Overview: Some Basic Controversies and Applications of Cytochrome P450 Compound I

Abstract

Cytochrome P450 is a superfamily of enzymes that play an important role in body metabolism. Compound I has been identified to be a reactive intermediate for hydroxylation in Cytochrome P450 catalytic cycle. There are many controversies in the reactivity of other intermediates like Compound 0 and Compound II. Compound I was verified to be the main reactant to conduct hydrogen abstraction through comparative reactivity experiments. The oxygen rebound mechanism proposed by Groves in the catalytic cycle was proved to be a radical process by kinetics characterization. The structure of ferryl species has been widely studied in recent years. Apart from hydroxylation, Compound I can be involved in epoxidation, heteroatom oxidation, and decarboxylation when exposed to different substrates. Researchers also explore the possibilities of new products by replacing the components in the structure: the metal ion, the axial ligand, or the types of porphyrins.