JBC, Vol. 250, Issue 18, 7159-7167, Sep, 1975
Stoichiometry of 4-methyl sterol oxidase of rat liver microsomes
J. L. Gaylor, Y. Miyake and T. Yamano
The stoichiometry of 4-methyl sterol oxidase has been investigated by
concurrent assays of rates of oxygen consumption, oxidation of reduced
pyridine nucleotide, and formation of steroid 4alpha-oic acid, which is the
oxidized product of attack of 4-methyl sterol precursors of cholesterol.
The basal, steroid-independent rates of oxidation of alpha-NADH and
alpha-NADH-dependent oxygen consumption by rat liver microsomes are about
10 to 15% of the rates observed with beta-NADH. Thus, alpha-NADH is
substituted for beta-NADH; alpha-NADH oxidation is observed
spectrophotometrically. The slow rate of oxygen consumption is measured
accurately with a galvanic oxygen electrode that is attached to an offset
amplifier. For maximal velocity,
4alpha-hydroxymethyl-5alpha-cholest-7-en-3beta-ol is the steroid substrate,
and oxidase activity is induced 2-fold with a dietary bile acid
sequestrant. Under these conditions, accurate measurements are obtained for
substrate-dependent increments, which are equal to or greater than basal,
substrate-independent rates. For each equivalent of hydroxymethyl group
oxidized to carboxylic acid, 2 eq each of oxygen and alpha-NADH are
consumed. Thus, the stoichiometry is consistent with that expected for two
sequential attacks of the 4alpha-hydroxymethyl group by an external mixed
function oxidase. In addition to establishing the stoichiometry of the
4-methyl sterol oxidase, the results further demonstrate that the steroidal
4alpha-carboxylic acid is formed from the hydroxymethyl intermediate by
catalysis of a mixed function oxidase rather than dehydrogenases.