Cytochrome P450 (P450) of eukaryotes and prokaryotes diversified remarkably during the long course of their evolution. Since the diversification of P450 was the consequence of the adaptation of various living organisms to diverse environmental changes, the catalytic activities and physiological functions of the P450s of different taxa can be significantly different. It is likely that many P450s with novel physiological functions will be found in future when we further identify and examine the P450s of various eukaryotes and prokaryotes. The whole-genome sequences of a few thousand species are now available. The genome data will be helpful for the search of novel P450s in the eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms that have not been studied so far. Discovery of new P450s with unique catalytic activities will expand the scope of biochemical and biophysical research on P450.

真核生物和原核生物的细胞色素P450（P450）在其漫长的发展过程中显着多样化。由于P450的多样化是各种活生物体适应各种环境变化的结果，因此不同分类群的P450的催化活性和生理功能可能存在显着差异。将来，当我们进一步鉴定和检查各种真核生物和原核生物的P450时，很可能会发现许多具有新颖生理功能的P450。现在已有数千种全基因组序列。基因组数据将有助于在迄今尚未研究的真核和原核生物中搜索新型P450。