The reconstitution of microsomal redox chains. A comparative analysis of the effectiveness of membrane self-assembly and template binding of electron carriers

A comparative analysis was made of the effectiveness of three methods for the reconstitution of microsomal electron-transfer chains, namely, self-assembly, incorporation of electron carriers into liposomes (non-specific template) and incorporation into ‘ghosts’ of microsomal vesicles (specific template). It was shown that when the ‘ghosts’ of the microsomal vesicles were used as a specific template extra cytochrome b5 and NADH-specific flavoprotein were incorporated into them, but cytochrome P-450 and NADPH-specific flavoprotein were not incorporated into the membrane. As a result of the self-assembly and incorporation into liposomes all the electron carriers were present in the reconstituted membrane. Cytochrome P-450 reactivation took place and the inactive form, cytochrome P-420, was converted into the active form, cytochrome P-450. Of the four enzyme hydroxylation systems studied, i.e. NADPH- and NADH-dependent p-hydroxylation of aniline, and NADPH- and NADH-dependent N-demethylation of dimethylaniline, only the NADH-dependent demethylation of dimethylaniline (60% of the initial value) and NADH-dependent p-hydroxylation of aniline (30% of the initial value) were reconstituted by self-assembly. NADPH oxidase and NADH oxidase activities were only properly reconstituted by self-assembly and incorporation into liposomes. In contrast, the NADPH-specific system of peroxidation of unsaturated fatty acids was reconstituted by specific template-binding.