Application of P450s for biosensing: combination of biotechnology and electrochemistry

P450s are heme-containing proteins which catalyze monooxygenation and other reactions in oxidative metabolism of lipophilic compounds. They are promising enzymes for the application of biosensing probes. Biosensing of various compounds is possible when P450s are immobilized on oxygen electrode or on ion-sensitive field effect transistor (ISFET). Competition assay with other substrate is another biosensing method based on the biochemical assay. Optical biosensor based on a resonance mirror was also reported. Genes in the upstream region of P450 gene including the promoter is utilized to construct reporter gene system (RGS). The system responds to a trace amount of endocrine-disrupting substance to induce luciferase. Various biosensing methods with P450s and P450-related genes will be useful for medical application and ecological application in the near future.