SPR-Based study of affinity of cytochrome P450s / redox partners interactions modulated by steroidal substrates

The goal of this work was to test the hypothesis that the affinity of protein-protein interactions in the cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenase system is modulated by the low-molecular-weight compounds (substrates or inhibitors). The surface plasmon resonance (SPR) based study was carried out using the recombinant protein preparations of three microsomal cytochromes P450 (CYP17A1, CYP21A2, and CYP2C19) and their redox partners: cytochrome b5 (CYB5A), NADPH - cytochrome P450 reductase (CPR), and also iron-sulfur protein adrenodoxin (Adx). As a result, we have revealed some specificity of the influence of the steroid substrates on the binding affinity of CYPs with their redox partners, namely: the lack of effect on CPR/CYPs and Adx/CYP complex formation, and a significant effect on interactions between CYB5A and steroidogenic CYPs. The equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd) value of the CYB5A/CYP17A1 complex decreased by 5 times in the presence of progesterone (P4), which was due to a 10 times increase in the association rate constant (k_on). In this case, a twofold increase in the dissociation rate constant (k_off) value of CYB5A/CYP17A1 complex formation was observed. It was also demonstrated that the affinity of CYB5A/CYP17A1 interaction increased in the presence of two other steroidal substrates 17α-hydroxyprogesterone and pregnenolone and that effect was comparable with P4. In contrast, only the twofold decrease in the affinity of CYB5A/CYP21A2 interaction in the presence of P4 was caused by a slight increase in the k_off value (the k_on value of the complex did not change). This indicates a different format of the steroidal substrates effects expressed in a change in the stability of the CYB5A/CYPs complexes. Thus, it was found that P4 modulated the both kinetic and equilibrium constants of CYB5A/CYP17A1 and CYB5/CYP21A2 complex formation and complexes, while not affecting the CYB5A/CYP2C19 interaction (2C19 is the cytochrome P450 isoenzyme possessing broad substrate specificity), thereby indicating a specific influence of steroidal substrates on interactions involving steroidogenic CYPs. Our results are consistent with current understanding of the role of CYB5A as a regulator of cytochrome P450 activity in P450-dependent monooxygenase system.