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We have investigated the sites of N-terminally truncated cytochrome P4501A1 targeted to mitochondria (P450MT2) which interact with adrenodoxin (Adx), cytochrome P450 reductase (CPR) and bacterial flavodoxin (Fln). The binding site was mapped by a combination of in vitro mutagenesis, in vivo screening with a mammalian two-hybrid system, spectral analysis, reconstitution of enzyme activity and homology-based structural modeling. Our results show that part of an aqueous accessible helix (putative helix G, residues 264-279) interacts with all three electron donor proteins. Mutational studies revealed that Lys267 and Lys271 are crucial for binding to Adx, while Lys268 and Arg275 are important for binding to CPR and FLN: Additive effects of different electron donor proteins on enzyme activity and models on protein docking show that Adx and CPR bind in a non-overlapping manner to the same helical domain in P450MT2 at different angular orientations, while CPR and Fln compete for the same binding site. We demonstrate that evolutionarily divergent electron donor proteins interact with the same domain but subtly different contact points of P450MT2.

Adrenocorticotropin acting through cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) regulates transcription of the bovine adrenodoxin (Adx) gene in the adrenal cortex. The bovine Adx cAMP-responsive transcription sequence (CRS) has previously been found to contain two consensus GC boxes. By use of nuclear extracts from adrenocortical cells, Sp1 and Sp3 are shown here to bind to CRS. Mutations designed to enhance the identification of additional CRS binding proteins by reducing Sp protein binding showed the presence of an additional DNA-binding protein (Adx factor). Adx factor binding is inhibited by the zinc-chelating agent, 1,10-o-phenanthroline, suggesting it might be a zinc finger protein. By a fractionation/renaturation technique the Adx factor in mouse Y1 adrenocortical cells was found to be in the size range of 106-115 kDa by gel mobility shift assay. On the basis of size, the CRS sequence to which it binds, and its tentative identification as a zinc finger protein, Adx factor has been identified as a Krüppel-like zinc finger protein (a mouse ZBP-89 homologue). Further mutagenesis of CRS demonstrates that it can further be divided into two similar cAMP-responsive elements, and elimination of ZBP-89 binding does not affect cAMP responsiveness of either. Expression of these three nuclear proteins in Drosophila SL2 cells has been used to decipher the role of Adx CRS binding proteins in regulating transcription. Sp1 and Sp3 confer basal transcriptional activities, yet only Sp1 confers cAMP-responsive activity. ZBP-89 represses basal transcriptional activity.

The three-dimensional X-ray crystal structure of full-length oxidized bovine adrenodoxin (Adx) has been determined at 2.5 A resolution by molecular replacement using a structure of a truncated form as a starting model. Crystals of Adx belong to a primitive monoclinic space group P2(1) with four Adx molecules in an asymmetric unit. The unit cell dimensions are a = 59.44 A, b = 77.03 A, c = 59.68 A, and beta = 94.83 degrees. The structure has been refined to an R factor of 23.5%. Structures of the four molecules of full-length Adx (127 amino acids) in the asymmetric unit were compared with each other and also with that of the truncated Adx (4-108). The overall topology of full-length Adx remains the same as described earlier for the truncated protein. Differences that do occur are almost wholly confined to alternate side-chain conformations that reflect differing lattice contacts made by two proteins. Extensive interactions found between molecules 1 and 2 in the full-length Adx asymmetric unit may reflect the ability of Adx to form dimers in vivo and are consistent with hydrodynamic measurements which show that in solution there is an equilibrium between monomeric and dimeric forms of Adx. Dimerization of Adx could explain why the truncated form has greater affinity for the P450 redox partner than the full-length form. From these results it can be considered that the mechanism of electron transfer is not necessarily the same in different mitochondrial P450 systems., (Copyright 2000 Academic Press.)

Mitochondrial cytochrome P450c27 (product of the CYP27A1 gene) is found to have significantly higher affinity for the common redox partner adrenodoxin than another mitochondrial P450, P450scc (product of the CYP11A1 gene). To investigate the basis of the approximately 30-fold difference in adrenodoxin binding, two sets of P450c27 mutants were generated, expressed in Escherichia coli, and purified. Mutations of one set were within the putative adrenodoxin-binding site containing conserved lysine residues also crucial in P450scc for binding adrenodoxin. The second set included mutations within a sequence aligning with the "meander region" of P450BM-3 proposed to be a site of redox-partner interactions in P450s (Hasemann, C. A., Kurumbail, R. G., Boddupalli, S. S., Peterson, J. A., and Deisenhofer, J. (1995) Structure 3, 41-62). Mutation of the P450c27 conserved lysines (K354A and K358A) led to a approximately 20-fold increase in apparent Ks for adrenodoxin, confirming that these two positively charged residues conserved in mitochondrial P450s are important for adrenodoxin binding. Mutation of Arg-418, conserved in the CYP27A1 family, to serine also decreased the affinity for adrenodoxin approximately 20-fold. This residue is predicted to be located in the meander region. A triple K354A/K358A/R418S mutation profoundly reduced adrenodoxin binding. Thus, in contrast to P450scc, where mutation of the two conserved positively charged residues results in virtually complete inhibition of adrenodoxin binding, in P450c27 there are three of such residues (Lys-354, Lys-358, and Arg-418) important for adrenodoxin interaction.

Implantation is initiated on day 4 in the mouse and on day 13 in the pig. The preimplantation pig blastocyst synthesizes steroid hormones, but whether preimplantation rodent embryos also have this ability has remained unresolved for the last two decades. In this study, the mRNAs encoding NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase (P450-reductase), adrenodoxin, lanosterol 14-demethylase P450 (CYP51), 17 alpha-hydroxylase P450 (CYP17), cholesterol side-chain cleavage P450 (CYP11A1), sterol 27-hydroxylase P450 (CYP27), and aromatase P450 (CYP19) were examined in day 4 mouse blastocysts (day 1 = vaginal plug) and in day 13 and 16 pig blastocysts using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). In mouse blastocysts, mRNAs of P450-reductase, adrenodoxin, and CYP51, but not CYP17, CYP11A1, CYP27, and CYP19, were detected. In agreement with this finding, no aromatase protein could be detected by immunohistochemistry. By contrast, all these mRNAs were detected in the pig blastocyst. Furthermore, both the ovarian and placental types of aromatase (CYP19) mRNAs were detected in the pig blastocyst on days 13 and 16 of pregnancy, although the ovarian form was more abundant. Both forms of aromatase were much higher in day 13 than in day 16 pig blastocysts. The results provide definitive evidence that the preimplantation mouse blastocyst, as opposed to the pig blastocyst, has no ability to synthesize estrogen and no steroidogenic capacity. Maternal estrogen synthesis is essential for implantation of the mouse blastocyst.

Using the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, mRNAs encoding steroidogenic P450s as well as NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase (P450 reductase), adrenodoxin and the transcription factor steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1) were all detected in rodent brain, but their distribution between brain regions varied. Adrenodoxin and P450 reductase were detected in all regions, suggesting the presence of both mitochondrial and microsomal P450s throughout the brain. Messenger RNAs encoding P450scc (CYP11A1) and P45017 alpha (CYP17) were also detected in all brain regions, this being the first report of CYP17 in the brain. P450c21 (CYP21) was detected only in the brain stem. P45011 beta (CYP11B1) and P450aldo (CYP11B2) are expressed in rat brain, but not in mouse brain; CYP11B1 primarily in the cerebrum, whereas CYP11B2 was detected in all brain regions. In both species, highest levels of aromatase P450 (CYP19) mRNA were detected in the cerebrum. SF-1 expression was restricted to the cerebrum minus cortex. Thus, although SF-1 is required for high level expression of the steroidogenic enzymes in adrenals and gonads, other factors may influence the expression of these genes in the brain. If the mRNAs detected by RT-PCR are indeed translated into functional enzymes, these studies suggest that different brain regions have different capacities for local steroid hormone production and metabolism. This raises the technical challenge of locating the specific sites of synthesis as well as the function of such locally produced ligands.

A full-length cDNA encoding mouse adrenodoxin was isolated from a Y1 adrenocortical tumor cell lambda ZAP cDNA library. The 883 bp cDNA contains a 567 bp open reading frame encoding a protein containing 188 amino acids. Mouse adrenodoxin shows high amino acid sequence identity with other mammalian adrenodoxins and the four cysteines involved in the formation of the iron-sulfur cluster are present.

