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Cytochrome P450 Mechanism and Reactivity

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Biochemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 December 2025 | Viewed by 2442

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Manchester Institute of Biotechnology and School of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science, The University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, UK
Interests: computational chemistry; density functional theory; QM/MM; reaction mechanisms; biomimetic models; enzyme catalysis
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The cytochrome P450 enzymes are important enzymes in biology with functions related to biosynthesis and biodegradation. They, for instance, are found in the liver, where they metabolize drugs and xenobiotics, while in plants and bacteria, they synthesize natural compounds for defense and signaling. There are still many questions related to the mechanism, structure, function, and reactivity of these enzymes; hence, a Special Issue covering highlights and new research and developments in the field is proposed. We invite submissions on cytochrome P450 research in its broadest form, covering its biology, structure, and reactivity, as well as applications related to biotechnology and bioengineering.

Dr. Samuel De Visser
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • enzyme function
  • enzyme catalysis
  • bioengineering
  • inorganic reaction mechanisms
  • enzyme inhibition

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

41 pages, 4070 KiB  
Article
Defined Diets Link Iron and α-Linolenic Acid to Cyp1b1 Regulation of Neonatal Liver Development Through Srebp Forms and LncRNA H19
by Colin R. Jefcoate, Michele C. Larsen, Yong-Seok Song, Meghan Maguire and Nader Sheibani
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(5), 2011; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26052011 - 25 Feb 2025
Viewed by 676
Abstract
Cyp1b1 substantially affects hepatic vascular and stellate cells (HSC) with linkage to liver fibrosis. Despite minimal hepatocyte expression, Cyp1b1 deletion substantially impacts liver gene expression at birth and weaning. The appreciable Cyp1b1 expression in surrounding embryo mesenchyme, during early organogenesis, provides a likely [...] Read more.
Cyp1b1 substantially affects hepatic vascular and stellate cells (HSC) with linkage to liver fibrosis. Despite minimal hepatocyte expression, Cyp1b1 deletion substantially impacts liver gene expression at birth and weaning. The appreciable Cyp1b1 expression in surrounding embryo mesenchyme, during early organogenesis, provides a likely source for Cyp1b1. Here defined breeder diets established major interconnected effects on neonatal liver of α-linolenic acid (ALA), vitamin A deficiency (VAD) and suboptimal iron fed mice. At birth Cyp1b1 deletion and VAD each activated perinatal HSC, while suppressing iron control by hepcidin. Cyp1b1 deletion also advanced the expression of diverse genes linked to iron regulation. Postnatal stimulations of Srebp-regulated genes in the fatty acid and cholesterol biosynthesis pathways were suppressed by Cyp1b1-deficiency. LncRNA H19 and the neutrophil alarmin S100a9 expression increased due to slower postnatal decline with Cyp1b1 deficiency. VAD reversed each of Cyp1b1 effect, probably due to enhanced HSC release of Apo-Rbp4. At birth, Cyp1b1 deletion enhanced H19 participation. Notably, a suppressor (Cnot3) decreased while an activity partner (Ezh2/H3K methylation) increased H19 expression. ALA elevated hepcidin mRNA and countered the inhibitory effects of Cyp1b1 deletion on hepcidin expression. Oxylipin metabolites of ALA from highly expressed hepatic Cyps are potential mediators. Cyp expression patterns demonstrated female dimorphism for neonatal liver. Mothers followed one of three fetal growth support programs probably linked to maturity at conception. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cytochrome P450 Mechanism and Reactivity)
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23 pages, 2942 KiB  
Article
Mechanism of the Oxidative Ring-Closure Reaction during Gliotoxin Biosynthesis by Cytochrome P450 GliF
by Muizz Qureshi, Thirakorn Mokkawes, Yuanxin Cao and Sam P. de Visser
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(16), 8567; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25168567 - 6 Aug 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1250
Abstract
During gliotoxin biosynthesis in fungi, the cytochrome P450 GliF enzyme catalyzes an unusual C–N ring-closure step while also an aromatic ring is hydroxylated in the same reaction cycle, which may have relevance to drug synthesis reactions in biotechnology. However, as the details of [...] Read more.
During gliotoxin biosynthesis in fungi, the cytochrome P450 GliF enzyme catalyzes an unusual C–N ring-closure step while also an aromatic ring is hydroxylated in the same reaction cycle, which may have relevance to drug synthesis reactions in biotechnology. However, as the details of the reaction mechanism are still controversial, no applications have been developed yet. To resolve the mechanism of gliotoxin biosynthesis and gain insight into the steps leading to ring-closure, we ran a combination of molecular dynamics and density functional theory calculations on the structure and reactivity of P450 GliF and tested a range of possible reaction mechanisms, pathways and models. The calculations show that, rather than hydrogen atom transfer from the substrate to Compound I, an initial proton transfer transition state is followed by a fast electron transfer en route to the radical intermediate, and hence a non-synchronous hydrogen atom abstraction takes place. The radical intermediate then reacts by OH rebound to the aromatic ring to form a biradical in the substrate that, through ring-closure between the radical centers, gives gliotoxin products. Interestingly, the structure and energetics of the reaction mechanisms appear little affected by the addition of polar groups to the model and hence we predict that the reaction can be catalyzed by other P450 isozymes that also bind the same substrate. Alternative pathways, such as a pathway starting with an electrophilic attack on the arene to form an epoxide, are high in energy and are ruled out. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cytochrome P450 Mechanism and Reactivity)
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