Characterization of catechol glucuronidation in rat liver.

Catechols are a class of substances from natural or synthetic origin that contain a 1,2-dihydroxybenzene group. We have characterized the glucuronidation by rat liver microsomes and by the rat liver recombinant UDP-glucuronosyltransferase isoforms UGT1A6 and UGT2B1 of a series of 42 structurally diverse catechols, including neurotransmitters, polyphenols, drugs, and catechol estrogens. Small catechols (4-nitrocatechol, 2,3-dihydroxybenzaldehyde, 4-methylcatechol, and tetrachlorocatechol), tyrphostine A23, and octylgallate were glucuronidated at the highest rate by rat liver microsomes and the recombinant enzymes. By contrast, polyphenols from green tea (catechin and related compounds), 3,5-dinitrocatechol, the catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitor drugs (entacapone, nitecapone, and tolcapone), the carboxyl catechols (gallic acid and dihydroxybenzoic acid derivatives), and the neurotransmitters and dopaminergic drugs, except dobutamine, were glucuronidated at low rate. Glucuronidation of most catechols was increased upon treatment of rats by 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC) or Aroclor 1254. No induction was observed after administration of phenobarbital and clofibrate or treatment with catechols. Partial least-squares modeling was carried out to explain the variations of glucuronidation activity by liver microsomes of nontreated and 3-MC-treated rats. The model developed explained 82% and predicted 61% of the variations of glucuronidation activities. Among the 17 electronic and substructure parameters used that characterize the catechols, the hydrophobicity/molar volume ratio of catechols showed a strong positive correlation with the glucuronidation rate. The effect of the pK(a) of the catechol group was modeled to be nonlinear, the optimal pK(a) value for glucuronidation being between 8 and 9. Hydrogen bonding and steric effects also were important to account for to predict the glucuronidation rates.     

Regioselective sulfation and glucuronidation of phenolics: insights into the structural basis

The phase II metabolism sulfation and glucuronidation, mediated by sulfotransferases (SULTs) and UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) respectively, are significant metabolic pathways for numerous endo-and xenobiotics. Understanding of SULT/UGT substrate specificity including regioselectivity (i.e., position preference) is of great importance in predicting contribution of sulfation/ glucuronidation to drug and metabolite disposition in vivo. This review summarizes regioselective sulfation and glucuronidation of phenolic compounds with multiple hydroxyl (OH) groups as the potential conjugation sites. The strict regioselective patterns are highlighted for several SULT and UGT isoforms towards flavonoids, a large class of natural polyphenols. To seek for a molecular-level explanation, the enzyme structures (i.e., SULT crystal structures and a homology-modeled UGT structure) combined with molecular docking are employed. In particular, the structural basis for regioselective metabolism of flavonoids by SULT1A3 and UGT1A1 is discussed. It is concluded that the regioselective nature of these phase II enzymes is determined by the size and shape of the binding pocket. While the molecular structures of the enzymes can be used to explain regioselective metabolism regarding the binding property, predicting the turnover at different positions remains a particularly difficult task.     

Glucuronidation of Catechol Estrogens by Expressed Human UDP-Glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) 1A1, 1A3, and 2B7

