Pharmacogenomics and Drug Metabolism: From Cytochrome P450 to Emerging Enzymatic Pathways

Dear Colleagues,

The Special Issue “Pharmacogenomics and Drug Metabolism: From Cytochrome P450 to Emerging Enzymatic Pathways” aims to highlight cutting-edge research at the intersection of genetics, biochemistry, and pharmacology, with a focus on drug metabolism. While cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes are central to pharmacogenomic studies, they represent only part of the broader metabolic landscape that shapes drug response. CYP450s form a diverse superfamily of heme–thiolate monooxygenases responsible for the oxidative metabolism of over 70% of clinically used drugs. Their expression and activity are modulated by genetic polymorphisms, tissue-specific regulation, and environmental influences—factors that contribute to inter-individual variability in drug efficacy and toxicity.

Beyond xenobiotic metabolism, CYP450s are involved in vital physiological processes such as steroidogenesis, lipid metabolism, and redox homeostasis. This functional breadth, coupled with intricate regulatory networks, underscores their significance not only in pharmacokinetics but also in disease susceptibility, drug–drug interactions, and adverse reactions. As pharmacogenomics advances, expanding research beyond well-studied isoforms to include orphan enzymes and emerging metabolic pathways has become increasingly important. The functional diversity, regulatory complexity, and expanding metabolic roles of these enzymes present valuable opportunities for further exploration.

This Special Issue welcomes original research, reviews, and short communications related to CYP450s and other drug-metabolizing enzymes. Topics of interest include enzyme discovery, substrate specificity, structural and functional analysis, redox partner interactions, enzyme engineering, inter-individual variability, and metabolic pathway reconstruction. We also welcome studies employing high-throughput screening platforms, model organisms, synthetic biology approaches, or recombinant expression systems (e.g., microbial cell factories) , as well as studies that explore multi-omics integration (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics), pharmacogenetic biomarker discovery, and computational or systems biology approaches for elucidating enzyme function and regulation.

By encompassing the full spectrum of enzyme versatility, this Special Issue seeks to provide a comprehensive perspective on the evolving landscape of pharmacogenomics and drug metabolism research

Dr. Pradeepraj Durairaj
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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• cytochrome P450 (CYP450)
• drug metabolism
• xenobiotic metabolism
• pharmacogenomics
• biotransformation
• orphan enzymes
• redox biology
• enzyme engineering
• multi-omics approaches
• personalized medicine