Common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) have attracted increasing attention as a useful small non-human primate model in preclinical research. However, studies on marmoset cytochrome P450 (P450) 2E enzyme have scarcely been conducted. In this study, the full-length cDNA encoding P450 2E1 enzyme was isolated from marmoset livers by reverse transcription (RT)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Marmoset P450 2E1 amino acid sequences were highly identical (>88%) to those of cynomolgus monkey and human P450 2E1 enzymes. Phylogenetic analysis indicated a close evolutionary relationship among marmoset, cynomolgus monkey, and human P450 2E1 enzymes. The tissue expression pattern analyzed by real-time RT-PCR and immunoblotting demonstrated that marmoset P450 2E1 mRNA and proteins were predominantly expressed in livers. Marmoset P450 2E1 enzyme heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli catalyzed the hydroxylation of p-nitrophenol, chlorzoxazone, and theophylline, similar to cynomolgus monkey and human P450 2E1 enzymes. By kinetic analyses, those P450 2E1 enzymes catalyzed p-nitrophenol hydroxylation with similar affinities and relatively high intrinsic clearance efficiencies. These results indicated that tissue distribution and enzyme-substrate specificity of marmoset P450 2E1 were similar to cynomolgus monkey and human P450 2E1 enzymes, suggesting that marmosets are a suitable primate model for P450 2E1-dependent drug and xenobiotic metabolism.
