One of the main goals of chemistry is to understand the underlying principles of chemical reactions, in terms of both its reaction mechanism and the thermodynamics that govern it. Using hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM)-based methods in combination with a biased sampling scheme, it is possible to simulate chemical reactions occurring inside complex environments such as an enzyme, or aqueous solution, and determining the corresponding free energy profile, which provides direct comparison with experimental determined kinetic and equilibrium parameters. Among the most promising biasing schemes is the multiple steered molecular dynamics method, which in combination with Jarzynski's Relationship (JR) allows obtaining the equilibrium free energy profile, from a finite set of nonequilibrium reactive trajectories by exponentially averaging the individual work profiles. However, obtaining statistically converged and accurate profiles is far from easy and may result in increased computational cost if the selected steering speed and number of trajectories are inappropriately chosen. In this small review, using the extensively studied chorismate to prephenate conversion reaction, we first present a systematic study of how key parameters such as pulling speed, number of trajectories, and reaction progress are related to the resulting work distributions and in turn the accuracy of the free energy obtained with JR. Second, and in the context of QM/MM strategies, we introduce the Hybrid Differential Relaxation Algorithm, and show how it allows obtaining more accurate free energy profiles using faster pulling speeds and smaller number of trajectories and thus smaller computational cost.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) activation by fibrates controls expression of several genes involved in hepatic cholesterol metabolism. Other genes could be indirectly controlled in response to changes in cellular cholesterol availability. To further understand how fibrates may affect cholesterol synthesis, we investigated in parallel the changes in the metabolic pathways contributing to cholesterol homeostasis in liver. Ciprofibrate increased HMG-CoA reductase and FPP synthase mRNA levels in rat hepatocytes, together with cholesterogenesis from [14C] acetate and [3H] mevalonate. The up-regulation observed in fenofibrate- and WY-14,643-treated mice was abolished in PPARα-null mice, showing an essential role of PPARα. Among the three sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP) mRNA species, only SREBP-1c level was significantly increased. In ciprofibrate-treated hepatocytes, cholesterol efflux was decreased, in parallel with cholesteryl ester storage and bile acids synthesis. As expected, AOX expression was strongly induced, supporting evidence of the peroxisome proliferation. Taken together, these results show that fibrates can cause cholesterol depletion in hepatocytes, possibly in part as a consequence of an important requirement of cholesterol for peroxisome proliferation, and increase cholesterogenesis by a compensatory phenomenon afterwards. Such cholesterogenesis regulation could occur in vivo, in species responsive to the peroxisome proliferative effect of PPARα ligands.

Human HepG2, rat Fao and MH1C1 hepatoma cell lines have been examined for their response to ciprofibrate, a potent peroxisome proliferator. Changes in the morphological characteristics of peroxisomes, the inductibility of their proliferation and of their beta-oxidation enzymes, palmitoyl-CoA oxidase and bifunctional enzyme, were studied in control and treated cells. In Fao cells, peroxisomes are less numerous and smaller than in rat liver, but they increase in size and number under the effect of ciprofibrate, similarly to those of treated rat liver. The high peroxisome proliferation is accompanied by a strong induction of beta-oxidation enzymes as in vivo. In MH1C1 cells, peroxisomes are seen in irregular clusters in the cytoplasm, small with rounded to tubular forms, suggesting rapid peroxisomal growth. A striking observation is the particularly elongated, worm-like form of many of the peroxisomes. Under the effect of ciprofibrate, the proliferation is low, as is the induction of beta-oxidation enzymes. HepG2 cells contain few, small peroxisomes with a heterogeneity of forms, from spherical to elongated. The only peroxisomal response to ciprofibrate in these cells seemed to be a morphological reorganization. There is little or no induction of beta-oxidation enzymes by ciprofibrate in HepG2 cells, as in cultured human hepatocytes. Therefore, on the one hand, Fao and MH1C1 cells are complementary tools in the investigation of the regulation of the hepatic response to peroxisome proliferators in the rat, on the other hand, HepG2 and Fao cells are useful in the study of the species specificity of the response.

The Y-1 adrenal cell line was shown to produce 20α-dihydroaldosterone from deoxycorticosterone. This compound was identified by GC-MS by comparison with the previously synthesized reference compound. Two other 18-hydroxylated metabolites were identified as 11β,18-dihydroxy-20α-dihydroprogesterone from endogenous cholesterol and 18-hydroxy-20α-dihydro-11-dehydrocorti-costerone from DOC. The conditions necessary for the synthesis of these compounds are culturing in 20% serum-supplemented medium and repeated incubations with the substrate. The production of 11β-hydroxylated steroids and that of 18-oxygenated steroids is stimulated differently by ACTH and angiotensin II suggesting the expression of two different enzymes, cytochrome P-45011β and cytochrome P-450aldo The Y-1 cell line can secrete either 11β-hydroxylated steroids characteristic of the glucocorticoid pathway or 18-oxygenated steroids characteristic of the mineralocorticoid pathway, which in vivo are generally produced in two different zones of the adrenal cortex. This cell line should be an interesting model for the study of the molecular mechanisms regulating the expression of these two enzymes involved in the final steps of the steroidogenic pathways.

