Electron-transport cytochrome P-450 system is involved in the microsomal metabolism of the carcinogen chromate.

The kinetics of chromate reduction by liver microsomes isolated from rats pretreated with phenobarbital or 3-methylcholanthrene with NADPH or NADH cofactor have been followed. Induction of cytochrome P-450 and NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase activity in microsomes by phenobarbital pretreatment caused a decrease in the apparent chromate-enzyme dissociation constant, Km, and an increase in the apparent second-order rate constant, kcat/Km, but did not affect the kcat of NADPH-mediated microsomal metabolism of chromate. Induction of cytochrome P-448 in microsomes by 3-methylcholanthrene pretreatment did not affect the kinetics of NADPH-mediated reduction of chromate by microsomes. The kinetics of NADH-mediated microsomal chromate reduction were unaffected by the drug treatments. The effects of specific enzyme inhibitors on the kinetics of microsomal chromate reduction have been determined. 2'-AMP and 3-pyridinealdehyde-NAD, inhibitors of NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase and NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase, inhibited the rate of microsomal reduction of chromate with NADPH and NADH. Metyrapone and carbon monoxide, specific inhibitors of cytochrome P-450, inhibited the rate of NADPH-mediated microsomal reduction of chromate, whereas high concentrations of dimethyl-sulfoxide (0.5 M) enhanced the rate. These results suggest that the electron-transport cytochrome P-450 system is involved in the reduction of chromate by microsomal systems. The NADPH and NADH cofactors supply reducing equivalents ultimately to cytochrome P-450 which functions as a reductase in chromate metabolism. The lower oxidation state(s) produced upon chromate reduction may represent the ultimate carcinogenic form(s) of chromium. These studies provide evidence for the role of cytochrome P-450 in the activation of inorganic carcinogens.