eicosapentaenoic, and Arachidonic Acids

The epoxidized metabolites of various polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), termed epoxy fatty acids, have a wide range of roles in human physiology. These ...

Michigan State University

The binding of retinoic acid to mutants of Cellular Retinoic Acid Binding Protein II (CRABPII) was evaluated to better understand the importance of the direct protein/ligand interactions. The important role of Arg111 for the correct structure and function of the protein was verified and other residues that directly affect retinoic acid binding have been identified. Furthermore, retinoic acid binding to CRABPII mutants that lack all previously identified interacting amino acids was rescued by providing a carboxylic acid dimer partner in the form of a Glu residue.

Dissection of the critical binding determinants of cellular retinoic acid binding protein II by mutagenesis and fluorescence binding assay.

Cellular Retinoic Acid Binding Protein II (CRABPII) has been reengineered to specifically bind and react with all-trans-retinal to form a protonated Schiff base. Each step of this process has been dissected and four residues (Lys132, Tyr134, Arg111, and Glu121) within the CRABPII binding site have been identified as crucial for imine formation and/or protonation. The precise role of each residue has been examined through site directed mutagenesis and crystallographic studies. The crystal structure of the R132K:L121E-CRABPII (PDB-3I17) double mutant suggests a direct interaction between engineered Glu121 and the native Arg111, which is critical for both Schiff base formation and protonation.

Elucidating the exact role of engineered CRABPII residues for the formation of a retinal protonated Schiff base.

Protein-chromophore interactions are a central component of a wide variety of critical biological processes such as color vision and photosynthesis. To understand the fundamental elements that contribute to spectral tuning of a chromophore inside the protein cavity, we redesigned human cellular retinol binding protein II (hCRBPII) to fully encapsulate all-trans-retinal and form a covalent bond as a protonated Schiff base. This system, using rational mutagenesis designed to alter the electrostatic environment within the binding pocket of the host protein, enabled regulation of the absorption maximum of the pigment in the range of 425 to 644 nanometers. With only nine point mutations, the hCRBPII mutants induced a systematic shift in the absorption profile of all-trans-retinal of more than 200 nanometers across the visible spectrum.

Tuning the electronic absorption of protein-embedded all-trans-retinal.

Reengineering of cellular retinoic acid binding protein II (CRABPII) to be capable of binding retinal as a protonated Schiff base is described. Through rational alterations of the binding pocket, electrostatic perturbations of the embedded retinylidene chromophore that favor delocalization of the iminium charge lead to exquisite control in the regulation of chromophoric absorption properties, spanning the visible spectrum (474-640 nm). The pKa of the retinylidene protonated Schiff base was modulated from 2.4 to 8.1, giving rise to a set of proteins of varying colors and pH sensitivities. These proteins were used to demonstrate a concentration-independent, ratiometric pH sensor. 

Rational design of a colorimetric pH sensor from a soluble retinoic acid chaperone.

Protein reengineering of cellular retinoic acid binding protein II (CRABPII) has yielded a genetically addressable system, capable of binding a profluorophoric chromophore that results in fluorescent protein/chromophore complexes. These complexes exhibit far-red emission, with high quantum efficiencies and brightness and also exhibit excellent pH stability spanning the range of 2-11. In the course of this study, it became evident that single mutations of L121E and R59W were most effective in improving the fluorescent characteristics of CRABPII mutants as well as the kinetics of complex formation. The readily crystallizable nature of these proteins was invaluable to provide clues for the observed spectroscopic behavior that results from single mutation of key residues. 

"Turn-on" protein fluorescence: in situ formation of cyanine dyes.

Nox4-based NADPH oxidase is a major reactive oxygen species-generating enzyme in the vasculature, but its role in atherosclerosis remains controversial.

Endothelial Nox4-based NADPH oxidase regulates atherosclerosis via soluble epoxide hydrolase.

Epoxy PUFAs are endogenous cytochrome P450 (P450) metabolites of dietary PUFAs. Although these metabolites exert numerous biological effects, attempts to study their complex biology have been hampered by difficulty in obtaining the epoxides as pure regioisomers and enantiomers. To remedy this, we synthesized 19,20- and 16,17-epoxydocosapentaenoic acids (EDPs) (the two most abundant EDPs in vivo) by epoxidation of DHA with WT and the mutant (F87V) P450 enzyme BM3 from  WT epoxidation yielded a 4:1 mixture of 19,20:16,17-EDP exclusively as (,) enantiomers. Epoxidation with the mutant (F87V) yielded a 1.6:1 mixture of 19,20:16,17-EDP; the 19,20-EDP fraction was ∼9:1 (,):(,), but the 16,17-EDP was exclusively the (,) enantiomer. To access the (,) enantiomers of these EDPs, we used a short (four-step) chemical inversion sequence, which utilizes 2-(phenylthio)ethanol as the epoxide-opening nucleophile, followed by mesylation of the resulting alcohol, oxidation of the thioether moiety, and base-catalyzed elimination. This short synthesis cleanly converts the (,)-epoxide to the (,)-epoxide without loss of enantiopurity. This method, also applicable to eicosapentaenoic acid and arachidonic acid, provides a simple, cost-effective procedure for accessing larger amounts of these metabolites.

Enzymatic synthesis and chemical inversion provide both enantiomers of bioactive epoxydocosapentaenoic acids.

Colon cancer is the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States, emphasizing the need for the discovery of new cellular targets. Using a metabolomics approach, we report here that epoxygenated fatty acids (EpFA), which are eicosanoid metabolites produced by cytochrome P450 (CYP) monooxygenases, were increased in both the plasma and colon of azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colon cancer mice. CYP monooxygenases were overexpressed in colon tumor tissues and colon cancer cells. Pharmacologic inhibition or genetic ablation of CYP monooxygenases suppressed AOM/DSS-induced colon tumorigenesis . In addition, treatment with 12,13-epoxyoctadecenoic acid (EpOME), which is a metabolite of CYP monooxygenase produced from linoleic acid, increased cytokine production and JNK phosphorylation  and exacerbated AOM/DSS-induced colon tumorigenesis . Together, these results demonstrate that the previously unappreciated CYP monooxygenase pathway is upregulated in colon cancer, contributes to its pathogenesis, and could be therapeutically explored for preventing or treating colon cancer. SIGNIFICANCE: This study finds that the previously unappreciated CYP monooxygenase eicosanoid pathway is deregulated in colon cancer and contributes to colon tumorigenesis.

Kin Sing Stephen Lee

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology

Michigan State University

Enzymatic Synthesis of Epoxidized Metabolites of Docosahexaenoic, Eicosapentaenoic, and Arachidonic Acids

Kin Sing Stephen Lee

.css-o250i3{font-size:18px;font-family:Open Sans,sans-serif;line-height:21.6px;}Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology

Michigan State University

Enzymatic Synthesis of Epoxidized Metabolites of Docosahexaenoic, Eicosapentaenoic, and Arachidonic Acids

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology