CYP4Z1 (cytochrome P450, family 4, subfamily Z, polypeptide 1) 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 ''CYP4Z1''

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 ...

Function

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 which catalyze many reactions involved in drug metabolism and synthesis of cholesterol, steroids and other lipids. This gene is part of a cluster of cytochrome P450 genes on chromosome 1p33.

Clinical significance

CYP4Z1 is overexpressed in breast cancer cells. It has also been demonstrated that the expression of the CYP4Z1 gene is upregulated by activated

glucocorticoid Glucocorticoids (or, less commonly, glucocorticosteroids) are a class of corticosteroids, which are a class of steroid hormones. Glucocorticoids are corticosteroids that bind to the glucocorticoid receptor that is present in almost every verteb ...

and progesterone receptors. The overexpression of CYP4Z1 is associated with the breast cancer cells' increased production of 20-Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE); it is hypothesized that CYP4Z1 metabolizes arachidonic acid to 20-HETE and that this overproduction is responsible for increasing the growth and spread of breast cancer cells in human breast cancer. CPZ4Z1 is likewise overexpressed in ovarian cancer cells. These studies also suggest that CYP4Z1 will be a valuable marker to distinguish between benign and malignant breast and ovarian growths in humans and/or the prognoses of malignant growths in these tissues.

Function

Clinical significance

References

Further reading