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CYP3A genetics in drug metabolism

Most drugs are metabolized by CYP3A enzymes, and variations in expression levels of these enzymes are believed to determine whether patients will have a positive or adverse drug response. Little is known about the mechanisms that underlie inter-individual differences in CYP3A expression, but the mapping of human genome sequence variations will facilitate the search for answers.

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Figure 1: Potential mechanisms of variations in constitutive and inducible expression of CYP3A4.

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Eichelbaum, M., Burk, O. CYP3A genetics in drug metabolism. Nat Med 7, 285–287 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/85417

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