Evaluation of cytochrome P-450 concentration in Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains

ARTICLE

Evaluation of cytochrome P-450 concentration in Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains

Míriam Cristina Sakuragui Matuo^*; Irene Satiko Kikuchi; Terezinha de Jesus Andreoli Pinto

Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo

ABSTRACT

Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been widely used in mutagenicity tests due to the presence of a cytochrome P-450 system, capable of metabolizing promutagens to active mutagens. There are a large number of S. cerevisiae strains with varying abilities to produce cytochrome P-450. However, strain selection and ideal cultivation conditions are not well defined. We compared cytochrome P-450 levels in four different S. cerevisiae strains and evaluated the cultivation conditions necessary to obtain the highest levels. The amount of cytochrome P-450 produced by each strain varied, as did the incubation time needed to reach the maximum level. The highest cytochrome P-450 concentrations were found in media containing fermentable sugars. The NCYC 240 strain produced the highest level of cytochrome P-450 when grown in the presence of 20 % (w/v) glucose. The addition of ethanol to the media also increased cytochrome P-450 synthesis in this strain. These results indicate cultivation conditions must be specific and well-established for the strain selected in order to assure high cytochrome P-450 levels and reliable mutagenicity results.

Uniterms: Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Cytochrome P-450/obtention. Cytochrome P-450/cultivation conditions. Ethanol. Carbon sources.

RESUMO

Linhagens de Saccharomyces cerevisiae tem sido amplamente empregadas em testes de mutagenicidade devido à presença de um sistema citocromo P-450 capaz de metabolizar substâncias pró-mutagênicas à sua forma ativa. Devido à grande variedade de linhagens de S. cerevisiae com diferentes capacidades de produção de citocromo P-450, torna-se necessária a seleção de cepas, bem como a definição das condições ideais de cultivo. Neste trabalho, foram comparados os níveis de citocromo P-450 em quatro diferentes linhagens de S. cerevisiae e avaliadas as condições de cultivo necessárias para obtenção de altas concentrações deste sistema enzimático. O maior nível enzimático foi encontrado na linhagem NCYC 240 em presença de 20 % de glicose (p/v). A adição de etanol ao meio de cultura também produziu um aumento na síntese de citocromo P-450. Estes resultados indicam que as condições de cultivo devem ser específicas e bem definidas para a linhagem selecionada, garantindo assim elevados níveis de citocromo P-450 e, conseqüentemente, a confiabilidade nos testes de mutagenicidade.

Unitermos:Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Citocromo P-450/obtenção. Citocromo P-450/condições de cultivo. Etanol. Fontes de carbono.

INTRODUCTION

Short-term screening tests for detecting mutagenic chemicals have been developed that do not involve the use of laboratory animals. One of the widely adopted assays is the mutagenicity test using Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This yeast has an internal cell structure similar to that of higher organisms, grows quickly, and is easily cultivated and manipulated by modern genetic techniques (Terziyska et al., 2000). Most importantly, S. cerevisiae contains an endogenous cytochrome P-450 system, similar to that found in mammalian cells, capable of metabolizing promutagens to their active form (Kelly, Parry, 1983). S. cerevisiae has been used in drug development and to study the metabolic activation of carcinogens and xenobiotics. S. cerevisiae strain D7, genetically modified for detection of chemicals that induce mitotic cross over and mitotic gene conversion (Zimmermann et al., 1975), has been widely employed in mutagenicity tests (Pellacani et al., 2006; Miadokova et al., 2008). In addition, other strains are also used as model organisms (Lichtenberg-Fraté et al., 2003).

The biological action of many chemicals is strictly dependent on high cytochrome P-450 levels (Buschini et al., 2003). Therefore, the use of yeast cells with high cytochrome P-450 concentrations is required for reliable results. There are a large number of S. cerevisiae strains and the level of cytochrome P-450 production varies among them. Therefore, strain selection can be difficult, as is determining the ideal cultivation conditions necessary to obtain high cytochrome P-450 levels.