Catechol estrogens are major estrogen metabolites in mammalsand are the most potent naturally occurring inhibitors of catechol-aminemetabolism. These estrogen compounds have been implicated incarcinogenic activity and the 4/2-hydroxyestradiol concentrationhas been shown to be elevated in neoplastic human mammary tissuecompared to normal human breast tissue. Three human liver UDP-glucuronosyltransferases,UGT2B7, UGT1A1, and UGT1A3, have been shown to catalyze theglucuronidation of catechol estrogens and lead to their enhancedelimination via urine or bile. The present study was designedto study the kinetic interaction of expressed human UGT2B7(Y)or (H), UGT1A1, and UGT1A3 toward 2- and 4-hydroxycatechol estrogens.cDNAs encoding UGT2B7(Y) or (H), UGT1A1, and UGT1A3 were expressedin HK293 cells, and cell homogenates or membrane preparationswere used to determine their glucuronidation ability. UGT2B7(Y)reacted with higher efficiency toward 4-hydroxyestrogenic catechols,whereas UGT1A1 and UGT1A3 showed higher activities toward 2-hydroxyestrogens.UGT2B7(H) catalyzed estrogen catechol glucuronidation with efficienciessimilar to UGT2B7(Y). Flunitrazepam (FNZ), a competitive inhibitorof morphine glucuronidation in hepatic micro-somes, competitivelyinhibited catechol estrogen glucuronidation catalyzed by UGT2B7(Y),UGT1A1, and UGT1A3. Buprenor-phine, an opioid substrate thatreacts at high efficiency with each of these UGTs, was alsostudied. FNZ competitively inhibited buprenorphine glucuronidationwith UGT1A1 and UGT2B7 but had no inhibitory activity towardUGT1A3. This suggests that buprenorphine and 2-hydroxycatecholestrogens react with separate active sites of UGT1A3. A catecholamine,norepinephrine, did not inhibit UGT2B7(Y) UGT1A1, and UGT1A3-catalyzedglucuronidation of catechol estrogens. These results also suggestthat drug-endobiotic interactions are possible in humans andmay have implication in carcinogenesis.     

Glucuronidation and sulfation of the tea flavonoid (-)-epicatechin by the human and rat enzymes.

(-)-Epicatechin (EC) is one of the flavonoids present in green tea, suggested to have chemopreventive properties in cancer. However, its bioavailability is not clearly understood. In the present study, we determined the metabolism of EC, focusing on its glucuronic acid and sulfate conjugation using human liver and intestinal microsomes and cytosol as well as recombinant UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) and sulfotransferase (SULT) isoforms in comparison with that occurring in the rat. Surprisingly, EC was not glucuronidated by the human liver and small intestinal microsomes. There was also no evidence of glucuronidation by human colon microsomes or by recombinant UGT1A7, which is not present in the liver or intestine. Interestingly, in the rat liver microsomes EC was efficiently glucuronidated with the formation of two glucuronides. In contrast, the human liver cytosol efficiently sulfated EC mainly through the SULT1A1 isoform. For the intestine, both SULT1A1 and SULT1A3 contributed. Other SULT isoforms contributed little. High-performance liquid chromatography of the sulfate conjugates showed one major sulfatase-sensitive peak with all tissues. An additional minor sulfatase-resistant peak was formed by the liver and intestinal cytosol as well as with SULT1A1 but not by the Caco-2 cytosol and SULT1A3. In the rat, EC sulfation was considerably less efficient than in the human liver. These results indicate that sulfation is the major pathway in EC metabolism in the human liver and intestine with no glucuronidation occurring. There was also a large species difference both in glucuronidation and sulfation of EC between rats and humans.     

The specificity of glucuronidation of entacapone and tolcapone by recombinant human UDP-glucuronosyltransferases.

The COMT inhibitors entacapone and tolcapone are rapidly metabolized in vivo, mainly by glucuronidation. In this work, the main UGT isoforms responsible for their glucuronidation in vitro were characterized by using a subset of representative cloned and expressed human UGT isoforms. Entacapone in particular was seen to be an exceptionally good substrate for UGT1A9 with an even higher reaction velocity value at 500 microM substrate concentration compared with that of the commonly used substrate, propofol (1.3 and 0.78 nmol min(-1) mg(-1), respectively). Neither entacapone nor tolcapone was glucuronidated by UGT1A6. Tolcapone was not detectably glucuronidated by UGT1A1, and the rate of glucuronidation of entacapone was also low by this isoform. However, UGT1A1 was the only UGT capable of catalyzing the formation of two glucuronides of the catecholic entacapone. Both COMT inhibitors were glucuronidated at low rates by the representative members of the UGT2B family, UGT2B7 and UGT2B15. Michaelis-Menten parameters were determined for entacapone and tolcapone using recombinant human UGT isoforms and human liver microsomes to compare the kinetic properties of the two COMT inhibitors. The kinetic data illustrates that UGT1A9 exhibited a much greater rate of glucuronidation and a far lower K(m) value for both entacapone and tolcapone than UGT2B15 and UGT2B7 whose contribution is minor by comparison. Entacapone showed a 3 to 4 times higher V(max) value and a 4 to 6 times lower K(m) value compared with those of tolcapone both in UGT1A9 cell lysates and in human liver microsomes.     

