Cytochrome P450 in Rodents

Multiple cytochrome P450 isozymes have been purified and characterized in different laboratories by various purification methods, and have been named at these different laboratories. Spectral and catalytic properties and molecular weights are not enough to distinguish between cytochrome P450 isozymes. A standardized nomenclature for cytochrome P450 has been needed for years. Since Fujii-Kuriyama et al. (1982) reported the first cDNA sequence of cytochrome P450, 154 cytochrome P450 gene names have been listed (Nebert et al. 1991) in a nomenclature system (CYP) based on the evolution of the cytochrome P450 supergene family. Purified rat cytochromes P450 have been arranged according to their cytochrome P450 gene category and extensively reviewed (Gonzalez 1989; Ryan and Levin 1990). In this chapter, we describe the purification and catalytic properties of cytochrome P450 from the rat, rabbit, and mouse and then the changes in the levels of cytochromes P450 by treatment with chemical inducers or under pathophysiological conditions.