title: Bacterial cytochromes P-450.
abstract: The cytochromes P-450 (P-450s) constitute an extremely large family ('superfamily') of haemoproteins that catalyse the oxidation of a wide range of physiological and non-physiological compounds. A remarkable feature of the P-450s is the manipulation of the same basic structure and chemistry to achieve an enormous range of functions in organisms as diverse as bacteria and man. Indeed, the P-450s have been described as 'the most versatile biological catalyst known'. Much research is focussed on mammalian P-450s, with their roles in such processes as steroid transformations and the metabolism of carcinogens and other xenobiotics. However, our knowledge of the structure and function of the P-450s has been advanced by analysis of a limited number of its bacterial members, primarily P-450cam from Pseudomonas putida. Four P-450 structures have been solved to date, all of which are from bacterial sources. The aim of this review is to assess current knowledge of the many bacterial P-450s, with emphasis on their diverse biological roles and on the advances in our knowledge of this extremely important enzyme class, which have been made feasible through their study.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, UK. gbca49@udcf.gla.ac.uk
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Munro
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Lindsay
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000201:enzymology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D006899:Mixed Function Oxygenases; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009251:NADPH-Ferrihemoprotein Reductase
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D006899:Mixed Function Oxygenases; D009251:NADPH-Ferrihemoprotein Reductase; C052423:flavocytochrome P450 BM3 monoxygenases