CYP2J2

Cytochrome P450 2J2 (CYP2J2) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the CYP2J2 gene. CYP2J2 is a member of the cytochrome P450 superfamily of enzymes. The enzymes are oxygenases which catalyze many reactions involved in the metabolism of drugs and other xenobiotics) as well as in the synthesis of cholesterol, steroids and other lipids.

Function

CYP2J2 localizes to the endoplasmic reticulum and is thought to be a prominent enzyme responsible for metabolizing endogenous polyunsaturated fatty acids to signaling molecules. It metabolizes arachidonic acid to the following eicosatrienoic acid epoxides (termed EETs): 5,6-epoxy-8Z,11Z,14Z-EET, 5,6-epoxy-8Z,11Z,14Z-EET, 11,12-epoxy-5Z,8Z,14Z-EET, and 14,15-epoxy-5Z,8Z,11Z-EET. CYP2J2 also metabolizes linoleic acid to 9,10-epoxy octadecaenoic acids (also termed vernolic acid, linoleic acid 9:10-oxide, or leukotoxin) and 12,13-epoxy-octadecaenoic (also termed coronaric acid, linoleic acid 12,13-oxide, or isoleukotoxin); docosahexaenoic acid to various epoxydocosapentaenoic acids (also termed EDPs); and eicosapentaenoic acid to various epoxyeicosatetraenoic acids (also termed EEQs).

CYP2J2, along with CYP219, CYP2C8, CYP2C9, and possibly CYP2S1 are the main producers of EETs and, very likely EEQs, EDPs, and the epoxides of linoleic acid.

Animal studies

Animal model studies implicate The EETs, EDPs, and EEQs in regulating hypertension, the development of Myocardial infarction and other damages to the heart, the growth of various cancers, inflammation, blood vessel formation, and pain perception; limited studies suggest but have not proven that these epoxides may function similarly in humans (see epoxyeicosatrienoic acid, epoxydocosapentaenoic acid, and epoxygenase pages). Vernolic and coronaric acids are potentially toxic, causing multiple organ failure and respiratory distress when injected into animals.