The mechanistic plurality of cytochrome p-450 and its biological ramifications

1. The mechanistic plurality of the microsomal cytochrome P-450 enzyme system is illustrated by studies of the oxidative metabolism of benzo[a]pyrene, 3-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene and arachidonic acid. 2. Rat liver microsomal metabolism of benzo[a]pyrene or 3-hydroxy-benzo[a]pyrene, supported by cumene hydroperoxide, generates benzo[a]pyrene quinones via molecular oxygen-dependent and -independent pathways. 3. Arachidonic acid is metabolized by rat liver microsomal fractions to a variety of oxygenated products, including cis-trans diene conjugated monohydroxy-acids, epoxy-acids as well as ω and ω - 1 -oxidation products. The chemistry of the different reaction products is discussed in terms of the possible mechanisms responsible for their formation and the role of the haemoprotein during catalysis. 4. An integrated view for the reaction cycle of cytochrome P-450 is presented.