Cytochrome P450 2A13 (CYP2A13)

CYP2A13 encodes a member of the cytochrome P450 superfamily of enzymes.This protein localizes to the endoplasmic reticulum. Although its endogenous substrate has not been determined, it is known to metabolize 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone, a major nitrosamine specific to tobacco.This gene is part of a large cluster of cytochrome P450 genes from the CYP2A, CYP2B and CYP2F subfamilies on chromosome 19q. CYP2A13 may play important roles in xenobiotic toxicity and tobacco-related tumorigenesis in the respiratory tract RT-PCR detected highest CYP2A13 expression in nasal mucosa, followed by lung and trachea. Lower expression was detected in testis and liver, and weak expression was detected in brain, mammary gland, prostate, and uterus, but not in other tissues examined.