Isoform‐Dependent Effects of Cytochrome P450 Oxidoreductase Polymorphisms on Drug Metabolism by Cytochrome P450 Enzymes in Dogs
Authors: Martinez Stephanie E. , Pandey Amit V. , Court Michael H. 
Published: June 2021

Cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase (POR) is the obligate electron donor for all microsomal cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes. We have recently discovered three polymorphisms in the dog POR coding region resulting in one (POR‐H2 and POR‐H4) or two (POR‐H3) amino acid substitutions. In humans, POR mutations can have CYP isoform‐dependent effects on CYP enzyme activity depending on the POR amino acid residue that is substituted.1 Genotyping of 2,040 DNA samples collected from 65 different dog breeds revealed a heterogeneous distribution of POR alleles across breeds. The POR‐H2 allele was found in 19 of 65 breeds and was most common in Rottweilers and Doberman Pinschers (51% and 19% allele frequencies, respectively). The POR‐H3 allele was found in 8 of 65 breeds and was most common in Scottish Deerhounds and Greyhounds (36% and 35% allele frequencies, respectively). The POR‐H4 allele was rare, only being found in 5 of 2,040 dogs. Greyhounds have been shown to metabolize substrates of CYP2B11 (but not other CYPs including CYP2D15) much more slowly compared with mixed‐breed dogs.2 Preliminary studies identified polymorphisms in the CYP2B11 gene that only partially explained reduced CYP2B11 metabolism in Greyhounds. Consequently, we hypothesized that the newly discovered canine POR variants found in Greyhounds would reduce CYP metabolism in a CYP isoform‐dependent manner. The aim of this study was to determine the functional impact of the canine POR variants on drug metabolism by CYP2B11 and CYP2D15 in vitro. In silico molecular structure modelling predicted that POR‐H3 and POR‐H4 but not POR‐H2 would have altered function. The three POR variants and wild‐type were expressed alone or co‐expressed with CYP2B11 or CYP2D15 using an insect cell system. Enzyme kinetic experiments were conducted to determine the impact of the mutations on POR function and CYP‐catalyzed reactions. The POR variants were not significantly different from wild‐type POR in protein expression or function (cytochrome c reduction) when expressed alone. POR variants also did not significantly alter CYP2D15 protein level or catalytic activities or CYP2B11 protein level when co‐expressed. However, POR‐H3 and POR‐H4 (but not POR‐H2) significantly reduced CYP2B11 catalytic efficiency (CLint) by 37% and 69%, respectively, compared to wild‐type POR. This was due to reduced maximal velocities (Vmax) but not substrate affinities (Km). POR‐H3 and POR‐H4 appear to reduce CYP activities in a CYP isoform‐dependent manner. Further investigations are needed to determine POR variant effects on other CYP isoforms and redox partners. The POR‐H3 and POR‐H4 variants are likely to contribute to slower CYP2B11 drug metabolism in Greyhounds and possibly related sighthound breeds (such as Scottish Deerhounds), but results must be confirmed in vivo.

Support or Funding Information

American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation (Grants 2242 and 2529) and the William R. Jones Endowment at Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.