Induction of rabbit lung cytochrome P450 prostaglandin in omega-hyroxylase during pregnancy: evidence for regulation at the genetic level

The induction of a cytochrome P450 prostaglandin omega-hydroxylase (P450/sub PG omega/) isolated from pregnant rabbit lung has been shown by Western blots to be concomitant with an increase in the amount of P450 protein. Peaks in enzyme activity and P450/sub PG omega/ protein occur between the 20th and 28th days of gestation with increases of more than 100-fold compared to nonpregnant rabbits. To elucidate the mechanisms controlling induction, total cellular RNA was extracted from rabbit lungs at various days of gestation, translated in vitro using 35S-met, and the newly synthesized P450/sub PG omega/ immunoprecipitated from the lysate. Utilizing an immunopurified goat IgG to P450/sub PG omega/, immunopellets of in vitro translation reactions charged with RNA from lungs at 6,11,19,22,25, or 28-days gestation were isolated. A single band corresponding to P450/sub PG omega/ was seen in autoradiographs of SDS-PAGE gels containing these immunopellets, but no band was visible in lanes containing immunopellets from reactions charged with RNA from nonpregnant or 1-day post-partum animals. The gestational time-dependent increase in in vitro-translated P450/sub PG omega/ suggests that control of its induction during pregnancy is at the transcriptional level. A monoclonal antibody to the P450/sub PG omega/ has been produced for the isolation of the P450/sub PG omega/ mRNA for cDNA production