lecture 3 - pharmacokinetics & metabolism

Question 1

What are the 2 phases of drug metabolism?

Answer 1

Phase 1 - addition of functional group
Phase 2 - conjugation (increase solubility)

Question 2

Why do many drugs need to be metabolised in order to be take up by cells?

Answer 2

Because most drugs are hydrophobic and therefore cannot be absorbed through cell membranes without being altered

Question 3

Which organs are the site of the majority of drug metabolism?

Answer 3

Liver, intestine

Question 4

What is the function of phase 1 of drug metabolism?

Answer 4

Add a functional group that will increase reactivity for the next phase

Question 5

What is the function off phase 2 of drug metabolism?

Answer 5

Conjugate/link the drug to another molecule to make it more water soluble and improve recognition by drug transporters.

Question 6

What is the most common class of drug metabolising enzyme?

Answer 6

CYP - cytochrome P450

Question 7

What are pro-drugs?

Answer 7

Inactive drugs that are only activated once they enter the body and are metabolised.

Question 8

What are metabolic shunts?

Answer 8

When the predominant metabolic pathway for a drug cannot occur so the drug is moved/shunted to a different metabolic pathway