Cytochrome P450 6B3 variant 3 (CYP6B3v3)

Cytochrome P450 6B3 variant 3 (CYP6B3v3) is a specialized enzyme found in the black swallowtail butterfly, Papilio polyxenes, where it plays a critical role in the detoxification of plant-derived toxins (Hung et al., 1995). Specifically, it metabolizes furanocoumarins, which are defensive chemicals produced by plants in the Apiaceae and Rutaceae families that can cause DNA damage upon UV activation (Wen et al., 2006). CYP6B3v3 is a monooxygenase that converts these hydrophobic toxins into more water-soluble metabolites, allowing the insect to feed on otherwise toxic host plants (Li et al., 2003). While closely related to CYP6B1, CYP6B3v3 has a broader substrate specificity, enabling the metabolism of both linear and angular furanocoumarins, albeit with lower efficiency (Wen et al., 2006). The expression of this enzyme is highly inducible by the presence of furanocoumarins in the larval diet, representing a key evolutionary adaptation to chemical warfare between plants and herbivores (Hung et al., 1995). In agricultural and toxicological research, CYP6B3v3 serves as a model for understanding metabolic resistance and is a potential target for synergists designed to inhibit detoxification enzymes in pests (Scott et al., 1998).

Other names

CYP6B3Cytochrome P450 6B3P450 6B3Papilio polyxenes CYP6B3CYP6B3v3

Catalyzes the NADPH-dependent monooxygenation of furanocoumarins to facilitate their metabolic detoxification and excretion.