Use of cloned and expressed human UDP-glucuronosyltransferases for the assessment of human drug conjugation and identification of potential drug interactions.

Glucuronidation is an important pathway for human drug metabolism. Four cloned and expressed human UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGT1A1, UGT1A6, UGT1A9, and UGT2B15) were used to screen a series of three potential drug substrates differing only in position of the phenol moiety. The meta and para phenols, UK-156,037 and UK-157,147, were found to be substrates for UGT1A1 with K(m) values of 256 and 105 microM, respectively. The ortho phenol UK-157,261 was glucuronidated predominantly by UGT1A9 with a K(m) of 45 microM. The latter K(m) compares favorably with the known UGT1A9 substrate propofol (K(m) = 200 microM). In a series of competition experiments, UK-157,261 was shown to inhibit the glucuronidation of propofol by UGT1A9 with a K(i) value of 65 microM. This result indicates that even the most potent of these compounds is extremely unlikely to interact in the clinic with the glucuronidation of propofol. This study shows the utility of the expressed human UDP-glucuronosyltransferases in determining substrate structure-activity relationships and potential drug-drug interactions.     

Investigations on the stereoselectivity of the phase II metabolism of the 3,4-methylenedioxyethylamphetamine (MDEA) metabolites 3,4-dihydroxyethylamphetamine (DHEA) and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyethylamphetamine (HMEA)

Different elimination was reported for the two enantiomers of the designer drug 3,4-methylenedioxyethylamphetamine (MDEA) in vivo. In the present work, the enantioselectivity of glucuronidation and sulfation of the MDEA phase I metabolites 3,4-dihydroxyethylamphetamine (DHEA) and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyethylamphetamine (HMEA) was investigated. First, glucuronide standards were synthesized using rat liver microsomes. Incubations were performed with recombinant human UDP-glucuronyltransferases (UGT) and pooled human liver microsomes (pHLM) for glucuronidation and using recombinant human sulfotransferases (SULT) and pooled human liver cytosol (pHLC) for sulfation. Product formation experiments were performed by quantification of the phase II metabolites using liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry. Additionally, substrate depletion experiments were conducted by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry after chiral derivatization for sulfation. UGT2B7, 2B15, and 2B17 were involved in glucuronidation of HMEA and SULT1A1 and SULT1A3 and SULT1A3 and SULT1E1 in the sulfation of DHEA and HMEA, respectively. SULTs provided much higher affinity, whereas UGTs showed higher capacities. Marked stereoselectivity could be observed for UGT2B15, UGT2B17, and pHLM toward S-HMEA, for SULT1A3 and pHLC toward S-DHEA and for SULT1A3 and pHLC toward R-HMEA. In conclusion, the phase II metabolism might also contribute to the observed different pharmacokinetic properties of MDEA.     

Molecular mechanisms controlling the rate and specificity of catechol O-methylation by human soluble catechol O-methyltransferase

Molecular mechanisms determining the turn-over rate and specificity of catechol O-methylation were studied by combining enzyme kinetic measurements, computational modeling of substrate properties and fitting ligands in a 3D model of the active site of the enzyme. Enzyme kinetic measurements were carried out for 46 compounds, including most clinically used catechol drugs, by using recombinant human soluble catechol O-methyltransferase (COMT). The most important mechanism decreasing the turnover rate and increasing affinity was the electron withdrawing effect of substituents. Several other mechanisms by which substituents affected reactivity and affinity were identified. Highest turnover rates were determined for unsubstituted catechol and pyrogallol. Pyrogallol derivatives generally seemed to be more specific substrates than catechols. Catecholestrogens were the most specific endogenous substrates, whereas catecholamines were rather poor substrates. Among the catechol drugs used in the L-DOPA treatment of Parkinson's disease, the COMT inhibitors entacapone and tolcapone were not methylated, whereas the DOPA decarboxylase inhibitor benserazide was 15 times more specific substrate than L-DOPA, the target of COMT inhibition. The structure-activity relationships found allow the prediction of reactivity, affinity, and specificity with useful accuracy for catechols with a wide range of structures and properties. The knowledge can be used in the evaluation of metabolic interactions of endogenous catechols, drugs and dietary catechols, and in the designing of drugs with the catechol pharmacophore.     