Steroidogenic enzymes are differentially expressed throughout the ovarian cycle. The complex pattern of cell-specific up- and down-regulation accounts, at least in part, for the cyclic production of estrogens, androgens and progesterone. The gonadotropins follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone are the main regulators of ovarian steroid hormone production and act primarily via the cAMP second-messenger system. Previous studies have identified cAMP-responsive sequences (CRS) in a number of genes encoding steroidogenic enzymes. In the present study we attempted to compare the cAMP responsiveness of some of these sequences with each other and with the classical cAMP-response element (CRE), as identified in the somatostatin gene. In addition, we were interested to determine whether or not the information for tissue-specific expression is contained by these sequences. Using transient transfection of reporter gene constructs, comprising the CRS of bCYP11A, bCYP17, hCYP21B and bovine adrenodoxin, we investigated cAMP-dependent and tissue-specific expression in primary cultures of bovine luteal and granulosa cells. Treatment of transfected luteal cells with forskolin markedly increased the expression of all but the CYP17-specific reporter gene constructs. A similar pattern of forskolin responsiveness was observed when these reporter gene constructs were transfected in bovine granulosa cells in primary culture. Furthermore, when a reporter gene construct containing the classical CRE genomic was transfected in bovine luteal cells, its expression was also highly stimulated upon treatment with forskolin. Thus, the classical cAMP/CRE system appears to be functional in these cells. Northern blot analysis of primary cultures of bovine luteal and granulosa cells revealed that bCYP17 and bCYP21B are not expressed in control and forskolin-treated cultures.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Utilizing site-directed mutagenesis and an Escherichia coli expression system for bovine cholesterol side chain cleavage cytochrome P450, lysine residues at 377 and 381 are found to play crucial roles in binding bovine adrenodoxin, required for transfer of electrons to mitochondrial P450s. These lysine residues are conserved among mitochondrial P450s and have been implicated previously by chemical modification studies as being important for adrenodoxin binding. In the present study, site-directed mutagenesis producing either neutral or positive amino acids at 377 or 381 has no effect on the structure of side chain cleavage cytochrome P450 as determined spectrally or on the enzymatic conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone. However, the estimated Ks of adrenodoxin binding is increased approximately 150-600-fold depending on the particular mutation. Therefore these conserved positively charged residues in mitochondrial P450s are the key sites for adrenodoxin binding which is electrostatic in nature.

Site-directed mutagenesis was utilized to enable direct expression of the mature form of bovine adrenodoxin cDNA using the pKK223-3 expression vector in Escherichia coli. Expression was under control of the "tac" promoter and resulted in a direct expression of soluble mature bovine adrenodoxin (greater than 15 mg per liter). Chromatographic behavior of recombinant adrenodoxin did not differ from that reported for mature native adrenodoxin. The purified recombinant protein was identical to native mitochondrial adrenodoxin on the basis of molecular weight, NH2 terminal sequencing and immunoreactivity. E. coli lysates were brown in color, and the purified protein possessed a visible absorbance spectra identical to native bovine adrenodoxin consistent with incorporation of a [2Fe-2S] cluster in vivo. Recombinant bovine adrenodoxin was active in cholesterol side-chain cleavage when reconstituted with adrenodoxin reductase and cytochrome P450scc and exhibited kinetics reported for native bovine adrenodoxin. The presence of the adrenodoxin amino terminal presequence does not appear to be essential for correct folding of mature recombinant adrenodoxin in E. coli. This expression system should prove useful for overexpression of adrenodoxin mutants in future structure/function studies. The approach described herein can potentially be used to directly express the mature form of any protein in bacteria.

The bovine adrenodoxin gene gives rise to two species of mRNA differing only at their 5'-ends. The synthesis of these two types of mRNA in bovine adrenal cortical cells is regulated transcriptionally in part by ACTH via the action of cAMP. Examination of the 5'-end of the adrenodoxin gene revealed that each mRNA contains sequences derived from a different exon encoding the mitochondrial leader sequence. To define the sequences necessary for the synthesis of these two types of mRNA and to determine if the synthesis of each is driven by a separate promoter, 5'-regions of the adrenodoxin gene were inserted upstream from two different reporter genes and tested for promoter/enhancer regulatory activity by transient transfection into mouse adrenocortical Y1 tumor cells. The results clearly demonstrated that the bovine adrenodoxin gene contains two functional promoters; one, ADXP1, located in the 5'-flanking region gives rise to the minor form of mRNA, and a second, stronger promoter, ADXP2, which maps within intron 1 gives rise to the major form of mRNA. Unique cAMP-responsive sequences were found upstream from each promoter which share no sequence homology to the consensus CRE (cAMP-responsive element). Upon transient expression, the cAMP-responsive sequence associated with the ADXP2 promoter, termed CRS2, confers the cAMP responsiveness to stimulate the transcription of the linked beta-globin reporter gene regardless of whether the adrenodoxin ADXP2 promoter or the beta-globin promoter was utilized.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The effect of low sodium and high potassium intake on rat adrenal zona glomerulosa (ZG) and zona fasciculata-reticularis (ZFR) were studied during a 7-day period, by analyzing mRNA and protein levels of various enzymes involved in aldosterone synthesis. In ZG significant increases in cytochrome P-450scc, P-450c21, P-450(11 beta), adrenodoxin mRNA and protein levels were observed after 2 days with either diet, and at day 7 these levels were further increased. The largest mRNA induction was observed at day 7 in sodium-depleted rats for P-450(11 beta), with a 4-fold increase, followed by 2.7- and 2.0-fold increases for P-450scc and P-450c21, respectively. A pattern similar to those of P-450scc and P-450(11 beta) was observed for adrenodoxin with a 2.1-fold increase after 7 days of Na+ restriction. In K(+)-loaded rats mRNA levels for P-450scc, P-450(11 beta), P-450c21, and adrenodoxin were also increased by 2.2-, 2.1-, 1.5-, and 1.9-fold respectively. Protein levels of these enzymes were also measured in ZG and showed increases similar to those of their respective mRNAs for both treatments. On the other hand, mRNA levels of P-450scc, P-450(11 beta), P-450c21, and adrenodoxin in ZFR were found significantly lower than in ZG, although they were slightly increased for both treated groups of rats as compared with controls. In addition, ZFR protein levels of corresponding enzymes did not fluctuate significantly under both ionic regimens. In conclusion, both low sodium and high potassium intakes act primarily on ZG. Their action on plasma aldosterone seems to be mediated by increasing both mRNA and protein and levels of steroidogenic enzymes, especially at the early step (cytochrome P-450scc) and even more at the late steps (cytochrome P-450(11 beta]. In addition, a close relationship appears to exist between the two mitochondrial P-450s and their electron donor adrenodoxin, since their mRNA and protein levels were similarly enhanced for both diets used.

