SEMISYNTHETIC FLAVOCYTOCHROMES BASED ON CYTOCHROME-P450 2B4 - REDUCTASE AND OXYGENASE ACTIVITIES

A synthetic flavocytochrome with the reductase and oxygenase activitie s was obtained by covalent binding of riboflavin to cytochrome P450 2B 4. The reactions catalyzed by the newly synthesized flavocytochromes w ere studied. Formation of carbon monoxide complex with the reduced for m of hemoprotein led to 60-80% inhibition of oxygenase reactions, indi cating the leading role of reduced heme iron in generating active oxyg en species by flavocytochromes. (C) 1998 Academic Press.