Reverse geometrical selectivity in glucuronidation and sulfation of cis- and trans-4-hydroxytamoxifens by human liver UDP-glucuronosyltransferases and sulfotransferases

The phenolic active metabolites, cis-4-hydroxytamoxifen (cis-HO-TAM) and trans-4-hydroxytamoxifen (trans-HO-TAM), of the anti-breast-cancer drug, trans-tamoxifen (TAM), were geometrically selectively glucuronidated in the manner of cis>trans by microsomes and sulfated in the manner of trans>cis by cytosol from the liver of 10 human subjects (7 females and 3 males). There was a large individual difference in the microsomal glucuronidation of cis-HO-TAM, which correlated well with glucuronidation of 4-hydroxybiphenyl by human liver microsomes. However, there was only a slight correlation between the glucuronidation of cis-HO-TAM and trans-HO-TAM or 4-nitrophenol (NP). A small individual difference was observed for the human liver cytosolic sulfation of trans-HO-TAM, which correlated well with the sulfation of NP. Recombinant human UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT)2B15 catalyzed the cis-selective glucuronidation of geometrical isomers of HO-TAM. UGTs1A1, 1A4, 1A9 and 2B7 had weak activity toward HO-TAMs with a much smaller cis-selectivity than did UGT2B15. UGTs1A3 and 1A6 had no detectable activity toward these substrates. Among the four known major sulfotransferases (SULTs) occurring in the human liver, SULT1A1 was strongly suggested to play the most important role in the hepatic cytosolic trans-selective sulfation of HO-TAM isomers. A good correlation was observed between the hepatic cytosolic sulfation of trans-HO-TAM and NP, a standard substrate for SULT1A1. SULT1E1 had slight activity toward the HO-TAMs. SULTs1A3 and 2A1 had no detectable activity toward HO-TAMs.     

Prominent but reverse stereoselectivity in propranolol glucuronidation by human UDP-glucuronosyltransferases 1A9 and 1A10.

Propranolol is a nonselective beta-adrenergic blocker used as a racemic mixture in the treatment of hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias, and angina pectoris. For study of the stereoselective glucuronidation of this drug, the two propranolol glucuronide diastereomers were biosynthesized, purified, and characterized. A screen of 15 recombinant human UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) indicated that only a few isoforms catalyze propranolol glucuronidation. Analysis of UGT2B4 and UGT2B7 revealed no significant stereoselectivity, but these two enzymes differed in glucuronidation kinetics. The glucuronidation kinetics of R-propranolol by UGT2B4 exhibited a sigmoid curve, whereas the glucuronidation of the same substrate by UGT2B7 was inhibited by substrate concentrations above 1 mM. Among the UGTs of subfamily 1A, UGT1A9 and UGT1A10 displayed high and, surprisingly, opposite stereoselectivity in the glucuronidation of propranolol enantiomers. UGT1A9 glucuronidated S-propranolol much faster than R-propranolol, whereas UGT1A10 exhibited the opposite enantiomer preference. Nonetheless, the Km values for the two enantiomers, both for UGT1A9 and for UGT1A10, were in the same range, suggesting similar affinities for the two enantiomers. Unlike UGT1A9, the expression of UGT1A10 is extrahepatic. Hence, the reverse stereoselectivity of these two UGTs may signify specific differences in the glucuronidation of propranolol enantiomers between intestine and liver microsomes. Subsequent experiments confirmed this hypothesis: human liver microsomes glucuronidated S-propranolol faster than R-propranolol, whereas human intestine microsomes glucuronidated S-propranolol faster. These findings suggest a contribution of intestinal UGTs to drug metabolism, at least for UGT1A10 substrates.     

