Purified vitamin K epoxide reductase alone is sufficient for conversion of vitamin K epoxide to vitamin K and vitamin K to vitamin KH2

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2006 Dec 19;103(51):19308-13. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0609401103. Epub 2006 Dec 12.

Abstract

More than 21 million prescriptions for warfarin are written yearly in the U.S. Despite its importance, warfarin's target, vitamin K epoxide reductase (VKOR), has resisted purification since its identification in 1972. Here, we report its purification and reconstitution. HPC4, a calcium-specific antibody that recognizes a 12-aa tag, was used to purify and identify VKOR. Partial reconstitution is achieved on the column by washing with 0.4% dioleoylphosphatidylcholine/0.4% deoxycholate. Activity is completely recovered by dialysis against a buffer containing a reducing agent but lacking dioleoylphosphatidylcholine/deoxycholate. Removal of detergent from the eluted proteins apparently facilitates liposome formation. Purified recombinant VKOR with tag is approximately 21 kDa, as expected; fully active; and > 93% pure. The concentration of warfarin for 50% inhibition is the same for purified protein and microsomes. It has been reported that VKOR is a multisubunit enzyme. Our results, however, suggest that a single peptide can accomplish both the conversion of vitamin K epoxide to vitamin K and vitamin K to reduced vitamin K. This purification will allow further characterization of VKOR in relation to other components of the vitamin K cycle and should facilitate its structural determination.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Baculoviridae
  • Genetic Vectors / genetics
  • Humans
  • Mixed Function Oxygenases / isolation & purification*
  • Mixed Function Oxygenases / metabolism*
  • Mixed Function Oxygenases / pharmacology
  • Vitamin K / biosynthesis*
  • Vitamin K 1 / analogs & derivatives
  • Vitamin K 1 / metabolism
  • Vitamin K Epoxide Reductases
  • Warfarin / antagonists & inhibitors

Substances

  • Vitamin K
  • vitamin K1 oxide
  • Warfarin
  • Vitamin K 1
  • Mixed Function Oxygenases
  • Vitamin K Epoxide Reductases