Subcellular distribution of cytochrome P-450 in the brain.

The subcellular distribution of the monooxygenase complexes in the brain was studied by using subcellular fractionation and characterization of these fractions by marker enzymes. Cytochrome P-450 was found to be mainly localized in both synaptic and non-synaptic mitochondria; only a small quantity of enzyme was also found in the microsomal fraction. Peeling off the outer membrane of mitochondria showed that the protein was retained in the inner membrane fraction. A comparative study among some other species confirmed the mitochondrial prevalence of cerebral cytochrome P-450. A partial purification of the rat brain mitochondrial P-450 was obtained.