Medknow Publications on behalf of Indian Society of Human Genetics
Abstract
Pharmacogenetics is the study of genetic basis in the individual
response to drugs. A thorough knowledge of this will lead to a future
where tailor-made drugs, suiting an individual, can be used.
Scandinavian countries have been known for wide usage of
pharmacogenetics and the most widely used application is for genotyping
CYP2D6 in treating psychiatric illness. The CYP-450 enzyme, a super
family of microsomal drug-metabolizing enzymes, is the most important
of enzymes that catalyzes phase-I drug metabolism reaction. CYP2D6 is a
member of this family and it has been most intensively studied and the
best example of pharmacogenetics variation in drug metabolism.
Neuro-transmitter and drug acting CNS viz. codeine, dextromethorphan,
metoprolol and tryptyline etc. are well metabolized by this enzyme.
Thus, CYP2D6 is one of the most important and responsible enzymes which
regulates bioavailability and metabolism of drug. Presently 75 alleles
of CYP2D6 have been described which are responsible for variance of
metabolism and toxicity of drugs. Thus, by determining variance of
CYP2D6 using molecular approaches viz., PCR, real-time PCR, DNA
micro-array and molecular docking can determine the adverse effects,
drug toxicity, bioavailability and therapeutic potential of new drug