Identification of the human liver UDP-glucuronosyltransferase involved in the metabolism of p-ethoxyphenylurea (dulcin)

Arch Toxicol. 2007 Mar;81(3):163-8. doi: 10.1007/s00204-006-0138-5. Epub 2006 Aug 5.

Abstract

Dulcin (DL), now banned, was once a widely used artificial sweetener. DL possesses an ureido group that is metabolized by direct glucuronidation in rabbit liver microsomes. Dulcin N-glucuronide (DNG) is the only type of ureido N-glucuronide known to date; ureido glucuronidation in humans has not been previously reported. Accordingly, the glucuronidation of DL was studied using human liver microsomes (HLM) and expressed human UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) enzymes. The average K (m) and V (max) values from nine HLM samples were 2.10 mM and 0.156 nmol/mg/min, respectively. Of the six human UGT isoforms screened for their ability to glucuronidate DL, only UGT1A1 and UGT1A9 showed activity. The apparent K (m) values using UGT1A1 and UGT1A9 were 5.06 and 6.99 mM, and the apparent V (max) values were 0.0461 and 0.106 nmol/min/mg, respectively. Phenolphthalein, a substrate for UGT1A9, inhibited DL glucuronidation in HLM competitively (K (i) = 0.356 mM), but bilirubin, a substrate for UGT1A1, did not. These results suggest that UGT1A9 is a key enzyme catalyzing the glucuronidation of DL.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bilirubin / pharmacology
  • Glucuronides / metabolism
  • Glucuronosyltransferase / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Isoenzymes / physiology
  • Liver / enzymology*
  • Phenolphthalein / pharmacology
  • Phenylurea Compounds / metabolism*

Substances

  • Glucuronides
  • Isoenzymes
  • Phenylurea Compounds
  • Phenolphthalein
  • dulcin
  • Glucuronosyltransferase
  • Bilirubin