Expression of human cytochromes P450 1A1 and P450 1A2 as fused enzymes with yeast NADPH-cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase in transgenic tobacco plants

Among 11 isoforms of the human cytochrome P450 enzymes metabolizing xenobio tics, CYP 1A1 and CYP 1A2 were major P450 species in the metabolism of the herbicides chlortoluron and atrazine in a yeast expression system. CYP1A2 w as more active in the metabolism of both herbicides than CYP1A1, The fused enzymes of CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 with yeast NADPH-cytochrome P450 oxidoreductas e were functionally active in the microsomal fraction of the yeast Saccharo myces cerevisiae and showed increased specific activity towards 7-ethoxyres orufin as compared to CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 alone. Then, both fused enzymes wer e each expressed in the microsomes of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv, Samsun NN) plants. The transgenic plants expressing the CYP1A2 fusion enzyme had higher resistance to the herbicide chlortoluron than the plants expressing the CYP1A1 fusion enzyme did, The transgenic plants expressing the CYP1A2 f used enzyme metabolized chlortoluron to a larger extent to its non-phytotox ic metabolites through N-demethylation and ring-methyl hydroxylation as com pared to the plants expressing the CYP1A1 fused enzyme. Thus, the possibili ty of increasing the herbicide resistance in the transgenic plants by the s election of P450 species and the fusion with P450 reductase is discussed.