Cytochrome p450

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Cytochrome P450

Cytochrome P450 (pronounced as "sigh-toe-chrome P-four-fifty", abbreviated as CYP450) is a large and diverse group of enzymes that catalyze the oxidation of organic substances. The name "P450" is derived from the spectrophotometric peak at the wavelength of the absorption maximum of the enzyme (450 nm) when it is in the reduced state and complexed with carbon monoxide.

Function

The function of the Cytochrome P450 enzymes is to eliminate potentially toxic compounds, including drugs and products of endogenous metabolism such as bilirubin, principally in the liver. They are, in general, the terminal oxidizing enzymes in electron transfer chains, broadly categorized as P450-containing systems.

Classification

The Cytochrome P450 family is divided into 18 families and 44 subfamilies in humans. Each P450 gene is named with "CYP", indicating that it is part of the cytochrome P450 gene family. The gene name is followed by a family number, subfamily letter, and individual gene number. For example, CYP2D6 refers to family 2, subfamily D, and gene number 6.

Role in Drug Metabolism

Cytochrome P450 enzymes are essential for the metabolism of many medications. They are responsible for approximately 75% of total drug metabolism. The role of P450 enzymes in drug metabolism is to eliminate drugs from the body. The process makes drugs more soluble in water and easier to remove from the body.

Related Terms

  • Drug Metabolism: The process by which the body breaks down and converts medication into active chemical substances.
  • Enzyme: Proteins that speed up the rate of a chemical reaction in a living organism.
  • Liver: The largest gland in the body, a spongy mass of wedge-shaped lobes that has many metabolic and secretory functions.
  • Oxidation: A chemical reaction that involves the moving of electrons.
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