Luminal accumulation of newly synthesized morphine-3-glucuronide in rat liver microsomal vesicles

Revisiting the Latency of Uridine Diphosphate-Glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs)-How Does the Endoplasmic Reticulum Membrane Influence Their Function?

Uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) are phase 2 conjugation enzymes mainly located in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of the liver and many other tissues, and can be recovered in artificial ER membrane preparations (microsomes). They catalyze glucuronidation reactions in various aglycone substrates, contributing significantly to the body's chemical defense mechanism. There has been controversy over the last 50 years in the UGT field with respect to the explanation for the phenomenon of latency: full UGT activity revealed by chemical or physical disruption of the microsomal membrane. Because latency can lead to inaccurate measurements of UGT activity in vitro, and subsequent underprediction of drug clearance in vivo, it is important to understand the mechanisms behind this phenomenon. Three major hypotheses have been advanced to explain UGT latency: compartmentation, conformation, and adenine nucleotide inhibition. In this review, we discuss the evidence behind each hypothesis in depth, and suggest some additional studies that may reveal more information on this intriguing phenomenon.

Posttranscriptional regulation of uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferases

INTRODUCTION

The uridine diphosphate (UDP)-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) superfamily of enzymes (EC 2.4.1.17) conjugates glucuronic acid to an aglycone substrate to make them more polar and readily excreted. In general, this reaction terminates the activities of chemicals, drugs and toxins, although occasionally a more active or toxic species is produced.

AREAS COVERED

In addition to their well-known transcriptional responsiveness, UGTs are also regulated by posttranscriptional mechanisms. Here, the authors review these mechanisms, including latency, modulation of co-substrate accessibility and binding, dimerization and oligomerization, protein-protein interactions, allosteric inhibition and activation, posttranslational structural and functional modifications and developmental switching for UGTs.

EXPERT OPINION

Posttranscriptional regulation of UGTs has traditionally received less attention than nuclear regulation, in part because mechanisms involving ribosomes and endoplasmic reticula are challenging to investigate. Most promising of the posttranscriptional mechanisms reviewed are likely to be effects on co-substrate (UDP-glucuronic acid) transport and availability and structure-function changes to UGT proteins through, for example, glycosylation and phosphorylation. Although classical biochemistry continues to illuminate many aspects of UGT function, advances in proteomics and structural biology are beginning to assist in the determination of posttranscriptional regulation mechanisms for UGTs.

Transport of estradiol-17β-glucuronide, estrone-3-sulfate and taurocholate across the endoplasmic reticulum membrane: evidence for different transport systems

Important reactions of drug metabolism, including UGT mediated glucuronidation and steroidsulfatase mediated hydrolysis of sulfates, take place in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of hepatocytes. Consequently, UGT generated glucuronides, like estradiol-17β-glucuronide, have to be translocated back into the cytoplasm to reach their site of excretion. Also steroidsulfatase substrates, including estrone-3-sulfate, have to cross the ER membrane to reach their site of hydrolysis. Based on their physicochemical properties such compounds are not favored for passive diffusion and therefore likely necessitate transport system(s) to cross the ER membrane in either direction.

The current study aims to investigate the transport of taurocholate, estradiol-17β-glucuronide, and estrone-3-sulfate in smooth (SER) and rough (RER) endoplasmic reticulum membrane vesicles isolated from Wistar and TR⁻ rat liver.

Time-dependent and bidirectional transport was demonstrated for taurocholate, showing higher uptake rates in SER than RER vesicles. For estradiol-17β-glucuronide a fast time-dependent efflux with similar efficiencies from SER and RER but no clear protein-mediated uptake was shown, indicating an asymmetric transport system for this substrate. Estrone-3-sulfate uptake was time-dependent and higher in SER than in RER vesicles. Inhibition of steroidsulfatase mediated estrone-3-sulfate hydrolysis decreased estrone-3-sulfate uptake but had no effect on taurocholate or estradiol-17β-glucuronide transport.

Based on inhibition studies and transport characteristics, three different transport mechanisms are suggested to be involved in the transport of taurocholate, estrone-3-sulfate and estradiol-17β-glucuronide across the ER membrane.