Summary— The response of two rat cell lines, Fao and MH 1 C 1 , and one human cell line, HepG2, to the peroxisome proliferator ciprofibrate, was studied. Using a fluorometric assay for palmitoyl‐CoA oxidase, the dose‐ and time‐dependent increase of this enzymatic activity was determined. From the lowest concentration (100 μM) stimulation is evident in the two rat cell lines. In the Fao line, the activity was stimulated reaching a seven‐fold increase over the control level at 250 μM after 72 h of treatment. In the MH 1 C 1 line, the maximum stimulation, four‐ to five‐fold, was obtained at 250 and 500 μM after 72 h. In the HepG2 cell line, activity increased two‐fold at 250 μM after 72 h reaching a three‐fold increase at 1000 μM after 48 h. Ciprofibrate was more toxic to Fao cells than to MH 1 C 1 and HepG2 cells which is also the order of the acyl‐CoA oxidase stimulation by ciprofibrate. These preliminary results suggest that the two rat cell lines are appropriate for investigating the induction of peroxisomal β‐oxidation enzymes and the expression of their genes. The HepG2 cell line is a complementary model for the study of interspecies differences in the response to peroxisomal proliferators and of the peroxisomal functions implied in the lipid metabolism of human liver.

The 20alpha-reduced derivative of aldosterone, 20alpha-dihydroaldosterone, was needed as reference compound in order to continue the studies on 18-hydroxylation in the Y-1 adrenal cell line. It was obtained by reduction of aldosterone with sodium borohydride. Analysis of the products of the reaction as methoxime trimethylsilyl (MO-TMS) derivatives by gas chromatography (GC) and GC-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) showed three possible forms of the compound. Their identification was confirmed by comparison with the products obtained by stereospecific reduction of aldosterone using 3alpha,20beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. Chromatographic behavior and mass spectra are given for the three forms of 20alpha-dihydroaldosterone as the MO-TMS derivatives; that is, the 18-aldehyde, the 18,11beta-hemiacetal, and the 11beta: 18,18:20alpha-acetal. The possible origin of these different forms is discussed as a function of these results and of the results obtained by complementary analysis on high-performance liquid chromatography.

The 18-hydroxylation of deoxycorticosterone in the Y-1 adrenal cell line was studied under various incubation and cell culture conditions and compared to 11β-hydroxylation. Repeated incubation of the substrate increased both 18- and 11β-hydroxylation in the Y-1 cells. Furthermore, both 18- and 11β-hydroxylation were increased with increased serum concentration and prolonged incubation time. While the increase in 11β-hydroxylation seemed to be independent of the type of serum, 18-hydroxylation was much more important in cells cultured in fetal or newborn calf serum supplemented medium than in those cultured in horse serum supplemented medium. As expected, ACTH treatment increased 11β-hydroxylation; however, it decreased 18-hydroxylation. The different regulation of these two hydroxylating pathways by ACTH, point to a heterogeneity of the cytochrome P-45011β of the Y-1 cell line.

The expression of 19-hydroxylase activity in the Y1 adrenal cell line is reported here for the first time. Two new metabolites from the incubation of deoxycorticosterone (DOC) with these cells, 19-hydroxy-20 alpha-dihydroDOC and 19-hydroxy-20 alpha-dihydrocorticosterone, have been identified. The most important of the two is the 11 beta,19-dihydroxylated metabolite, which is produced in smaller amounts than 18-hydroxy-20 alpha-dihydrocorticosterone. A third 19-hydroxylated metabolite was identified as 19-hydroxy-20 alpha-dihydroprogesterone, produced from the cholesterol in the serum supplemented medium. These results show that the cytochrome P-450(11)beta of this cell line expresses 19-hydroxylase activity in addition to 11 beta- and 18-hydroxylase activities, as do those of other species.

