Future perception in P450 research

Cytochrome P450 (P450) of eukaryotes and prokaryotes diversified remarkably during the long course of their evolution. Since the diversification of P450 was the consequence of the adaptation of various living organisms to diverse environmental changes, the catalytic activities and physiological functions of the P450s of different taxa can be significantly different. It is likely that many P450s with novel physiological functions will be found in future when we further identify and examine the P450s of various eukaryotes and prokaryotes. The whole-genome sequences of a few thousand species are now available. The genome data will be helpful for the search of novel P450s in the eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms that have not been studied so far. Discovery of new P450s with unique catalytic activities will expand the scope of biochemical and biophysical research on P450.