P450 enzymes constitute a family of monooxygenase enzymes that are involved in the metabolism of a wide array of endo-genous and xenobiotic compounds. P450 enzymes can be classified, based on their sequence similarities, into distinct subfamilies, which include CYP1A and CYP2A. Other P450 family members include CYP19, also designated aromatase (P450arom), which catalyzes the conversion of C19 steroids to estrogens in various tissues, including placenta, gonads, adipose tissue, skin and brain. CYP19 expression is controlled by hormonally regulated promoters in different tissues and increased aromatase activity is associated with familial gynecomastia. Also, a polymorphic allele of CYP19 (repeat (TTTA)12) is present in a majority of breast cancer patients. P450 cholesterol 7a-hydroxylase, CYP7A1, is the rate limiting enzyme of bile acid synthesis in the liver, and its expression is mediated by the bile acid receptor FXR. CYP27A1 catalyzes vitamin D3 25-hydroxylation and is localized to the mitochondria in kidney and liver.
