Reciprocal size-effect relationship of the key residues in determining regio- and stereospecificities of DHEA hydroxylase activity in P450 2a5.

Collectively, the P450 2a4/2a5 system hyrdoxylates DHEA in at least three positions (7 alpha, 7 beta, and 2 alpha). An individual P450, however, exhibits high specificity to one of these products. Using site-directed mutagenesis of mP450 2a5 from the wild mouse Mus minutoides and bacterial expression, we have associated the function of residues 117, 209, and 481 with the respective specificity observed in each P450. Ala at position 117 determines the 7 beta-hydroxylase activity, whereas Val at this position defines the 2 alpha-hydroxylase activity. Leu at position 209 is essential for high DHEA 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity. The substitutions of residue 481 with various hydrophobic amino acids elicited a profound alteration of the specific hydroxylation rates, but did not influence the regio- and stereospecificities at either of the three positions of DHEA. The alterations caused by residue 481 also depended on the residue identity at position 117 or 209. The results indicate that the sizes of several key residues obey a concerted reciprocal relationship whereby the substrate pocket of the P450s adjusts to accommodate DHEA. A limited molecular modeling study successfully correlates DHEA binding to experimental DHEA hydroxylase activities for a series of mutants at key positions.