Dr. Emily Scott
University of Michigan
Friday, September 11, 2026
12:00 Noon
Meyerhoff Chemistry BuildingRoom 120
Host: Dr. Kamal Seneviratne
“Cytochrome P450 Structure and Function for Drug Design in Bile Acid Pathways”
Cytochrome P450 enzymes catalyze essential reactions in the synthesis and metabolism of steroids, bile acids, vitamins, fatty acids, and many foreign compounds. Several P450s involved in steroid production are already important therapeutic targets, but the related enzymes that shape the bile acid pool remain comparatively underexplored. This talk will examine how understanding the structures and functions of these enzymes can reveal new opportunities for drug discovery.
The first part will focus on CYP8B1, an enzyme that controls the balance of major bile acids and thereby influences intestinal fat absorption, glucose regulation, and triglyceride metabolism. These connections make CYP8B1 a potential target for metabolic disorders, including metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and type 2 diabetes. Biochemical characterization and structural studies provide a foundation for understanding how substrates and inhibitors interact with CYP8B1 and for developing more selective inhibitors.
The second part will consider CYP7B1, which metabolizes oxysterols that can accumulate in the nervous system when the enzyme is defective. Mutations in CYP7B1 cause hereditary spastic paraplegia type 5 and may also inform our understanding of other neurodegenerative conditions. Structural and functional analysis can help explain why particular mutations disrupt enzyme production or activity and may suggest strategies for restoring function.
Together, these studies demonstrate how an integrated view of P450 structure, biochemistry, and disease biology can support the development of new therapeutic approaches in metabolic and neurological disease.