Characterization of Saccharomyces cerevisiae CYP61, Sterol Δ22-Desaturase, and Inhibition by Azole Antifungal Agents

Cytochrome P-45061 (CYP61) was a cytochrome P-450 revealed during the yeast genome project when chromosome XIII was sequenced. Here we report on the properties of this second microsomal P-450 of vegetatively growing yeast. The enzyme kinetics associated with its endogenous role in sterol Delta22-desaturation revealed a Km of 20.4 microM and a Vmax of 2.9nmol/min/nmol CYP61. The affinity of the enzyme for antifungal drugs was characterized to investigate its potential role in determining tolerance to these sterol 14alpha-demethylase (CYP51) inhibitors. Drug binding induced a type II spectral change, which became saturated at equimolar concentrations of azole drug and P-450. Fluconazole exhibited slightly reduced affinity in comparison to ketoconazole as indicated by carbon monoxide displacement. These and Ki determination for fluconazole (0.14 nM) revealed CYP61 to have a similar affinity to azole drugs when compared with data available for CYP51, and the implications for antifungal treatment were considered.