Soluble and membrane-bound Drosophila melanogaster CYP6G1 expressed in Escherichia coli: Purification, activity, and binding properties toward multiple pesticides

Cytochrome P450 CYP6G1 has been implicated in the resistance of Drosophila melanogaster to numerous pesticides. While in vivo and in vitro studies have provided insight to the diverse functions of this enzyme, direct studies on the isolated CYP6G1 enzyme have not been possible due to the need for a source of recombinant enzyme. In the current study, the Cyp6g1 gene was isolated from D. melanogaster and re-engineered for heterologous expression in Escherichia coli. Approximately 460 nmol L−1 of P450 holoenzyme were obtained in 500 mL cultures. The recombinant enzyme was located predominantly within the bacterial cytosol. A two-step purification protocol using Ni-chelate affinity chromatography followed by removal of detergent on a hydroxyapatite column produced essentially homogenous enzyme from both soluble and membrane fractions. Recombinant CYP6G1 exhibited p-nitroanisole O-dealkylation activity but was not active against eleven other typical P450 marker substrates. Substrate-induced binding spectra and IC50 values for inhibition of p-nitroanisole O-dealkylation were obtained for a wide selection of pesticides, namely DDT, imidacloprid, chlorfenvinphos, malathion, endosulfan, dieldrin, dicyclanil, lufenuron and carbaryl, supporting previous in vivo and in vitro studies on Drosophila that have suggested that the enzyme is involved in multi-pesticide resistance in insects.

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► The insect P450 CYP6G1 is linked to resistance to agriculturally-important pesticides.
► When heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli, CYP6G1 is present in both soluble and membrane-bound fractions.
► Recombinant CYP6G1 binds to several, structurally-dissimilar pesticide compounds including DDT, imidacloprid and, endosulfan.
► CYP6G1 activity towards the probe substrate p-nitroanisole is inhibited by multiple pesticide ligands.