The glucuronidation of Delta4-3-Keto C19- and C21-hydroxysteroids by human liver microsomal and recombinant UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs): 6alpha- and 21-hydroxyprogesterone are selective substrates for UGT2B7.

The stereo- and regioselective glucuronidation of 10 Delta(4)-3-keto monohydroxylated androgens and pregnanes was investigated to identify UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) enzyme-selective substrates. Kinetic studies were performed using human liver microsomes (HLMs) and a panel of 12 recombinant human UGTs as the enzyme sources. Five of the steroids, which were hydroxylated in the 6beta-, 7alpha-, 11beta- or 17alpha-positions, were not glucuronidated by HLMs. Of the remaining compounds, comparative kinetic and inhibition studies indicated that 6alpha- and 21-hydroxyprogesterone (OHP) were glucuronidated selectively by human liver microsomal UGT2B7. 6alpha-OHP glucuronidation by HLMs and UGT2B7 followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics, whereas 21-OHP glucuronidation by these enzyme sources exhibited positive cooperativity. UGT2B7 was also identified as the enzyme responsible for the high-affinity component of human liver microsomal 11alpha-OHP glucuronidation. In contrast, UGT2B15 and UGT2B17 were the major forms involved in human liver microsomal testosterone 17beta-glucuronidation and the high-affinity component of 16alpha-OHP glucuronidation. Activity of UGT1A subfamily enzymes toward the hepatically glucuronidated substrates was generally low, although UGT1A4 and UGT1A9 contribute to the low-affinity components of microsomal 16alpha- and 11alpha-OHP glucuronidation, respectively. Interestingly, UGT1A10, which is expressed only in the gastrointestinal tract, exhibited activity toward most of the glucuronidated substrates. The results indicate that 6alpha- and 21-OHP may be used as selective "probes" for human liver microsomal UGT2B7 activity and, taken together, provide insights into the regio- and stereoselectivity of hydroxysteroid glucuronidation by human UGTs.     

UDP-glucuronosyltransferase isoforms catalyzing glucuronidation of hydroxy-polychlorinated biphenyls in rat.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are highly toxic environmental contaminants that can cause irreversible damage in humans and wildlife. The mechanism of toxicity is not clear, but biotransformation products such as hydroxy PCBs (OH-PCBs) are a major concern. Efforts to elucidate the metabolism of PCBs and their metabolites, however, have paid little attention to the structure of the compound to be eliminated. The objectives of this study were to clarify organ tissue distribution of the glucuronidation activities toward OH-PCBs and to determine the UDP-glucuronosyltranseferase (UGT) isoforms responsible for glucuronidation in relation to the OH-PCB structure. 2,4,6-Trichlorobiphenyl and 2,3,4,5-tetrachlorobiphenyl were incubated in primary culture of rat hepatocytes, and the metabolites were identified by HPLC. Organ tissue glucuronidation activities toward 10 OH-PCBs were investigated by reactions of microsomes prepared from brain, liver, small and large intestine, lung, kidney, and testis tissues. To determine substrate specificity of the isoforms toward the OH-PCBs, rat UGT isoforms UGT1A1, UGT1A3, UGT1A5, UGT1A6, UGT1A7, UGT2B1, UGT2B3, and UGT2B12 were expressed in yeast strain AH22. Glucuronidation of the PCBs was found to be contingent on their hydroxylation. The organ tissues had strong glucuronidation activities toward the OH-PCBs tested; and most OH-PCBs were glucuronidated by UGT1A1, UGT1A6, and UGT2B1, all of which were substrate-specific. In conclusion, glucuronidation activities of UGT1A1, UGT1A6, and UGT2B1 toward OH-PCBs is relative to expression of the isoforms in each tissue, and glucuronidation intensity of the isoforms is relative to the structure of the OH-PCB to be glucuronidated.     