Several recombinant cDNA clones specific for the mitochondrial iron-sulfur protein adrenodoxin have been identified in a bovine adrenocortical cDNA library. One clone (pBAdx4) contains a 900-base-pair insert that includes the entire amino acid coding region of the adrenodoxin precursor protein. The amino acid sequence of mature adrenodoxin deduced from the nucleotide sequence of pBAdx4 is identical with that determined by protein sequencing except for three amide changes. The previously undetermined sequence of the adrenodoxin NH2-terminal precursor segment (58 amino acids) contains several basic residues, a characteristic feature of the precursor segment of proteins destined for mitochondria. In addition, a 14 amino acid extension is present at the COOH terminus of the mature adrenodoxin sequence. Whether this represents a COOH-terminal precursor segment is not clear. Three different adrenodoxin mRNAs are present [1.75, 1.4, and 0.95 kilobase(s) long] in bovine adrenocortical RNA. RNA from bovine corpus luteum, liver, and kidney contains transcripts that hybridize to adrenodoxin cDNA. Accumulation of adrenodoxin mRNA occurs in cultured bovine adrenocortical cells after treatment with ACTH or dibutyryl-cAMP, similar to that observed for the mitochondrial steroid hydroxylases that it services--namely, the cholesterol side-chain-cleavage cytochrome P-450 and the steroid 11 beta-hydroxylase cytochrome P-450.

To further elucidate the mechanisms by which ACTH (adrenocorticotropin) exerts its long-term action to maintain normal levels of adrenocortical cytochromes P-450 and related enzymes, the abilities of cholera toxin and prostaglandins E2 and F2 alpha to induce the synthesis of cytochromes P-450scc, P-45011 beta, and P-450C21 and adrenodoxin have been examined. These effectors stimulate the production of cyclic AMP and thus steroidogenesis in the adrenal cortex. Using bovine adrenocortical cells in primary monolayer culture, we have shown that treatment with cholera toxin results in increased synthesis of cytochromes P-450scc and P-45011 beta and adrenodoxin, similar to the effect observed upon ACTH treatment. Prostaglandins E2 and F2 alpha are less effective at inducing the synthesis of the mitochondrial cytochromes P-450, and do not seem to induce the synthesis of adrenodoxin. Furthermore, cholera toxin was found to be less effective at inducing the synthesis of microsomal cytochrome P-450C21 than ACTH, and no more effective than the prostaglandins. Thus, while it appears that elevation of cyclic AMP levels is a necessary step leading to increased synthesis of adrenocortical forms of cytochrome P-450, the detailed mechanism of this induction will be found to be different for each of the different enzymes.

The long term effect of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) on the synthesis of adrenodoxin in bovine adrenocortical cells was investigated. Primary, confluent monolayer cultures of adult bovine adrenocortical cells were incubated in the presence or absence of ACTH (10(-6) M) for periods up to 72 h. The amount of adrenodoxin precursor synthesized in a cell-free translation system programmed with RNA isolated from ACTH-treated cells increased to approximately 3 times the control level by 36 h. Similarly, ACTH increased the rate of incorporation of [35S]methionine into mature adrenodoxin in radiolabeled adrenocortical cells, an effect that was maximal 36 h after initiation of ACTH treatment. At longer times (48-72 h), the stimulatory effect of ACTH was not maintained, and adrenodoxin synthesis in both radiolabeled cells and cell-free translation systems declined to control levels. The content of adrenodoxin in cells treated with ACTH for 36 h, as measured by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, was approximately twice that in control cells. The results indicate that ACTH induces the synthesis of adrenodoxin in bovine adrenocortical cells. Based on the present results as well as those previously reported with respect to the induction of cholesterol side chain cleavage cytochrome P-450 by ACTH (DuBois, R. N., Simpson, E. R., Kramer, R. E., and Waterman, M. R. (1981) J. Biol. Chem. 256, 7000-7005), it is proposed that the synthesis of the mitochondrial components of the adrenocortical steroid hydroxylase system is controlled by ACTH in a coordinate fashion.

