Heterologous expression of human NADPH:cytochrome P450 reductase

Study of carcinogenesis is associated with study of xenobiotics metabolism, which is topic studied in our laboratory. Mixed-function oxygenase system (MFO system) is significantly contributing to the metabolism of xenobiotics. Pure recombinant proteins participating in MFO system are frequently utilized in in vitro metabolic experiments. The heterologous expression method is often used to obtain the pure recombinant enzymes. Heterologous expression was employed to prepare human NADPH:cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase. This membrane enzyme reduces cytochrome P450 and enables its catalytic activity. Vectors with synthetic gene for human NADPH:cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase based on pUC19 and pET22b plasmids were prepared and verified. Recombinant protein was produced in E. coli BL21-Gold and E. coli BL21-CodonPlus-RIL cells. Both cell strains produced high levels of the protein; however the major part of the protein was present predominantly in inclusion bodies. Expression conditions were therefore optimized to obtain higher yields of native protein bound in bacterial membrane fraction. [In Czech