Inactivation of the pure antiestrogen fulvestrant and other synthetic estrogen molecules by UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A enzymes expressed in breast tissue

Fulvestrant (Faslodex) is administered by intramuscular injection and is converted into ketone, sulfate, sulfone and glucuronide metabolites. Glucuronidation, catalyzed by 18 members of the UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) enzyme family, plays a major role in the elimination of natural estrogens. The present study was aimed at identifying and characterizing human UGT enzymes involved in the glucuronidation of this antiestrogen as well as other synthetic estrogen derivatives with aliphatic chains on the E2 molecule. In contrast to E2, which is conjugated by UGT1A1, -1A3, -1A8, -1A10, and -2B7, fulvestrant is glucuronidated by UGT1A1, -1A3, -1A4, and -1A8. The four UGT1A-fulvestrant conjugating enzymes glucuronidate this substrate at position 3, whereas only UGT1A8 also produces fulvestrant-17-glucuronide. For E2, only UGT1A3 and UGT2B7 are capable to conjugate at 17-hydroxyposition. These observations indicate that addition of an aliphatic chain to the E2 molecule modifies the specificity of the UGT enzymes toward the C18 molecules. To further investigate the specificity of these enzymes, a series of E2 derivatives with aliphatic or phenyl chains at position 2, 7alpha, and 11beta was also tested for its conjugation with human UGT enzymes. It was observed that, in addition to UGT1A3, UGT1A1 and UGT1A8 also played important roles for the glucuronidation of these compounds. This suggests that the basic structure of E2 is one of the major determinants for the glucuronidation catalyzed by this group of enzymes. Considering the high level of UGT1A3 and -1A4 expression in the gastrointestinal tract and mammary gland, our results suggest that fulvestrant can be inactivated both in intestine and in its target tissue.     

Glucuronidation of bioflavonoids by human UGT1A10: structure-function relationships

The extrahepatic human UDP glucuronosyltransferase 1A10 is found throughout the gastrointestinal tract and is thought to participate in the removal of orally ingested lipophilic chemicals. However, its substrate specificity towards these chemicals has not been fully characterized. The structurally diverse bioflavonoids are present in considerable amounts in fruits, vegetables and plant-derived beverages and have been shown to have many biological functions, including antioxidant properties. This study proposes features of the bioflavonoid structure necessary to confer it as a substrate of UGT1A10. The preferred substrates of UGT1A10 contain the hydroxyl group to be glucuronidated at C6 or C7, but not C5 of the A-ring or on C4' of the B-ring. Up to two additional hydroxyl groups on the A-ring enhance activity, whereas the presence of other groups, notably sugar groups, decreases activity. The high glucuronidation efficiency towards many bioflavonoids observed suggests that the contribution of UGT1A10 in the metabolism of these dietary compounds in the gastrointestinal tract may be significant.     

Identification of the human UDP-glucuronosyltransferase isoforms involved in the glucuronidation of the phytochemical ferulic acid

Ferulic acid (FA), a member of the hydroxycinnamate family, is an abundant dietary antioxidant that may offer beneficial effects against cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoarthritis and Alzheimer's disease. In this study, evidence for sulfation and glucuronidation of FA was investigated upon incubation with human liver microsomes and cytosol. Two main glucuronides, M1 (ether O-glucuronide) and M2 (ester acylglucuronide), were formed with a similar affinity (apparent K(m) 3.53 and 5.15 mM, respectively). A phenol sulfoconjugate was also formed with a higher affinity (K(m) 0.53 mM). Identification of the UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) isoforms involved in FA glucuronidation was investigated with 12 human recombinant enzymes. FA was mainly glucuronidated by UGT1A isoforms and by UGT2B7. UGT1A4, 2B4, 2B15 and 2B17 failed to glucuronidate the substance. Examination of the kinetic constants revealed that FA was mainly glucuronidated by UGT1A1 at the two nucleophilic groups. UGT1A3 was able to glucuronidate these two positions with the same, but low, efficiency. UGT1A6 and 1A8 were involved in the formation of the ether glucuronide only, whereas UGT1A7, 1A10 and 2B7 preferentially glucuronidated the carboxyl group. Moreover, octyl gallate, a marker substrate of UGT1A1, competitively inhibited FA glucuronidation mediated by this isoform. Altogether, the results suggest that FA glucuronidation is primarily mediated by UGT1A1.     