The specific contents of cytochrome P-450scc and adrenodoxin in corpora lutea of late pregnant sheep were, respectively, 1/5 and 1/8 that of corpora lutea of the oestrous cycle, suggesting lower steroidogenic enzyme capacity in the former. The contents of Complex V proteins were also lower in the corpora lutea of late pregnancy. It was observed in the immunoblots of both Complex V and cytochrome P-450scc that immunoreactive bands of molecular weights lower than the native proteins were present in the samples from corpora lutea of late pregnancy, indicative of degradation of the native enzymes. It is concluded that corpora lutea of sheep during late pregnancy have a much lower enzyme capacity for steroidogenesis than do those of the oestrous cycle (mid-luteal phase) due to a reduction in the content of cytochrome P-450scc and adrenodoxin. The reduction in the levels of steroidogenic enzyme proteins appears to be unspecific and probably reflects an overall demise in mitochondrial functions.

ACTH treatment of bovine adrenocortical cells in primary culture causes increased accumulation of mRNAs encoding cytochromes P-450SCC, P-450(11)beta, P-450(17) alpha, P-450C21 and adrenodoxin as well as increased transcriptional activity of their respective genes. In this study we have shown that ACTH does not greatly affect the half-life of mRNAs encoding P-450(11)beta, P-450(17)alpha, P-450C21 and adrenodoxin. However, in the case of P-450SCC mRNA, ACTH causes a five-fold increase in the half-life leading to a significant stabilization of P-450SCC mRNA. Thus it appears that the levels of mRNAs encoding P-450(11)beta, P-450(17)alpha, P-450C21 and adrenodoxin are regulated by ACTH primarily at the transcriptional level, while that for P-450SCC is regulated at both the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels.

The 5'-end of the bovine adrenodoxin gene contains unique structural characteristics. Exons 1 and 2 appear to encode different presequences for this mitochondrial precursor protein. However, exon 1 contains a stop codon (TAA) in place of amino acid 15. Thus, while two species of bovine adrenodoxin mRNA arise from a single gene, only the abundant mRNA species (90%) is translated into the adrenodoxin precursor which contains the presequence encoded by exon 2. The minor mRNA species (10%) contains the sequence encoded by exon 1 and cannot be translated into an adrenodoxin precursor. Presumably the sequence within exon 2 is removed from this minor mRNA species by alternative splicing. Furthermore, the initiation of transcription of the major adrenodoxin mRNA (exon 2) lies within intron 1 of this unusual gene, while that for the other mRNA (exon 1) lies in the 5'-flanking region. Thus, the adrenodoxin gene is the first example of a gene encoding a mitochondrial protein which falls into the category of genes having alternate promoters utilizing a pattern of alternative splicing.

To investigate the molecular basis for the pattern of ovarian steroid production during the bovine estrous cycle, the relative levels of mRNA specific for cholesterol side-chain cleavage cytochrome P-450, 17 alpha-hydroxylase cytochrome P-450, adrenodoxin, and low density lipoprotein receptor were determined in ovarian antral follicles of differing size (less than 3-18 mm) and corpora lutea from the early, early-mid, late-mid, and regressionary stages. Total and poly(A)+ RNA was size-fractionated on agarose-formaldehyde gels, transferred to nylon filters and hybridized to specific 32P-labeled probes. The levels of mRNAs for the rate-limiting enzymes in the conversion of cholesterol into progesterone, namely cholesterol side-chain cleavage cytochrome P-450 and its electron donor, adrenodoxin, were higher in corpora lutea than in follicles. Conversely the levels of mRNA specific for the key regulatory enzyme in the conversion of pregnenolone or progesterone to androgen, namely 17 alpha-hydroxylase cytochrome P-450, were high in all antral follicles examined but were low in young corpora lutea and undetectable in more mature corpora lutea. Low density lipoprotein receptor mRNA was detectable in antral follicles and corpora lutea but the levels were greater in corpora lutea. These results suggest that the pattern of changes in steroid hormone biosynthesis during the bovine estrous cycle and in the ovarian content of steroidogenic enzymes is related to and probably dependent upon the pattern of change in levels of mRNAs for steroidogenic enzymes and related proteins.

