Chemical modification of cytochrome P450 was used to study the involvement of lysine and arginine residues in the interaction between cytochrome P450 and NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase. Acetylation of 2.2 and 8.5 mol of lysine/mole of P450 by acetic anhydride led to 38.7 and 95% reductions, respectively, in benzphetamine demethylation activity by NADPH-dependent reconstituted P450/reductase complex, while modification of up to 8.5 mol of lysine/mol of P450 did not inhibit cumene hydroperoxide-supported P450-dependent benzphetamine demethylation. Acetylation of lysine residues by acetic anhydride does not grossly disturb the P450 protein conformation as revealed by absolute, CO-difference and fluorescence spectral studies. Modification of P4502B1 by acetic anhydride did not affect its substrate binding ability either. Lysine residues of P4502B1 putatively involved in the interaction with reductase have been identified by radiolabeling of lysine residues with [14C]acetic anhydride followed by trypsin digestion, HPLC separation, and amino acid microsequencing. Radiolabeled lysines occur at positions 251, 384, 422, 433, and 473. Modification of arginine residues in P4502B1 with phenylglyoxal and 2,3-butanedione seemed to have no significant effect on the benzphetamine demethylation activity of P4502B1 either reconstituted with reductase and NADPH or supported by cumene hydroperoxide. Studies of incorporation of [14C]phenylglyoxal showed no concentration- or time-dependent incorporation of phenylglyoxal into the P4502B1. These results support the hypothesis of a predominant role of lysine residuesof P450 in the electrostatic interaction with NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase. © 1993 Academic Press, Inc.
