Cytochrome P450 enzymes in the generation of commercial products

Abstract

Cytochrome P450 enzymes are remarkably diverse oxygenation catalysts that are found throughout nature. Although most of the interest in the pharmaceutical industry has focused on the role of cytochrome P450s in drug development, these enzymes also offer potential in the discovery not only of drugs, but also of other useful chemicals. Potential applications range from the use of cytochrome P450s as drug targets, to the use of randomly generated mutants of cytochrome P450s to produce libraries of new chemicals and drugs.