Cytochrome P450 26B1 is a

protein Proteins are large biomolecules and macromolecules that comprise one or more long chains of amino acid residues. Proteins perform a vast array of functions within organisms, including catalysing metabolic reactions, DNA replication, res ...

that in humans is encoded by the ''CYP26B1''

gene In biology, the word gene (from , ; "... Wilhelm Johannsen coined the word gene to describe the Mendelian units of heredity..." meaning ''generation'' or ''birth'' or ''gender'') can have several different meanings. The Mendelian gene is a b ...

. This gene encodes a member of the

cytochrome P450 Cytochromes P450 (CYPs) are a superfamily of enzymes containing heme as a cofactor that functions as monooxygenases. In mammals, these proteins oxidize steroids, fatty acids, and xenobiotics, and are important for the clearance of various co ...

superfamily of enzymes. The cytochrome P450 proteins are

monooxygenase Monooxygenases are enzymes that incorporate one hydroxyl group (−OH) into substrates in many metabolic pathways. In this reaction, the two atoms of dioxygen are reduced to one hydroxyl group and one H2O molecule by the concomitant oxidation o ...

s that catalyze many reactions involved in

drug metabolism Drug metabolism is the metabolic breakdown of drugs by living organisms, usually through specialized enzymatic systems. More generally, xenobiotic metabolism (from the Greek xenos "stranger" and biotic "related to living beings") is the set o ...

and the synthesis of

cholesterol Cholesterol is any of a class of certain organic molecules called lipids. It is a sterol (or modified steroid), a type of lipid. Cholesterol is biosynthesized by all animal cells and is an essential structural component of animal cell mem ...

, steroids and other

lipids Lipids are a broad group of naturally-occurring molecules which includes fats, waxes, sterols, fat-soluble vitamins (such as vitamins A, D, E and K), monoglycerides, diglycerides, phospholipids, and others. The functions of lipids include ...

. The enzyme encoded by this gene is involved in the specific inactivation of

all-trans-retinoic acid Tretinoin, also known as all-''trans'' retinoic acid (ATRA), is a medication used for the treatment of acne and acute promyelocytic leukemia. For acne, it is applied to the skin as a cream, gel or ointment. For leukemia, it is taken by mouth ...

to hydroxylated forms, such as 4-oxo-, 4-OH-, and 18-OH-all-trans-retinoic acid. In a developing mouse embryo, CYP26B1 is expressed in the distal tip of the forming limb bud with an abundance in the

apical ectodermal ridge The apical ectodermal ridge (AER) is a structure that forms from the ectodermal cells at the distal end of each limb bud and acts as a major signaling center to ensure proper development of a limb. After the limb bud induces AER formation, the AE ...

. In a knockout mouse model, mice manifest with severe limb malformations and die after birth due to respiratory distress. However, if the expression of CYP26B1 is conditionally deleted only prior to E9.5, the limbs are not as severely truncated and more digits are visible. Research suggests that this difference is attributable to the timing of chrondroblast differentiation. CYP26B1 has been shown to be over-expressed in colorectal cancer cells compared to normal

colonic Colon cleansing, also known as colon therapy, or colon hydrotherapy, or a colonic, or colonic irrigation encompasses a number of alternative medical therapies claimed to remove unspecified toxins from the colon and intestinal tract by remo ...

epithelium. CYP26B1 expression was also independently prognostic in patients with colorectal cancer and strong expression was associated with a poorer outcome. In a genome-wide study, CCHCR1, TCN2, TNXB, LTA, FASN, and CYP26B1 were identified as loci associated with a risk for developing esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Of these loci, CYP26B1 exhibited the highest effect size. Moreover, the CYP26B1 locus was found to have two alleles with differing capacities to catabolize all-trans retinoic acid, a chemotherapeutic agent. When the allele with the higher catabolic capacity, rs138478634-GA, was overexpressed, cell proliferation was significantly enhanced in comparison to the other allele, rs138478634-GG. Additionally, research is suggestive of a lifestyle interaction where individuals with the risk allele who partake in smoking or drinking present with an odd-ratio over 2-fold higher than smokers or drinkers without the variant or individuals who refrain.

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