Previous studies have investigated factors that influence cytochrome P-450 content in S. cerevisiae, such as growth phase and glucose concentration (Wiseman et al., 1975) as well as the substrate supporting growth (Kärenlampi et al., 1981). However, these studies were performed using different strains, leading to discrepancies among the results obtained (Kelly, Parry, 1983; Von Borstel et al., 1958). To the best of our knowledge, only one report has compared cytochrome P-450 levels produced by different strains (Kärenlampi et al., 1980). In the present study, cytochrome P-450 production was compared in four S. cerevisiae strains (D7, NCYC 240, ATCC 2366, and ATCC 9080), and best cultivation conditions determined for obtaining cells with high cytochrome P-450 content.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Yeast strains

The S. cerevisiae strains used in this study were: D7 (ATCC 201137), genetically modified for detection of chemicals that induce mitotic crossover and mitotic gene conversion (Zimmerman et al., 1975); NCYC 240 (ATCC 44953), employed in previous studies of cytochrome P-450 induction (Wiseman et al., 1975; Kärenlampi et al., 1981); ATCC 9080; and ATCC 2366, reported in studies of cytochrome P-450 in ergosterol biosynthesis (Hata et al., 1981) and with antineoplastic agents (Delitheos et al., 1995), respectively.

D7 and NCYC 240 strains were purchased from the American Type Culture Collection (Manassas, VA). ATCC 9080 and ATCC 2366 were kindly donated by the National Institute of Quality Control in Health (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). The strains were maintained on slants of Sabouraud dextrose agar.

Culture conditions and growth curves

The ATCC 9080 and 2366 strains were inoculated (10⁵ cells mL^-1) in 100 mL of liquid growth media and incubated in a water bath orbital shaker at 120 rpm, 30 ºC for up to 48 h. The media contained the following: 1 % (w/v) yeast extract, 2 % (w/v) peptone, 0.5 % (w/v) NaCl (Blatiak et al., 1987). Carbon sources were added to the media at final concentrations of 2 % and 20 % (w/v) in separate experiments. The carbon sources were: D-glucose, D-galactose, sucrose, D-mannose, maltose, D-fructose, lactose, and glycerol. The effect of ethanol on cytochrome P-450 concentration was evaluated for the NCYC 240 strain. Ethanol, at a final concentration of 2 % (v/v), was added to media containing 2 % and 20 % (w/v) glucose, and incubated in sealed flasks in a water bath orbital shaker as described above. For growth curves, samples were harvested at different times and the number of viable cells determined by plating on Sabouraud dextrose agar incubated at 30 ºC for 48 h.

Cytochrome P-450 determination in whole cells

Cells were harvested at different times during the exponential phase, washed twice with 0.1 M phosphate buffer pH 7.4, and resuspended in the same buffer. The cell concentration was adjusted to 10⁹ cells mL^-1. Cytochrome P-450 was determined directly in whole cells (Buschini et al., 2003; Stansfield, Kelly, 1996) by the method of Omura and Sato (1964). Approximately 5 mg mL^-1 of sodium dithionite was added to each cell suspension and the baseline of between 390 and 500 nm recorded using a Beckman Coulter model DU 640 (Fullerton, CA) spectrophotometer. Carbon monoxide was bubbled through the sample cuvette for 20 seconds and after 2-3 minutes the scan was repeated. The concentration of cytochrome P-450 was calculated by the difference between absorption peaks at 450 nm and 490 nm. An extinction coefficient of 91 cm^-1mM^-1 was used. The experiments were performed at least three times, and the data presented in the figures are expressed as mean values. The statistical analysis was performed by analysis of variance (ANOVA). Mean values were considered significantly different at P<0.05.

RESULTS

Influence of carbon source on cytochrome P-450 level

Growth curves were obtained for the ATCC 9080 and 2366 strains, cultured in media supplemented with eight different carbon sources at concentrations of 2 % (w/v) (Figure 1). In both strains studied, the growth rate was higher in media containing D-glucose, D-mannose, D-galactose, maltose, and sucrose. In contrast, lactose, glycerol, and D-fructose promoted lower cell growth (Table I). Based on the growth curves, the utilization of different carbon sources by the yeast was compared and the exponential growth phase was determined. Cytochrome P-450 determinations were performed during the logarithmic growth phase (Wiseman et al., 1975) when maximum levels were reached.

The ATCC 9080 strain was cultured in media containing 2 % (w/v) D-glucose or sucrose (strongly fermentable sugars), 2 % (w/v) D-mannose (respiration and fermentation simultaneously), and 2 % (w/v) glycerol (non-fermentable carbon source) until the end of the exponential growth phase was reached (12 h of incubation). The highest cytochrome P-450 level was found in cells grown in the presence of fermentable carbon sources (Figure 2).

Cytochrome P-450 levels in different Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains

Growth curves and cytochrome P-450 concentrations were determined for different S. cerevisiae strains, cultured in media containing low and high glucose concentrations of 2 % and 20 % (w/v), respectively (Figure 3). Table II shows the maximum cytochrome P-450 concentrations obtained from each strain.

