Cytochrome P450 4B1 (CYP4B1)

Cytochrome P450 4B1 is 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. In rodents, the homologous protein has been shown to metabolize certain carcinogens; however, the specific function of the human protein has not been determined. Two transcript variants encoding slightly different isoforms have been found for this gene.P450IVB1 mRNA was undetectable in livers from 14 persons including those from which the lungs were derived. By study of rodent/human somatic cell hybrids, they assigned the CYP4B1 gene to 1p34-p12.