Assessment of catechol induction and glucuronidation in rat liver microsomes.

Catechols are substances with a 1,2-dihydroxybenzene group from natural or synthetic origin. The aim of this study was to determine whether catechols (4-methylcatechol, 4-nitrocatechol, 2,3-dihydroxynaphthalene) and the antiparkinsonian drugs, entacapone and tolcapone, at doses 150 to 300 mg/kg/day, for 3 days, are able to enhance their own glucuronidation. The induction potency of catechols on rat liver UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) was compared with that of a standard polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) inducer, Aroclor 1254. The glucuronidation rate of these catechols was enhanced up to 15-fold in the liver microsomes of PCB-treated rats, whereas treatment with catechols had little effect. Entacapone, tolcapone, 4-methylcatechol, catechol, 2,3-dihydroxynaphthalene, and 4-nitrocatechol were glucuronidated in control microsomes at rates ranging from 0.12 for entacapone to 22.0 nmol/min/mg for 4-nitrocatechol. Using 1-naphthol, entacapone, and 1-hydroxypyrene as substrates, a 5-, 8-, and 16-fold induction was detected in the PCB rats, respectively, whereas the catechol-induced activities were 1.1- to 1.5-fold only. Entacapone was glucuronidated more efficiently by PCB microsomes than by control microsomes (Vmax/Km, 0.0125 and 0.0016 ml/min/mg protein, respectively). Similar kinetic results were obtained for 1-hydroxypyrene. The Eadie-Hofstee plots suggested the contribution of multiple UGTs for the glucuronidation of 1-hydroxypyrene (Km1, Km2, Km3 = 0.8, 9.7, and 63 microM, and Vmax1, Vmax2, Vmax3 = 11, 24, and 55 nmol/min/mg, respectively), whereas only one UGT could be implicated in the glucuronidation of entacapone (Km = 130 microM, Vmax = 1.6 nmol/min/mg). In conclusion, catechols are poor inducers of their own glucuronidation supported by several UGT isoforms. Their administration is unlikely to affect the glucuronidation of other drugs administered concomitantly.     

Stereoselective conjugation of oxazepam by human UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs): S-oxazepam is glucuronidated by UGT2B15, while R-oxazepam is glucuronidated by UGT2B7 and UGT1A9.

(R,S)-Oxazepam is a 1,4-benzodiazepine anxiolytic drug that is metabolized primarily by hepatic glucuronidation. In previous studies, S-oxazepam (but not R-oxazepam) was shown to be polymorphically glucuronidated in humans. The aim of the present study was to identify UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) isoforms mediating R- and S-oxazepam glucuronidation in human liver, with the long term objective of elucidating the molecular genetic basis for this drug metabolism polymorphism. All available recombinant UGT isoforms were screened for R- and S-oxazepam glucuronidation activities. Enzyme kinetic parameters were then determined in representative human liver microsomes (HLMs) and in UGTs that showed significant activity. Of 12 different UGTs evaluated, only UGT2B15 showed significant S-oxazepam glucuronidation. Furthermore, the apparent K(m) for UGT2B15 (29-35 microM) was similar to values determined for HLMs (43-60 microM). In contrast, R-oxazepam was glucuronidated by UGT1A9 and UGT2B7. Although apparent K(m) values for HLMs (256-303 microM) were most similar to UGT2B7 (333 microM) rather than UGT1A9 (12 microM), intrinsic clearance values for UGT1A9 were 10 times higher than for UGT2B7. A common genetic variation results in aspartate (UGT2B15*1) or tyrosine (UGT2B15*2) at position 85 of the UGT2B15 protein. Microsomes from human embryonic kidney (HEK)-293 cells overexpressing UGT2B15*1 showed 5 times higher S-oxazepam glucuronidation activity than did UGT2B15*2 microsomes. Similar results were obtained for other substrates, including eugenol, naringenin, 4-methylumbelliferone, and androstane-3alpha-diol. In conclusion, S-oxazepam is stereoselectively glucuronidated by UGT2B15, whereas R-oxazepam is glucuronidated by multiple UGT isoforms. Allelic variation associated with the UGT2B15 gene may explain polymorphic S-oxazepam glucuronidation in humans.     

