Cytochromes P450 (P450) comprise a large superfamily of proteins that are
of central importance in the detoxification or activation of a tremendous
number of foreign hydrophobic compounds, including many therapeutic drugs,
chemical carcinogens, and environmental pollutants. Many of these enzymes
are induced by the compounds they metabolize. In addition, genetic polymorphisms
of P450 genes can lead to adverse drug reactions. Consequently, P450s
are one of the most extensively studied groups of proteins, being investigated
by researchers in fields as diverse as toxicology, pharmacology, genetics, environmental
biology, biochemistry, and molecular biology. The wide range of
techniques that have been applied to the P450s reflects the diverse backgrounds
of the many researchers active in this field