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Genetics Home Reference: your guide to understanding genetic conditions
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POR

Reviewed December 2009

What is the official name of the POR gene?

The official name of this gene is “P450 (cytochrome) oxidoreductase.”

POR is the gene's official symbol. The POR gene is also known by other names, listed below.

What is the normal function of the POR gene?

The POR gene provides instructions for making the enzyme cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase. This enzyme is required for the normal functioning of more than 50 enzymes in the cytochrome P450 family. Cytochrome P450 enzymes are involved in the formation (synthesis) and breakdown (metabolism) of various molecules and chemicals within cells.

Cytochrome P450 enzymes play a critical role in the formation of steroid hormones, which are needed for normal development and reproduction. This group of hormones includes testosterone and estrogen, which are essential for normal sexual development and reproduction; corticosteroids, which are involved in the body's response to stress; and aldosterone, which helps regulate the body's salt and water balance.

Additionally, cytochrome P450 enzymes are involved in the metabolism of ingested substances, such as medications, in the liver. Because cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase helps regulate the activity of these enzymes, researchers suspect that normal variations in the POR gene may influence a person's response to particular drugs.

How are changes in the POR gene related to health conditions?

cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase deficiency - caused by mutations in the POR gene

More than 50 mutations in the POR gene have been found to cause cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase deficiency. Most of these mutations change single protein building blocks (amino acids) used to make cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase. POR gene mutations significantly reduce the enzyme's activity, which impairs the cytochrome P450 enzymes and disrupts the production of steroid hormones. Changes in sex hormones such as testosterone and estrogen lead to problems with sexual development before birth and at puberty.

It is less clear how impairment of cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase leads to the skeletal abnormalities seen in severe cases of cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase deficiency. Studies suggest that these abnormalities may be related, at least in part, to the abnormal production of cholesterol. Cholesterol is a substance that is altered to produce steroid hormones. It is necessary for normal embryonic development and is involved in bone formation.

It is also unclear whether mutations in the POR gene affect how the liver processes medications. The role of this enzyme in drug metabolism is an active area of research.

Where is the POR gene located?

Cytogenetic Location: 7q11.2

Molecular Location on chromosome 7: base pairs 75,544,419 to 75,616,172

The POR gene is located on the long (q) arm of chromosome 7 at position 11.2.

The POR gene is located on the long (q) arm of chromosome 7 at position 11.2.

More precisely, the POR gene is located from base pair 75,544,419 to base pair 75,616,172 on chromosome 7.

See How do geneticists indicate the location of a gene? (http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/handbook/howgeneswork/genelocation) in the Handbook.

Where can I find additional information about POR?

You and your healthcare professional may find the following resources about POR helpful.

  • Educational resources - Information pages

    • Biochemistry (fifth edition, 2002): Steroid hormones (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK22339/)
    • Biochemistry (fifth edition, 2002): The Cytochrome P450 System Is Widespread and Performs a Protective Function (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK22339/)
    • The Cell: A Molecular Approach (second edition, 2000): Steroid Hormones and the Steroid Receptor Superfamily (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK9924/)
  • Gene Reviews - Clinical summary (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1419/)

  • Genetic Testing Registry - Repository of genetic test information

    • GTR: Genetic tests for POR (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gtr/tests/?term=5447%5Bgeneid%5D)

You may also be interested in these resources, which are designed for genetics professionals and researchers.

  • PubMed - Recent literature (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=(P450%20oxidoreductase%5BTIAB%5D)%20AND%20((Genes%5BMH%5D)%20OR%20(Genetic%20Phenomena%5BMH%5D))%20AND%20english%5Bla%5D%20AND%20human%5Bmh%5D%20AND%20%22last%201800%20days%22%5Bdp%5D)
  • OMIM - Genetic disorder catalog (http://omim.org/entry/124015)

  • Research Resources - Tools for researchers

    • Atlas of Genetics and Cytogenetics in Oncology and Haematology (http://atlasgeneticsoncology.org/Genes/GC_POR.html)
    • Entrez Gene (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/5447)
    • GeneCards (http://www.genecards.org/cgi-bin/carddisp.pl?id_type=entrezgene&id=5447)
    • HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (http://www.genenames.org/data/hgnc_data.php?hgnc_id=9208)

What other names do people use for the POR gene or gene products?

