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Identification and Characterization of a Mouse Oxysterol 7α-Hydroxylase cDNA

1997; Elsevier BV; Volume: 272; Issue: 38 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1074/jbc.272.38.23995

1083-351X

Margrit Schwarz, Erik Lund, Richard Lathe, Ingemar Björkhem, David W. Russell,

Hormonal Regulation and Hypertension

The synthesis of essential 7α-hydroxylated bile acids in the liver is mediated by two pathways that involve distinct 7α-hydroxylases. One pathway is initiated in the endoplasmic reticulum by cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase, a well studied cytochrome P450 enzyme. A second pathway is initiated by a less well defined oxysterol 7α-hydroxylase. Here, we show that a mouse hepatic oxysterol 7α-hydroxylase is encoded by Cyp7b1, a cytochrome P450 cDNA originally isolated from the hippocampus. Expression of a Cyp7b1 cDNA in cultured cells produces an enzyme with the same biochemical and pharmacological properties as those of the hepatic oxysterol 7α-hydroxylase. Cyp7b1 mRNA and protein are induced in the third week of life commensurate with an increase in hepatic oxysterol 7α-hydroxylase activity. In the adult mouse, dietary cholesterol or colestipol induce cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase mRNA levels but do not affect oxysterol 7α-hydroxylase enzyme activity, mRNA, or protein levels. Cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase mRNA is reduced to undetectable levels in response to bile acids, whereas expression of oxysterol 7α-hydroxylase is modestly decreased. The liver thus maintains the capacity to synthesize 7α-hydroxylated bile acids regardless of dietary composition, underscoring the central role of 7α-hydroxylated bile acids in lipid metabolism.