CYP450 enzymes belong to a superfamily which in humans is composed of at least 57 CYPs; within this superfamily, members of six CYP4A subfamilies, (which are CYP4A, CYP4B, CYP4F, CYP4V, CYP4X, and CYP4z) possess ω-hydroxylase activity viz., CYP4A, CYP4B, and CYP4F
CYP2U1 also possesses ω hydroxylase activity. These CYP ω-hydroxylases can be categorized into several groups based on their substrates and consequential function • 1) The only member of the CYP4B subfamily,
CYP4B1, shows a preference for ω-oxidizing
short-chain fatty acids, i.e. fatty acids that are 7-9 carbons long; CYP4B1 is far more weakly expressed in humans than that expressed in other mammals that were tested. Subsequent to their ω-hydroxylation, these products are converted to their acyl
carnitine derivatives and transferred to
mitochondria for complete oxidized by
beta oxidation (see also
omega oxidation). • 2) A member of the CYP4A subfamily,
CYP4A11, preferentially ω-hydroxylate
medium-chain fatty acids, i.e. fatty acids that are 10-16 carbons long;
CYP4A11,
CYP4F2,
CYP4F3A,
CYP4F3B,
CYP4F11,
CYP4V2, and
CYP4Z1 also metabolize these fatty acids. • 6) CYP4F2, CYP4F3A, CYP4F3B, and CYP4F11 ω-hydroxylate
leukotriene B4 and very probably
5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid and
5-oxo-eicosatetraenoic acid. One or more of these CYPs also omega hydroxylate
12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid,
lipoxins,
hepoxilins, and acyl
ceramides) • 7) CYP4A11, CYP4F2, CYP4F3B, CYP4F11, CYP4F12, CYP4V2, CYP2U1, and possibly CYP4Z1 metabolize arachidonic acid to
20-Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE). Animal and human tissue studies suggest that the CYP-dependent production of 20-HETE contributes to the regulation of blood pressure, the growth of certain cancers, and the
metabolic syndrome while genetic studies on
single nucleotide polymorphism in humans support roles for:
a) CYP4F11-dependent 20-HETE production in the prevention of hypertension;
b) CYP4F2-dependent 20-HETE production of 20-HETE in the prevention of hypertension,
ischemic stroke, and
myocardial infarction; and
c) CYP2U1 in
Hereditary spastic paraplegia, possibly by a 20-HETE-dependent mechanism in a small percentage of patients with this disease (see 20-Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid#Human studies). Some or possibly even all of these CYPs may also omega hydroxylate
eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and
docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). 20-hydroxy EPA and 20-hydroxy-DHA do stimulate
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha but their range of biological activities have yet to be investigated. ==Clinical significance==