In the ATCC 9080 strain cultured in low glucose media, the maximum cytochrome P-450 level in the low glucose media was obtained after 12 h of incubation, marking the end of exponential growth (Figure 3a). This level fell sharply when the cells entered the stationary phase. The increase in glucose concentration (from 2 % to 20 %) caused a slight increase in the final cell population. Although the cellular mass was higher at 20 % glucose than in 2 % glucose, the level of cytochrome P-450 did not differ significantly (P= 0.18). However, the exponential growth phase was extended at the high glucose concentration. Consequently, the incubation time to reach the maximum cytochrome P-450 level changed from 12 h in 2 % glucose to 24 h in 20 % glucose. Similar effects occurred in the ATCC 2366 and D7 strains (Figure 3b-c). No significant difference was observed between the maximum cytochrome P-450 concentrations in 2 % and 20 % glucose in the ATCC 2366 (P=0.19) or D7 (P=0.05) strains. In the NCYC 240 strain (Figure 3d) however, the higher glucose concentration (2 % to 20 %) elevated the cytochrome P-450 level (P=0.04).

Effect of ethanol on cytochrome P-450 concentration

The effect of the addition of ethanol to media on cytochrome P-450 concentration was evaluated in the NCYC 240 strain. Figure 4 shows the growth curves and Figure 5 shows the cytochrome P-450 concentrations obtained for the NCYC 240 strain cultured in media containing 2 % and 20 % (w/v) glucose, in the presence and absence of 2 % (v/v) ethanol. Cells were harvested at different intervals during growth. Cytochrome P-450 production was significantly increased by the addition of ethanol to the media containing 2 % glucose (P=0.008). However, this effect was not observed in cells cultured in 20 % glucose with addition of 2 % ethanol (P=0.59).

DISCUSSION

The S. cerevisiae cultivation conditions were initially evaluated for the ATCC 9080 and ATCC 2366 strains commonly found in Brazil. In the presence of different carbon sources, these strains presented similar growth, as evaluated by the cellular mass obtained (Table I). Moreover, the growth curves of the ATCC 9080 and ATCC 2366 strains showed growth was higher in cells cultured in media containing strongly fermentable sugars (D-glucose and sucrose) and in the presence of D-mannose, D-galactose, and maltose, where fermentation and respiration occur concomitantly (Figure 1). Therefore, cytochrome P-450 determination was performed in cells cultured in D-glucose, D-mannose, sucrose, and glycerol, selected according to the carbohydrate utilization of the yeast.

Our results indicated that although growth rates were very similar, cytochrome P-450 levels varied according to the type of sugar utilized as the carbon source. As shown in Figure 2, the ATCC 9080 strain produced the highest cytochrome P-450 levels in the presence of glucose and sucrose. In cells cultured in media containing D-mannose, cytochrome P-450 was also produced albeit at lower levels. However, in the presence of glycerol, no cytochrome P-450 was detected. These results corroborate those of Kärenlampi et al. (1981), who demonstrated cytochrome P-450 was produced when cells were grown in sugars whose degradation proceeds via fermentation.

Since glucose was capable of promoting high cellular mass and inducing high cytochrome P-450 levels, this sugar was employed in the evaluation of cytochrome-P450 production by different strains. Wiseman et al. (1975) demonstrated that cytochrome P-450 reaches maximum concentration at the end of the exponential growth phase. However, our data evidenced that slight changes in the incubation time needed to reach the maximum level can occur depending on the strain. In the ATCC 2366 strain cultured in 2 % glucose (Figure 3b), determinations performed at the beginning (6 h) and middle (8 h) of the exponential phase and during the stationary phase (12 h and 16 h) resulted in very low cytochrome P-450 levels (not detectable). Cytochrome P-450 was only detected at 10 h of incubation, corresponding to the end of exponential growth phase. However, in 20 % glucose, the maximum concentration was found during the exponential growth phase at 12 h of incubation. The opposite occurred with the D7 strain (Figure 3c) where in 2 % glucose, this strain produced the maximum cytochrome P-450 level at the end of the exponential growth phase (16 h of incubation). In high glucose concentration (20 %) however, the cytochrome P-450 peak appeared when cells had already entered the stationary phase. These results indicate that the maximum level of cytochrome P-450 occurs in a short and specific period of growth, not necessarily at the end of the exponential growth phase, and depends on the cultivation conditions and strain tested.

