Enzyme system in the liver that plays a key role in the metabolism of many medications. Many psychotropic medications are known to inhibit or stimulate the cytochrome P450 system, thus resulting in significant drug-drug interactions that may result in clinically significant alterations of blood levels of medications.
A family of cytochromes which are involved in the detoxication system of the body (phase I metabolism). They act on a wide variety of (potentially toxic) compounds, both endogenous metabolites and foreign compounds (xenobiotics), rendering them more water- soluble, and more readily conjugated for excretion in the urine.
An enzyme that contains an iron-heme cofactor. It catalyzes many different biological hydroxylation reactions. Essentially, the enzyme renders fat-soluble (hydrophobic) molecules water soluble or more water soluble (by introduction of the hydrophilic hydroxyl group) so that the molecules may be removed (washed) from the body via the kidneys. This enzyme is being investigated for its potential as a catalyst in the hydroxylation of specific (valuable) industrial chemicals.