title: Human cytochrome p450 family 4 enzymes: function, genetic variation and regulation.
abstract: The microsomal cytochrome P450 (CYP) family 4 monooxygenases are the major fatty acid omega-hydroxylases. These enzymes remove excess free fatty acids to prevent lipotoxicity, catabolize leukotrienes and prostanoids, and also produce bioactive metabolites from arachidonic acid omega-hydroxylation. In addition to endogenous substrates, recent evidence indicates that CYP4 monooxygenases can also metabolize xenobiotics, including therapeutic drugs. This review focuses on human CYP4 enzymes and updates current knowledge concerning catalytic activity profiles, genetic variation and regulation of expression. Comparative differences between the human and rodent CYP4 enzymes regarding catalytic function and conditional expression are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biochemistry, Department of Molecular and Experimental Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.
authors.forename: Mei-Hui
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Uzen
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Savas
authors.forename: Keith J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Griffin
authors.forename: Eric F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000502:physiology*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D012377:Rodentia