Cytochrome P450 2J2 (CYP2J2)

This gene encodes a member of the cytochrome P450 superfamily of enzymes. The cytochrome P450 proteins are monooxygenases which catalyze many reactions involved in drug metabolism and synthesis of cholesterol, steroids and other lipids. This protein localizes to the endoplasmic reticulum and is thought to be the predominant enzyme responsible for epoxidation of endogenous arachidonic acid in cardiac tissue.

The 1.9-kb cDNA encoded a predicted 502-amino acid protein contained a putative heme binding domain and was 80% identical to the rabbit CYP2J1 protein. Because of these similarities the authors designated the human protein CYP2J2. The protein was most similar (40-46%) to hemoproteins of the CYP2 family and, to a lesser extent, other CYP families