CYP8B1 (cytochrome P450, family 8, subfamily B, polypeptide 1) also known as sterol 12-alpha-hydroxylase is a protein which in humans is encoded by the CYP8B1gene.[5]
This gene encodes a member of the cytochrome P450 superfamily of enzymes. The cytochrome P450 proteins are monooxygenases which catalyze many reactions involved in drug metabolism and synthesis of cholesterol, steroids and other lipids.
CYP8B1 is unique among the cytochrome P450 genes in that it is intronless.[6]
The elephant, manatee and naked mole rat have inactive copies of this gene and lack cholic acid in their bile.[7] Relaxed selection resulting from changes in diet to consume less lipids might have contributed to the loss of this gene in several species.[8]
^"Human PubMed Reference:". National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
^"Mouse PubMed Reference:". National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
^Gåfvels M, Olin M, Chowdhary BP, Raudsepp T, Andersson U, Persson B, Jansson M, Björkhem I, Eggertsen G (March 1999). "Structure and chromosomal assignment of the sterol 12alpha-hydroxylase gene (CYP8B1) in human and mouse: eukaryotic cytochrome P-450 gene devoid of introns". Genomics. 56 (2): 184–96. doi:10.1006/geno.1998.5606. PMID10051404.