Expression and activity of a house-fly cytochrome P450, CYP6D1, in Drosophila melanogaster

The cytochrome P450 system of animals comprises many individual cytochromes P450 in addition to a single cytochrome P450 reductase and cytochrome b(5) . Although individual genes of the cytochrome P450 superfamily are highly d iverged, the P450 reductase and cytochrome b(5) remain more conserved acros s taxa. Here, we describe the transformation of Drosophila melanogaster wit h a house-fly-specific cytochrome P450, CYP6D1. Functional activity of ecto pically expressed cytochromes P450 requires successful interaction between the transgenic P450 and the requisite coenzymes of the host organism. Trans formed Drosophila, but not controls, contained CYP6D1 protein as identified by protein immunoblotting, elevated total P450 and elevated CYP6D1 enzymat ic activity. These data demonstrate that house-fly CYP6D1 can interact with low to moderate efficiency with Drosophila P450 reductase and cytochrome b (5).