CYP2J2 Inhibitors

CYP2J2 inhibitors belong to a class of chemical compounds that specifically interact with and inhibit the activity of the cytochrome P450 2J2 enzyme, abbreviated as CYP2J2. This enzyme is one of the many CYP450 monooxygenases, a large and diverse group of enzymes that play crucial roles in the metabolism of a wide array of endogenous and exogenous substances. The CYP2J2 enzyme is predominantly expressed in the human heart, as well as in various other tissues such as the liver, pancreas, and intestines, and is involved in the metabolism of certain fatty acids to biologically active epoxides. It is known for its involvement in the epoxidation of arachidonic acid to epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs), which are signaling molecules that have been observed to have various biological functions. Inhibiting CYP2J2, therefore, results in altering the levels of these epoxide metabolites in the body. The chemical structure of CYP2J2 inhibitors is diverse, with several compounds identified that can bind to the active site of the enzyme, thereby reducing its catalytic activity. These inhibitors can be classified as either selective or non-selective based on their specificity towards the CYP2J2 enzyme, with selective inhibitors having a high affinity for binding to CYP2J2 over other CYP450 enzymes. The mechanism of inhibition can be competitive, non-competitive, or uncompetitive, depending on how the inhibitor interacts with the enzyme and its substrate.