Studies on the mechanism of activation of microsomal benzo[a]pyrene hydroxylation by flavonoids.

7,8-benzoflavone or flavone stimulates the hydroxylation of benzo(a)pyrene by liver microsomes from rabbit, hamster, and man severalfold. Little or no activation by the flavonoid occurs in liver microsomes from rat or guinea pig. Intact liver microsomal membranes are not required for the activation. Although 7,8-benzoflavone does not stimulate the NADPH-dependent reduction of cytochrome c by rabbit liver microsomes, the NADPH-dependent reduction of cytochrome P-450 is stimulated by 7,8-benzoflavone either in the presence or absence of benzo(a)pyrene. Purified cytochrome P-450 reductase causes an increase in the rate of benzo(a)pyrene hydroxylation in cholate-solubilized liver microsomes from all of the species studied. In cholate-solubilized microsomes from all of the species susceptible for flavonoid activation, 7,8-benzoflavone decreases the K/sub m/ for cytochrome P-450 reductase and increases the V/sub max/ for benzo(a)pyrene hydroxylation. With cholate-solubilized human liver microsomes, the K/sub m/ for cytochrome P-450 reductase in the absence of flavonoids was about 3-fold higher than in the presence of 100 ..mu..M 7,8-benzoflavone or 500 ..mu..M flavone. 7,8-benzoflavone and flavone stimulate the hydroxylation of benzo(a)pyrene in liver microsomes at least in part by enhancing the interaction between cytochrome P-450 and cytochrome P-450 reductase. 7,8-benzoflavone does not influence the K/sub m/ for benzo(a)pyrene or NADPH, but themore » V/sub max/ values for benzo(a)pyrene are increased from 2.5- to 4-fold in rabbit liver microsomes. 7,8-benzoflavone does not stimulate the cumene hydroperoxide-dependent hydroxylation of benzo(a)pyrene by rabbit liver microsomes. In two partially purified cytochrome P-450 fractions from rabbit liver microsomes, flavone has a specific stimulatory effect on one of the reconstituted partially purified cytochrome P-450 systems, but an inhibitory effect on the other.« less