CYP1B1

CYP1B1 belongs to the cytochrome P450 superfamily of enzymes.

Despite over 20 years of research of CYP1A1 and CYP1A2, CYP1B1 was not identified and sequenced until 1994. Nucleic and amino acid analysis showed approximately 40% identity with CYP1A1. Despite this similarity, these two enzymes have very different catalytic efficiencies and metabolites when incubated with common substrates, such as retinoic acid and arachidonic acid. Recently CYP1B1 has been shown to be physiologically important in fetal development, since mutations in CYP1B1 are linked with a form of primary congenital glaucoma.

CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 are regulated by the Aryl hydrocarbon receptor, a ligand activated transcription factor. They are part of the Phase I reactions in drug metabolism.