Cytochrome P450: Electron transfer and sensors

Electrochemical methods allow to characterize the reaction mechanism of the cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes by observing the electron transfer in real time. According to the number of publications on protein electrochemistry, CYP enzymes have the third position after glucose oxidase and cytochrome c. Sensors for drug monitoring using different CYP enzymes are appropriate tools since CYP enzymes act on more than 90 percent of all drugs currently on the market. For sensor development the efficiency of coupling the biocatalytic systems with the electrode is the crucial step. Furthermore for screening drugs, and for assessment of toxicity and prediction of drug clearance, the distribution of CYP isoenzymes and polymorphic enzymes would be of high clinical relevance.