Cytochromes P450 of insects: the tip of the iceberg

The cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenases are an extremely important metabolic system involved in the metabolism of endogenous compounds and xenobiotics. Collectively, P450 monooxygenases can metabolize numerous substrates and carry out multiple oxidative reactions. The large number of substrates metabolized is due to the plethora of P450 isoforms and to the broad substrate specificity of some isoforms. Monooxygenases of insects have several functional roles, including growth, development, feeding and protection against xenobiotics, including resistance to pesticides and tolerance to plant toxins. This review begins with background information about P450s and their evolution, followed by a discussion of the extraordinary diversity of insect P450s. Given the enormous interest in studying individual P450s, we then provide a synopsis of the different methods that have been used in their isolation and the substrates that are known to be metabolized. We conclude by summarizing the lessons we have learned from the study of individual insect P450s, including their roles in insecticide resistance, plant-insect interactions and insect physiology. However, these studies are just the 'tip of the iceberg'. Our knowledge continues to expand at a rapid pace, suggesting that the next decade will outpace the last in terms of improving our understanding of the cytochromes P450 of insects.