CYP2D6 Enzyme, Poor Metaboliser

[casebro]

Looks like I am a Poor Metabolizer of some drugs. Possible due to a fairly common genetic variation. Too many family member have troubles with drugs related to CYP2D6.

BUT, my question is, since we didn't evolve that enzyme to handle modern drugs, what did we evolve it for? AAand, what other problems can I have that could use some intervention? Something along the lines of umm, I lack the ability to make a vitamin, so should take a pill? Or some spice may cause hypertension, so I should stay away from it.

But all I can Google or Wiki is lists of drugs. No mention of what the darn enzyme is supposed to do in a natural environment.

Any help here?

[casebro]

I've since found one mention of steroids. But whether that would make me low in steroids because the CYP2D6 is not there to make a substrate, or whether I would have high steroid levels because the CYP2D6 isn't there to break them down for disposal?

[ThunderChunky]

It looks like this enzyme is thought to have originally evolved to help metabolize compounds found in plants. It doesn't look like it is that important currently other than how it metabolizes drugs.