During the course of a study to produce reference compounds, the metabolism of tetrahydrogenated derivatives (ring A reduced) of progesterone, 6 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, 11-deoxycorticosterone and corticosterone in newborn rat adrenal cells in primary culture was studied. Analysis of the metabolites was made by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Most products resulted from the enzymatic reactions of 11 beta-, 18- and 21-hydroxylation, reduction of the 20-oxo group and oxidoreduction of the 3-hydroxyl group. However, unexpected metabolites were produced from the incubation of 3 beta, 5 alpha-tetrahydroprogesterone and 6 alpha-hydroxy-3 alpha, 5 beta-tetrahydroprogesterone. They resulted from the 16 alpha-hydroxylation of the precursors and probably from the 15 alpha-, 16 beta- and 17 alpha-hydroxylation of 6 alpha-hydroxy-3 alpha, 5 beta-tetrahydroprogesterone. These hydroxylating activities are weak and were not detected from the endogenous steroidogenesis. They were not detected either from the incubation of exogenous steroids with a 3-oxo-4-ene structure or from steroids with a 21-hydroxyl substituent. They result only from substrates showing diminished or no affinity towards the 11 beta/18- and 21-steroid hydroxylase systems. These unusual hydroxylations could be catalyzed by monooxygenase systems in the endoplasmic reticulum similar to those present in the liver or by the monooxygenase systems specific to steroidogenesis. In particular, the reaction specificity of cytochrome P-450(11) beta could be altered by the presence of a 6 alpha-hydroxyl group in a tetrahydrogenated steroid.

The formation and gas Chromatographic behavior of syn-and anti- isomers in position 20 of the methoxime-trimethylsilyl (MO-TMS) derivatives of many 20-oxo and 3,20-dioxo-21-hy-droxysteroids is reported. The existence of such isomers was established from the gas Chromatographic (GC) and mass spectrometric analysis of the MO-TMS derivatives of 3α,21-dihydroxy-5β-pregnan-20-one and its 17α-epimer. The degree of separation during GC analysis of the syn-and anti-isomers in position 20, as well as those in position 3, is associated to the position of additional hydroxyl groups on the steroid ring. These data are very important for the location of oxygenated substituents such as 2α/2β, 6α/6β, 11β, 16α, 17α, 18, 19 or 21-hydroxyl groups during structural studies of 20-oxo and 3,20-dioxosteroids.

18-Hydroxylase activity, reported here for the first time in the mouse adrenal tumor cell line (Y1), was expressed in the metabolism of 11-deoxycorticosterone (DOC) and corticosterone (B). Detected after 24 h of incubation, it was more evident after 48 h and produced mostly 18-hydroxy-20 alpha-DHB from these exogenous substrates. However, 18-hydroxylation was quantitatively less significant than the metabolism of 20 alpha-reduction and 11 beta-hydroxylation (of DOC). The latter is also the predominant metabolism of progesterone in this cell line, during the conversion of cholesterol from the serum-supplemented culture media. The cytochrome P-450 11 beta activity of the Y1 cells is similar to that of the mouse in vivo which catalyzes the production of an 11 beta 18-dihydroxylated metabolite as the principal 18-hydroxylated steroid. It is different from that of other species, such as the rat and the bovine, both in terms of the ratio of 11 beta- to 18-hydroxylated metabolites and of the structure of these metabolites.

Newborn rat adrenal cells in primary culture produce corticosteroid hormones and (20S)-20α-reduced progesterone metabolites in amounts which depend on ACTH concentrations and stimulation time. Eight (20S)-20α-reduced progesterone metabolites, including 18-hydroxy-(20S)-20α-dihydroprogesterone, were identified by comparison of their data in high performance liquid chromatography and in gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to those of existing or newly synthesized reference steroids. Quantitative studies of individual steroid biosynthesis were also performed using high performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography. Several experiments were made without ACTH and with different concentrations of ACTH for periods of more than 3 weeks. The importance of the two main steroidogenic pathways, corticosteroid biosynthesis and progesterone reductive metabolism was modified by ACTH stimulation of the cultured cells. The progesterone reductive metabolism, important without ACTH and in the first days of ACTH stimulation, was decreased by 6.6 mU of ACTH/ml or higher concentrations but remained active throughout the life span of the stimulated cell cultures.

In newborn rat adrenal cells in primary culture, the level of activity of the 11 beta/18-steroid hydroxylase system involved in the last step of the corticosteroid biosynthesis is increased by ACTH. A parallel study of 11 beta- and 18-hydroxylation showed the same apparent Km values (64 microM) for both hydroxylations. The Vmax values differed: 11.5 micrograms/10(6) cells/h for corticosterone and 6.9 micrograms/10(6) cells/h for 18-hydroxyDOC. A dose response study of the ACTH effect, measured by the bioconversion of deoxycorticosterone to corticosterone and 18-hydroxyDOC, showed maximum hydroxylation with a dose of 2.2 mU of ACTH/ml. Addition of ACTH after several weeks in culture produced a smaller increase in 11 beta/18-hydroxylation. Removal of ACTH after several weeks of treatment produced an immediate decrease in corticosteroid production; readdition of ACTH produced an increase to the previous level in the case of the 22 mU/ml dose, but not in the case of the 2.2 mU/ml dose. The use of actinomycin D demonstrated that ACTH affects mainly the biosynthesis of protein which must be renewed approximately every 24 h. Finally, the effect of pretreatment or co-treatment with various concentrations of the end products of the reaction showed no inhibition or destruction of the 11 beta/18-hydroxylating enzyme system. Therefore, the regulation of the 11 beta/18-steroid hydroxylase system in these cell cultures seems to be accomplished through the induction by ACTH of the transcription involved in the biosynthesis of cytochrome P450(11) beta and the amount of available precursor furnished by endogenous steroidogenesis.

