Biocatalysts mined from cytochrome P450 Libraries: an innovative tool for accelerating drug development (2005-2008)
Abstract
The cytochrome P450s (P450s) are a family of enzymes that are perhaps the most versatile biological catalysts known. DNA shuffling is an emerging technique that takes the genes encoding families of enzymes and creates libraries of catalysts with both improved and novel properties. We will obtain proof of concept that shuffled P450 libraries can be screened and optimized for use as biocatalysts in drug development. The methodologies developed here will overcome two critical bottlenecks in current drug development: the optimisation and metabolic profiling of new drug candidates. This will yield important benefits in accelerating the optimisation and safety testing of drugs under development.