The synthesis of cholesterol side chain cleavage cytochrome P-450 (cytochrome P-450scc) and adrenodoxin was studied both in freshly harvested bovine granulosa cells and in granulosa cells maintained in primary monolayer culture. In addition, the action of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and cyclic AMP analogs to stimulate the synthesis of cytochrome P-450scc was investigated in cultured cells. Precursor forms of cytochrome P-450scc and adrenodoxin were immunoisolated from a cell-free translation system directed by RNA prepared from freshly obtained granulosa cells that were not luteinized. Furthermore, the presence of cytochrome P-450scc in lysates of granulosa cells freshly obtained from very small follicles (containing less than 0.1 ml of follicular fluid) and in mitochondria of freshly obtained granulosa cells was demonstrated by using an immunoblotting technique. Continuous treatment of cultured granulosa cells with FSH or with cyclic AMP analogs (dibutyryl cyclic AMP or 8-bromo cyclic AMP) for 72 h increased incorporation of [35S]methionine into immunoprecipitable cytochrome P-450scc. Moreover, FSH, dibutyryl cyclic AMP, and 8-bromo cyclic AMP stimulated pregnenolone production by cultured granulosa cells (2.3-, 4.0-, and 7.5-fold increase over control, respectively), indicative of an increase in cholesterol side chain cleavage activity. The results of this study demonstrate for the first time the presence of two components of the cholesterol side chain cleavage system in freshly obtained granulosa cells, and provide direct evidence for the trophic effect of FSH and its presumed mediator, cyclic AMP, on the synthesis of cytochrome P-450scc in granulosa cells.

The synthesis and maturation of the precursor forms of three mitochondrial enzymes involved in steroid hormone biosynthesis have been studied in vivo. Primary cultures of bovine adrenocortical cells were radiolabeled with [35S] methionine and newly synthesized cholesterol side-chain cleavage cytochrome P-450 (P-450scc), 11 beta-hydroxylase cytochrome P-450 (P-450(11)beta), and adrenodoxin immunoisolated using specific antibodies. Both the precursor and mature forms of P-450scc and P-450(11)beta were detected during short periods of pulse labeling; however, the precursor forms were transitory in nature while their corresponding mature forms accumulated. Pulse-chase experiments showed that the precursor form of each cytochrome P-450 had an apparent half-life of 3.5 min. In contrast, the precursor form of adrenodoxin was not readily detected in pulse-labeling experiments until a substantial amount of its mature form had accumulated. When the cultured cells were treated with a chelator of divalent cations (o-phenanthroline) or a mitochondrial uncoupler (dinitrophenol), the maturation of all three precursors was inhibited. The synthesis of the P-450scc and P-450(11)beta precursors was induced in cells maintained in the presence of adrenocorticotropin, and the rates of appearance of their processed forms were also increased. The mature forms of all three proteins were immunoisolated from a trypsinized mitochondrial fraction prepared from the radiolabeled cells, demonstrating that the mature proteins were localized within the organelle. These studies establish that the maturation of the precursor forms of the mitochondrial steroidogenic enzymes are characterized by steps similar to those reported for other mitochondrial precursor proteins.

Bovine adrenodoxin mRNA is found to consist of several distinct mRNA species which can be divided into two sets. Each set utilizes at least three of four separate poly(A)+ addition sites providing an explanation of the three sizes of adrenodoxin mRNA (1.75, 1.4, and 0.95 kilobases) previously observed in bovine adrenocortical RNA by this laboratory (Okamura, T., John, M.E., Zuber, M.X., Simpson, E.R., and Waterman, M.R. (1985) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 82, 5705-5709). The two sets are distinguished from one another by a unique 5' sequence leading to two different amino acid sequences (approximately 10% homology) for the precursor portion of this nuclear encoded, mitochondrial protein. A common mature adrenodoxin sequence is encoded by both sets of mRNA. One set of RNAs is 10-fold more abundant than the other, but the levels of both sets can be induced by treatment of primary bovine adrenocortical cell cultures with adrenocorticotropin. The biological significance of these two types of adrenodoxin precursor sequences remains obscure.

The mitochondrial proteins involved in adrenocortical steroidogenesis are synthesized as higher molecular weight precursors which require processing by the mitochondria to their mature sizes. The post-translational maturation of two of these proteins has been examined: the cholesterol side chain cleavage cytochrome P-450 (P-450scc) and the iron-sulfur protein, adrenodoxin. Total translation products synthesized in a cell-free system programmed by bovine adrenocortical poly(A+) RNA were incubated with isolated bovine adrenocortical or heart mitochondria followed by immunoisolation of radiolabeled P-450scc or adrenodoxin. In the presence of adrenocortical mitochondria, the precursor form of P-450scc was converted into a trypsin-resistant form that had the same molecular weight as mature P-450scc. Unlike adrenocortical mitochondria, heart mitochondria were unable to process the P-450scc precursor which remained unaltered and trypsin-sensitive. In addition, a matrix fraction of heart mitochondria did not cleave the P-450scc precursor. In contrast, the adrenodoxin precursor did not exhibit similar specificity as it was processed to the mature form by both adrenocortical and heart mitochondria. Also, the adrenocortical mitochondria were not restricted to processing endogenous proteins as they imported and cleaved the precursor to ornithine transcarbamylase. The results indicate that some mitochondrial precursor proteins have tertiary structures which allow them to be recognized by all mitochondria while other mitochondrial precursor proteins have structures recognizable by only specialized mitochondria.