  • CPR
  • CYPOR
  • cytochrome P450 reductase
  • FLJ26468
  • NADPH-dependent cytochrome P450 reductase
  • NCPR_HUMAN
  • P450R

See How are genetic conditions and genes named? (http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/handbook/mutationsanddisorders/naming) in the Handbook.

What glossary definitions help with understanding POR?

acids ; aldosterone ; bone formation ; cholesterol ; cytochrome P450 ; deficiency ; electron ; embryonic ; enzyme ; gene ; metabolism ; oxidoreductase ; pharmacogenomics ; protein ; puberty ; reproduction ; stress ; syndrome ; synthesis ; testosterone

You may find definitions for these and many other terms in the Genetics Home Reference Glossary (http://www.ghr.nlm.nih.gov/glossary).

References

  • Arlt W, Walker EA, Draper N, Ivison HE, Ride JP, Hammer F, Chalder SM, Borucka-Mankiewicz M, Hauffa BP, Malunowicz EM, Stewart PM, Shackleton CH. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia caused by mutant P450 oxidoreductase and human androgen synthesis: analytical study. Lancet. 2004 Jun 26;363(9427):2128-35. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15220035?dopt=Abstract)
  • Entrez Gene (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/5447)
  • Flück CE, Tajima T, Pandey AV, Arlt W, Okuhara K, Verge CF, Jabs EW, Mendonça BB, Fujieda K, Miller WL. Mutant P450 oxidoreductase causes disordered steroidogenesis with and without Antley-Bixler syndrome. Nat Genet. 2004 Mar;36(3):228-30. Epub 2004 Feb 1. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14758361?dopt=Abstract)
  • Fukami M, Horikawa R, Nagai T, Tanaka T, Naiki Y, Sato N, Okuyama T, Nakai H, Soneda S, Tachibana K, Matsuo N, Sato S, Homma K, Nishimura G, Hasegawa T, Ogata T. Cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase gene mutations and Antley-Bixler syndrome with abnormal genitalia and/or impaired steroidogenesis: molecular and clinical studies in 10 patients. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2005 Jan;90(1):414-26. Epub 2004 Oct 13. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15483095?dopt=Abstract)
  • Hart SN, Zhong XB. P450 oxidoreductase: genetic polymorphisms and implications for drug metabolism and toxicity. Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol. 2008 Apr;4(4):439-52. doi: 10.1517/17425255.4.4.439 . Review. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18433346?dopt=Abstract)
  • Huang N, Agrawal V, Giacomini KM, Miller WL. Genetics of P450 oxidoreductase: sequence variation in 842 individuals of four ethnicities and activities of 15 missense mutations. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008 Feb 5;105(5):1733-8. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0711621105. Epub 2008 Jan 29. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18230729?dopt=Abstract)
  • Huang N, Pandey AV, Agrawal V, Reardon W, Lapunzina PD, Mowat D, Jabs EW, Van Vliet G, Sack J, Flück CE, Miller WL. Diversity and function of mutations in p450 oxidoreductase in patients with Antley-Bixler syndrome and disordered steroidogenesis. Am J Hum Genet. 2005 May;76(5):729-49. Epub 2005 Mar 25. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15793702?dopt=Abstract)
  • Miller WL, Huang N, Agrawal V, Giacomini KM. Genetic variation in human P450 oxidoreductase. Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2009 Mar 5;300(1-2):180-4. doi: 10.1016/j.mce.2008.09.017. Epub 2008 Sep 26. Review. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18930113?dopt=Abstract)
  • Sim SC, Miller WL, Zhong XB, Arlt W, Ogata T, Ding X, Wolf CR, Flück CE, Pandey AV, Henderson CJ, Porter TD, Daly AK, Nebert DW, Ingelman-Sundberg M. Nomenclature for alleles of the cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase gene. Pharmacogenet Genomics. 2009 Jul;19(7):565-6. doi: 10.1097/FPC.0b013e32832af5b7. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19535965?dopt=Abstract)

 

The resources on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Users seeking information about a personal genetic disease, syndrome, or condition should consult with a qualified healthcare professional. See How can I find a genetics professional in my area? (http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/handbook/consult/findingprofessional) in the Handbook.

 
Reviewed: December 2009
Published: June 17, 2013