Human udp-glucuronosyltransferases: isoform selectivity and kinetics of 4-methylumbelliferone and 1-naphthol glucuronidation, effects of organic solvents, and inhibition by diclofenac and probenecid.

The glucuronidation kinetics of the prototypic substrates 4-methylumbelliferone (4MU) and 1-naphthol (1NP) by human UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGT) 1A1, 1A3, 1A4, 1A6, 1A7, 1A8, 1A9, 1A10, 2B7, 2B15, and 2B17 were investigated. Where activity was demonstrated, inhibitory effects of diclofenac, probenecid, and the solvents acetone, acetonitrile, dimethyl sulfoxide, ethanol, and methanol were characterized. All isoforms except UGT1A4 glucuronidated 4MU, whereas all but UGT 1A4, 2B15, and 2B17 metabolized 1NP. However, kinetic models varied with substrate (for the same isoform) and from isoform to isoform (with the same substrate). Hyperbolic (Michaelis-Menten), substrate inhibition, and sigmoidal kinetics were variably observed for both 4MU and 1NP glucuronidation by the various UGTs. K(m) or S(50) (sigmoidal kinetics) and V(max) values varied 525- (8-4204 microM) and 1386-fold, respectively, for 4MU glucuronidation, and 1360- (1.3-1768 microM) and 37-fold, respectively, for 1NP glucuronidation. The use of a two-site model proved useful for those reactions exhibiting non-Michaelis-Menten glucuronidation kinetics. The organic solvents generally had a relatively minor effect on UGT isoform activity. UGT 2B15 and 2B17 were most susceptible to the presence of solvent, although solvent-selective inhibition was occasionally observed with other isoforms. Diclofenac and probenecid inhibited all isoforms, precluding the use of these compounds for the reaction phenotyping of xenobiotic glucuronidation pathways in human tissues. Diclofenac and probenecid K(i) values, determined for selected isoforms, ranged from 11 to 52 microM and 96 to 2452 microM, respectively. Overall, the results emphasize the need for the careful design and interpretation of kinetic and inhibition studies with human UGTs.     

Pharmacophore and quantitative structure-activity relationship modeling: complementary approaches for the rationalization and prediction of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A4 substrate selectivity

Pharmacophore, two-dimensional (2D), and three-dimensional (3D) quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) modeling techniques were used to develop and test models capable of rationalizing and predicting human UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A4 (UGT1A4) substrate selectivity and binding affinity (as K(m,app)). The dataset included 24 structurally diverse UGT1A4 substrates, with 18 of these comprising the training set and 6 an external prediction set. A common features pharmacophore was generated with the program Catalyst after overlapping the sites of conjugation using a novel, user-defined "glucuronidation" feature. Pharmacophore-based 3D-QSAR (r(2) = 0.88) and molecular-field-based 3D-QSAR (r(2) = 0.73) models were developed using Catalyst and self-organizing molecular field analysis (SOMFA) software, respectively. In addition, a 2D-QSAR (r(2) = 0.80, CV r(2) = 0.73) was generated using partial least-squares (PLS) regression and variable selection using an unsupervised forward selection (UFS) algorithm. Both UGT1A4 pharmacophores included two hydrophobic features and the glucuronidation site. The 2D-QSAR showed the best overall predictivity and highlighted the importance of hydrophobicity (as log P) in substrate-enzyme binding.