The turnover of newly synthesized cytochromes P-450scc and P-45011 beta, and adrenodoxin was investigated in bovine adrenocortical cells in primary monolayer cultures. Cells were pulse-radiolabeled with [35S]methionine, and specific newly synthesized enzymes were immunoisolated at various times following labeling and quantitated. Adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) treatment did not alter the average turnover rate of total cellular proteins or that of total mitochondrial proteins. The half-life of total cellular proteins of control and ACTH-treated cells was determined to be 20.5 and 23 h, respectively. The half-life of mitochondrial proteins of control and ACTH-treated cells was determined to be 42.5 and 44 h, respectively. The turnover rate of newly synthesized cytochrome P-450scc was approximately the same as total mitochondrial protein (t1/2 = 38 h), and was unchanged by ACTH treatment (t1/2 = 42 h). ACTH treatment did not greatly alter the turnover rate of adrenodoxin. The half-life of adrenodoxin from control and ACTH-treated cells was determined to be 20 and 17 h, respectively. However, ACTH treatment appeared to increase the half-life of cytochrome P-45011 beta from 16 h in control cells to 24 h in treated cells. The differential rate of turnover of mitochondrial proteins studied here supports the contention that mitochondria are subject to heterogeneous degradation. It appears that chronic treatment of bovine adrenocortical cells in culture with ACTH leads to increased steroidogenic capacity, primarily as a result of increased synthesis of steroidogenic enzymes, although, as shown for cytochrome P-45011 beta, ACTH action might also increase steroidogenic capacity by increasing the half-life of this steroid hydroxylase.

Treatment of rats with methylandrostenediol (MAD), an anabolic androgen, caused a profound reduction (65%) in the level of cytochrome P-450 11 beta in rat adrenocortical mitochondria as measured by immunoblots using a specific antibody. The decreases in mitochondrial cytochrome P-450scc (15%) and adrenodoxin (20%) were much less than that observed for cytochrome P-45011 beta. A 35% decrease in adrenal microsomal cytochrome P-450 21 and NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase levels was brought about by the treatment with MAD. The data establish that the preferential decrease in adrenal steroid 11 beta-hydroxylase activity associated with androgen treatment results from a decrease in cytochrome P-450 11 beta. This is consistent with the role of 11-deoxycorticosterone in the pathogenesis of androgen-induced hypertension in rats.

To investigate the basis for the pattern of ovarian steroid production during the bovine estrous cycle, the tissue concentrations of major steroidogenic enzymes, 17 alpha-hydroxylase cytochrome P-450 and cholesterol side-chain cleavage cytochrome P-450 (cytochrome P-450scc), and their respective electron donors, NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase and adrenodoxin, were estimated and compared with those of the nonsteroidogenic enzymes, cytochrome c oxidase and F1-ATPase. The levels of these enzymes were estimated in medium sized (9-11 mm) and large (14-18 mm) follicles after removal of follicular fluid by centrifugation, and corpora lutea from the early, early-mid late-mid, and late stages of the luteal phase (n = 5 per group). The specific contents of all enzymes and electron donors were determined by immunoblot analysis, except for cytochrome c oxidase, which was quantified by determination of specific activity. The specific (per microgram of tissue homogenate protein) and total (per follicle or corpus luteum) tissue contents of 17 alpha-hydroxylase cytochrome P-450 increased 0.5- and 5-fold respectively from medium sized to large follicles, but then decreased to undetectable levels in corpora lutea in the early luteal phase, and remained undetectable throughout the luteal phase. In contrast, the specific content of NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase was similar between follicles and corpora lutea. The specific contents of cytochrome P-450scc, adrenodoxin and cytochrome c oxidase in follicles were similar to those of corpora lutea of the early luteal phase. However, by the early-mid luteal phase the specific contents of luteal cytochrome P-450scc (490 +/- 46 vs. 5709 +/- 982 cpm/micrograms protein) and adrenodoxin (44 +/- 15 vs. 705 +/- 229 cpm/micrograms protein) were increased, by 12- and 15-fold, respectively (P less than 0.05). In contrast, cytochrome c oxidase activity (29.1 +/- 10.1 vs. 108.6 +/- 20.7 nmol/mg tissue protein X min) and the specific content of F1-ATPase increased only 3- to 4-fold reflective of an increase in numbers of mitochondria. The levels of these enzymes remained elevated until the late luteal phase when they declined markedly. It is concluded that the induction of synthesis of P-450scc and adrenodoxin after ovulation is specific and does not merely reflect biogenesis of mitochondria during luteinization. Moreover the changes in the types of steroids produced by the ovarian compartments throughout the estrous cycle are a reflection of changes in the tissue content of steroidogenic enzymes.