The metabolism of deoxycorticosterone (DOC) by newborn rat adrenal cells in primary culture at various times after culture, with and without ACTH, was studied. After 5 days in culture before addition of ACTH, the main products of the metabolism of DOC were corticosterone and 18-hydroxy-11-deoxycorticosterone in a 2:1 ratio. Smaller amounts of 20 alpha-dihydrocorticosterone and 18-hydroxycorticosterone were also found. No reduced metabolites of DOC were detected. Without ACTH the conversion of DOC to corticosterone and 18-hydroxyDOC declined rapidly. After 13 days in culture, this conversion accounted for only half the metabolites. The reductive metabolism of DOC which yields products reduced at 20 alpha and/or 3 alpha/beta and 5 alpha accounted for the other half. When ACTH (22 mU/ml) was added to the culture daily for several weeks, the primary metabolism of DOC remained that of 11 beta- and 18-hydroxylation yielding corticosterone and 18-hydroxyDOC. A minor reductive metabolism was found. Both cultures produced 6 beta-hydroxyDOC. These results demonstrate that ACTH is needed to maintain the efficiency of the 11 beta/18-hydroxylating system. They also show that ACTH controls the type of metabolism predominant in the rat adrenal cell and may be responsible for the balance between the biosynthesis of glucocorticoids and their reductive catabolism in the fasciculata zone of the adrenal gland.

Newborn rat adrenocortical cells in primary culture have allowed us to establish the place of 11 beta/18-hydroxylation in the biosynthesis and metabolism of corticosteroid hormones. The affinity of the 11 beta/18-hydroxylation system has been determined with respect to known or potential intermediates. It has equally been examined in relation to 2 alpha-, 6 alpha-, 6 beta-, 16 alpha or 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone and 6 alpha-, 6 beta- or 17 alpha-hydroxy-11-deoxycorticosterone.

Normal newborn rat adrenal cells kept in primary culture up to 2 1/2 months respond to ACTH stimulation and produced corticosteroid hormones and smaller amounts of 20 alpha-reduced progesterone metabolites. Cholesterol from the serum complemented culture medium serves as precursor without further addition of exogenous steroid substrates. A long-term qualitative and quantitative study of individual steroid production under the influence of ACTH was performed. ACTH treatment produced a triphasic effect on steroid production: an induction period (up to 3 days), an acute maximum production period (3rd to 6th day) and a chronic production period (to the end of the treatment). The increase in total steroid production resulted from the increase in the production of corticosteroids only. This indicated an increase of cholesterol side-chain cleavage and of the 21- and 11 beta/18-steroid hydroxylations. Removal of ACTH led to a reversible drop in total steroid production. The response to ACTH was dose dependent, so that a 2.2 mU/ml dose elicited lower steroid production than the 6.6 or 22 mU/ml doses. Increasing the lower dose after a week of treatment to a higher dose brought total steroid production and 11 beta/18-steroid hydroxylation up to the corresponding chronic production levels. The 20 alpha-steroid reduction system was not affected by ACTH. ACTH changes the importance of the two main steroidogenic pathways. With no ACTH there is approximately a 1:1 ratio between corticosteroid synthesis and progesterone reductive metabolism; a low dose of ACTH increases the total steroid production, but since corticosteroid production and 20 alpha-reduced metabolites both increase, the ratio changes little; a high dose of ACTH increases the ratio to more than 30:1. Refractoriness or desensitization to ACTH is postulated to occur through the control of cholesterol availability inside the cell possibly combined with a control of its utilization for steroidogenesis.

Quantitative extraction and subsequent purification of small biological samples often involve cumbersome procedures. We have devised a short and efficient method for the quantitative extraction of the corticosteroid and the 20α reduced steroid series from culture medium containing 20% sera in a single, pure fraction with separation from cholesterol. Passage through a C18-bonded reversed-phase Sep-Pak® cartridge of the acidified culture medium and subsequent extraction of the steroid fraction with methanol yields a single fraction containing all steroids in 90% recovery and reduced quantities of cholesterol down to 30%. The extract can then be used without further purification for quantitative analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography or derivatized and analyzed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography—mass spectrometry.