Specificity of self-assembly of cytochrome p450

Under certain conditions, hexamers of microsomal cytochrome P450 can self-a ssemble from the subunits of different isoforms. However, the possibility f or free choice results in recognition between identical subunits of each fo rm of cytochrome P450 which provides preferential association of identical monomers into corresponding hexamers. The specificity of self-assembly sugg ests hexameric arrangement of cytochrome P450 in native membranes as we pro posed earlier. In the present study, highly purified cytochrome P450 2B4 an d cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP 2B4 and CYP 1A2), including those immobilized by covalent attachment to an insoluble carrier of one protomer of each hexame r, were employed.