CYP3A
Encyclopedia
Cytochrome P450, family 3, subfamily A, also known as CYP3A, is a human gene
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The CYP3A locus
includes all the known members of the 3A subfamily of the cytochrome P450 superfamily of genes. These genes encode monooxygenase
s which catalyze many reactions involved in drug metabolism and synthesis of cholesterol, steroids and other lipids. The CYP3A cluster consists of four genes:
The region also contains two pseudogene
s: and,
as well as several extra exons which may or may not be included in transcripts produced from this region. Previously another CYP3A member, CYP3A3, was thought to exist; however, it is now thought that this sequence represents a transcript variant of CYP3A4.
Gene
A gene is a molecular unit of heredity of a living organism. It is a name given to some stretches of DNA and RNA that code for a type of protein or for an RNA chain that has a function in the organism. Living beings depend on genes, as they specify all proteins and functional RNA chains...
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The CYP3A locus
Locus (genetics)
In the fields of genetics and genetic computation, a locus is the specific location of a gene or DNA sequence on a chromosome. A variant of the DNA sequence at a given locus is called an allele. The ordered list of loci known for a particular genome is called a genetic map...
includes all the known members of the 3A subfamily of the cytochrome P450 superfamily of genes. These genes encode monooxygenase
Monooxygenase
Monooxygenases are enzymes that incorporate one hydroxyl group into substrates in many metabolic pathways. In this reaction, two atoms of dioxygen are reduced to one hydroxyl group and one H2O molecule by the concomitant oxidation of NADH.-Classification:...
s which catalyze many reactions involved in drug metabolism and synthesis of cholesterol, steroids and other lipids. The CYP3A cluster consists of four genes:
- CYP3A4CYP3A4Cytochrome P450 3A4 , a member of the cytochrome P450 mixed-function oxidase system, is one of the most important enzymes involved in the metabolism of xenobiotics in the body. CYP3A4 is involved in the oxidation of the largest range of substrates of all the CYPs. As a result, CYP3A4 is present in...
- CYP3A5CYP3A5Cytochrome P450 3A5 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the CYP3A5 gene.-Further reading:...
, - CYP3A7CYP3A7CYP3A7 is a member of the cytochrome P450 family. It serves in fetuses a role similar to the role CYP3A4 serves in adults....
, and - CYP3A43CYP3A43Cytochrome P450 3A43 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the CYP3A43 gene.-Further reading:...
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The region also contains two pseudogene
Pseudogene
Pseudogenes are dysfunctional relatives of known genes that have lost their protein-coding ability or are otherwise no longer expressed in the cell...
s: and,
as well as several extra exons which may or may not be included in transcripts produced from this region. Previously another CYP3A member, CYP3A3, was thought to exist; however, it is now thought that this sequence represents a transcript variant of CYP3A4.