The production of cytochrome P-450 can be influenced by glucose concentration, depending on the characteristics of the S. cerevisiae strain. These differences among strains may account for the discrepancies in results obtained by several authors. Our data also suggests the capacity to maintain high amounts of cytochrome P-450 varies among the strains. As shown in Figure 3a - d, the NCYC 240 and D7 strains cultured in 20 % glucose were able to maintain high cytochrome P-450 levels longer, in comparison to ATCC 2366 at the same glucose concentration.

The cytochrome P-450 concentrations found in S. cerevisiae strains cultured in 2 % and 20 % glucose are summarized in Table II. Incubation time to reach maximum cytochrome P-450 levels, the effect of glucose concentration, and cytochrome P-450 levels produced, differed among the strains. In our experiments, the ATCC 9080, ATCC 2366, and D7 strains produced similar levels of cytochrome P-450 even in the presence of high glucose concentration. The maximum level produced by these strains was around 1.0 nmol/10⁹ cells. In contrast, the concentration of cytochrome P-450 in the strain NCYC 240 was approximately two-fold higher, making it a good source of cytochrome P-450.

The regulation of cytochrome P-450 levels in S. cerevisiae has not been well elucidated. However, several studies have examined the mechanisms underlying cytochrome P-450 accumulation. One hypothesis holds that accumulation of cytochrome P-450 is caused by a catabolite of the sugar, or an effector generated by this catabolite (Buschini et al., 2003). Other reports have suggested that ethanol is the catabolite involved in the control of cytochrome P-450 content, inducing its production (Blatiak et al., 1987; Morita, Mifuchi, 1984). The fermentative capacity, as well as the amount of metabolites produced, is an inherent characteristic of each strain. If ethanol, produced during fermentation, can induce the accumulation of cytochrome P-450, then strains with higher fermentative capacity should be able to produce high cytochrome P-450 levels. Thus, the higher cytochrome P-450 concentration produced by strain NCYC 240 is possibly due to its higher fermentative capacity.

Ethanol induction of cytochrome P-450 was evaluated in the NCYC 240 strain which produced higher levels of cytochrome P-450 than the other strains studied. Ethanol is known to cause toxic effects on yeast cells, including inhibition of growth and viability (Walker, 1998). This toxicity was observed in cells cultured in 2 % and 20 % glucose with addition of 2 % ethanol (Figure 4). Although the growth rates were lower in the presence of ethanol, the levels of cytochrome P-450 were higher in cells grown in ethanol and 2 % glucose (Figure 5). This enhancement of cytochrome P-450 by ethanol may be explained by changes in the yeast physiology in response to ethanol toxicity, such as acceleration of ergosterol biosynthesis and increase in ethanol metabolism (Walker, 1998). Previous studies have suggested involvement of cytochrome P-450 in ergosterol biosynthesis (Hata et al., 1981; Ayoama et al., 1984), thus an increase in ergosterol biosynthesis by the addition of ethanol to media may induce cytochrome P-450 production in yeast. In contrast, cells cultured in 20 % glucose did not present changes in cytochrome P-450 levels with the addition of ethanol to the media (Figure 5). One possible explanation for this result is that the high fermentation rate in the presence of 20 % glucose led to a higher ethanol level. Del Carratore et al. (1984) reported that ethanol concentrations above 3 % in media lead to a decrease in cytochrome P-450 concentrations. Thus, as the initial ethanol concentration in the media was 2 %, an increase in this concentration could have made the media unsuitable for cytochrome P-450 synthesis.

Our results showed that the conditions required to obtain S. cerevisiae cells with a high cytochrome P-450 level are specific for each strain. Thus, growth conditions must be evaluated in detail and established specifically for the strain selected as the model organism. Given the variations in cytochrome P-450 production, the choice of strain should be considered carefully, so as to select organisms with high cytochrome P-450 content. Our study indicated that the NCYC 240 strain is capable of producing high cytochrome P-450 levels and that cytochrome P-450 production can be increased by cultivation in the presence of 2 % glucose and 2 % ethanol for a 28 h-incubation period at 30 ºC and 120 rpm. Under these conditions, the cytochrome P-450 concentration reached by the NCYC 240 strain was around 2.98 nmol/10⁹ cells. Our data suggests the NCYC 240 strain is capable of producing high cytochrome P-450 levels and that its potential should be investigated further.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors are grateful to the Brazilian Government (CNPq - Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico) for financial support.

Received for publication on 16^th January 2009

Accepted for publication on 09^th March 2010

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  12 Nov 2010
• Date of issue
  Sept 2010

History

• Received
  16 Jan 2009
• Accepted
  09 Mar 2010