Purification and characterization of 2-ethoxyphenol-induced cytochrome P450 from Corynebacterium sp. strain EP1

A soluble cytochrome P450 (P450(EP1A)) induced by 2-ethoxyphenol was purified to apparent homogeneity from Corynebacterium sp. strain EP1. The P450(EP1A) showed a single band on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with a molecular weight of about 45 kDa. The CO-reduced difference spectra of P450(EP1A) had a Soret maximum at 447.6 nm. The substrate difference spectra with 2-ethoxyphenol showed an absorption maximum at 394.0 nm. The purified P450(EP1A) degraded 2-ethoxyphenol in an assay system composed of spinach ferredoxin-NADP⁺ oxidoreductase and NADPH. The reaction activity decreased to 1.4% of its original activity by addition of CO. The existence of catechol in the reaction mixture was confirmed after the metabolic reaction, indicating that P450(EP1A) catalyzes O-dealkylation of 2-ethoxyphenol. In addition to 2-ethoxyphenol, the P450(EP1A) metabolized 2-methoxyphenol, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, carbon tetrachloride, benzene, and toluene.