Since the nucleotide sequence of bovine adrenodoxin cDNA is at variance with protein sequencing data in that it encodes an additional 14 amino acids at the COOH terminus, we used a specific antibody raised against this 14-amino-acid segment to examine its presence in: nascent precursor polypeptide chains, the processed mature adrenodoxin and mitochondria of both steroidogenic and nonsteroidogenic tissues. These studies reveal the presence of the extra peptide in the precursor form derived from in vitro translation and in the newly synthesized mature form as shown by [35S]methionine labeling of proteins in adrenocortical cells. Both the purified COOH-terminal synthetic peptide and purified mature adrenodoxin competed with radiolabeled adrenodoxin for immunoprecipitation by the anti-peptide antibody. Immunoblots revealed the presence of the extra peptide in purified adrenodoxin and in bovine adrenocortical, corpus luteal, kidney and liver mitochondria while it was not detectable in heart mitochondria. Thus, we conclude that mature adrenodoxin and its homologs in non-steroidogenic tissues contain the C-terminal extension following uptake into mitochondria. These results indicate structural homology between adrenodoxin and the iron-sulfur proteins of the kidney and liver and also suggest the presence of a second iron-sulfur protein in kidney and liver.

Transfected, nonsteroidogenic COS-1 cells derived from monkey kidney are found to be capable of supporting the initial and rate-limiting step common to all steroidogenic pathways, the side-chain cleavage of cholesterol to produce pregnenolone. Endogenous COS-1 kidney cell renodoxin reductase and renodoxin are able to sustain low levels of this activity catalyzed by bovine cholesterol side-chain cleavage cytochrome P450 (P450scc) whose synthesis is directed by a transfected plasmid containing P450scc cDNA. Double transfection with both P450scc and adrenodoxin plasmids leads to greater pregnenolone production and indicates that adrenodoxin plays a role as a substrate for this reaction or that bovine adrenodoxin serves as a better electron donor than the endogenous iron-sulfur protein renodoxin. Also it is found that both the bovine adrenodoxin and P450scc precursor proteins are proteolytically processed upon their uptake by COS-1 cell mitochondria to forms having the same electrophoretic mobility as mature bovine adrenodoxin and P450scc. Following triple transfection of COS-1 cells with P450scc, adrenodoxin, and 17 alpha-hydroxylase cytochrome P450 plasmids, pregnenolone produced in mitochondria by the side-chain cleavage reaction can be further metabolized in the endoplasmic reticulum to 17 alpha-hydroxypregnenolone and dehydroepiandrosterone. Although this functional steroidogenic pathway can be incorporated into this nonsteroidogenic cell type, it is found to be nonresponsive to cAMP, a potent activator of steroid hormone biosynthesis in adrenal cortex, testis, and ovary. Thus the cellular mechanisms necessary to support both microsomal and mitochondrial steroid hydroxylase activities appear not to be tissue specific, whereas the acute cAMP-dependent regulation of steroidogenesis is not present in transformed kidney (COS-1) cells.

The actions of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), 8-bromo-cyclic AMP (8-Br-cAMP), and low density lipoprotein (LDL) to stimulate the production of progesterone and the synthesis of cholesterol side chain cleavage cytochrome P-450 (cytochrome P-450ssc) and adrenodoxin were investigated in bovine granulosa cells maintained in primary monolayer culture. Treatment of granulosa cells in culture with FSH resulted in an increased incorporation of [35S]methionine into immunoprecipitable cytochrome P-450scc in a concentration-dependent fashion with a maximal effect being obtained at an FSH concentration of 500 ng/ml. Treatment of granulosa cells with FSH also resulted in the induction of synthesis of adrenodoxin. The cyclic AMP analog, 8-Br-cAMP, induced the synthesis of both cytochrome P-450scc and adrenodoxin to a greater extent than did FSH. LDL also stimulated the synthesis of both cytochrome P-450scc and adrenodoxin, when added to cells maintained in the presence of lipoprotein-poor serum. The presence of FSH or 8-Br-cAMP together with LDL resulted in a higher rate of enzyme synthesis than that observed with each effector alone. FSH, 8-Br-cAMP, and LDL also stimulated progesterone production by cultured granulosa cells. The results of this study offer a possible mechanism whereby granulosa cells undergo cytodifferentiation in vivo into luteal cells. The concentration of LDL in follicular fluid is very low. Following ovulation, vascularization of the follicle occurs and thus the granulosa cells are exposed to high levels of LDL, allowing for provision of substrate cholesterol, as well as stimulation of the synthesis of the enzymes involved in cholesterol side chain cleavage.