A Novel Physiological Role for Cytochrome P450 Enzymes in the Brain? [ 2002 - 2004 ]

Research Grant

Researchers: Prof Elizabeth Gillam (Principal investigator) ,  Peter Wilce

Brief description The cytochrome P450 enzymes in human liver have been traditionally regarded as drug metabolising enzymes. However, it is now becoming clear that they are distributed in other tissues in the body and that they may serve important and diverse roles in normal physiology. Little is known about their functions in the brain. We have identified a reaction catalysed by these enzymes that generates a chemical found in the brain normally, whose levels are elevated under stress and which, when given to animals, is anxiogenic. This points to a possible involvement of P450 enzymes in a hitherto unexplored branch of the stress response. Importantly, it may lead to the development of novel drugs that block the P450 and therefore block production of the anxiogenic chemical. This proposal is designed to explore the basic biology underlying this system.

Funding Amount $AUD 210,990.00

Funding Scheme NHMRC Project Grants

Notes Standard Project Grant