UDP-glucuronosyltransferases Flashcards
What is glucuronidation?
It is an important pathway of metabolism for large numbers of small endogenous chemicals and xenobiotics
What reaction does glucuronidation facilitate?
A detoxification reaction that facilitates elimination from the body
What catalyzes glucuronidation?
Members of the UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) family
What co-substrate does glucuronidation use?
UDP-glucuronic acid (nucleotide sugar)
The three main functional groups that are glucuronidated are ________
Hydroxyl, carboxyl, and amine
Where is the main site of glucuronidation?
The liver
Besides the main site of glucuronidation, where else can UGTs be found?
Tissues including kidney, lung, intestines, and skin
How does the xenobiotic metabolism of Phenytoin facilitate excretion?
The xenobiotic metabolism done by the enzymes CYP450 and UDP make the drug more water-soluble, which helps the drug be excreted through urine or bile
Why does the UGT family have many different UGTs?
Due to endobiotics: very specific enzymes are needed o perform very specific functions
UGT1A proteins are all encoded by _________
a single gene
True or False: All UGTs except the 3A and 8A families utilize UDGPA as co-substrate
True
Why is it important to know the type of UGT that specific drugs get glucuronidated by?
Because of the possibilities of having a drug-drug interaction in the system
What is a drug-drug interaction?
When one drug interferes with the metabolism of another drug
What are probe substrates?
The identification of compounds that are glucuronidated specifically by each UGT
True or False: Bilirubin is not able to cross the blood-brain barrier
False
What is Bilirubin?
End product of the breakdown of hemoglobin from aged red blood cells