Q16757

CYP3A4 is a member of the cytochrome P450 superfamily of enzymes. CYP3A4 plays a crucial role in drug metabolism, as CYP3A4 is responsible for the biotransformation of over 50% of clinically used medications, making CYP3A4 essential for pharmacokinetics and personalized medicine. Located predominantly in the endoplasmic reticulum of liver cells and upper intestinal enterocytes, CYP3A4′s expression can be induced by glucocorticoids and other pharmacological agents, which can significantly affect drug clearance and efficacy. The CYP3A gene cluster, located at the 7q22.1 locus, includes CYP3A4 along with CYP3A5, CYP3A7, and CYP3A43, as well as two pseudogenes, highlighting the complexity and importance of this enzyme family in drug metabolism and the synthesis of cholesterol, steroids, and other lipids.