Pharmacokinetics 3: Drug metabolism Flashcards
What is drug metabolism characterised by?
Chemical structure modified by Drug-Metabolising Enzymes (DMEs)
What does drug metabolism usually do to drugs?
It usually makes lipophilic drugs more hydrophilic.
Why are drugs made more hydrophilic when being metabolised?
To make them better substrates for efflux transporters.
To make them more blood and urine soluble for excretion.
Where are drug metabolism enzymes located?
Mostly in the liver but also in:
Gut wall
Kidneys
Lungs
Skin
Brain
Testes
Heart
Gut microbiome
What are the 2 possible fates for drugs?
In general, hydrophilic drugs undergo minimal metabolism in the liver and are excreted in urine.
Lipophilic drugs are either converted into hydrophilic compounds and excreted in urine or they are excreted in bile.
What are the main classes of drug metabolism?
Oxidative metabolism (Oxygenation, hydroxylation, N-dealkylation)
Conjugative metabolism (Sulfonation acetylation, glucuronidation)
What happens as a result of oxidative metabolism?
A new functional group is added or exposed.
What happens as a result of conjugative reactions?
New chemical bonds are formed between drugs and endogenous molecules using the new functional groups. The added endogenous molecules are often very hydrophilic.
What does metabolism do to half life of drugs?
It decreases their half life (time needed for plasma concentration to fall by 50%).
What is the usual consequence of drug metabolism?
A reduction in biological activity (metabolite may not fit into the drug receptor)
However, in some cases they can retain biological activity. (prodrugs use this function)
What is a prodrug?
A drug that is inactive unless metabolised
What is cytochrome P450 (CYP)?
A family of drug metabolising enzymes with wide specificity for drugs. (only a handful are important for human drug metabolism)
Cytochrome P450s metabolise about 75% of all drugs
How large are cytochrome P450 enzymes?
Approximately 50 kDa mass
What metal is contained in cytochrome P450?
They are iron containing haemproteins
What functional group is located in active site of cytochrome P450?
Protoporphyrin IX located at base.
How do cytochrome P450 enzymes carry out their action?
Size and shape of active site varies between CYP family members.
Amino acids on surface of active site provide binding options for drugs and orient drug towards the haem group.
O2 binding and redox changes in Fe atom during catalytic cycle results in formation of Fe^5=O species.
Fe^5=O donates O atom to oxidation-prone site in drug.