UDPglukuronihappomolekyylistä

UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) is a superfamily of enzymes that play a crucial role in the detoxification and elimination of various endogenous and exogenous compounds from the body. These enzymes catalyze the transfer of a glucuronic acid moiety from a donor molecule, uridine 5'-diphospho-glucuronic acid (UDPGA), to a substrate molecule. This process, known as glucuronidation, generally results in increased water solubility of the substrate, facilitating its excretion from the body via urine or bile.

UGTs are primarily found in the liver, but are also present in other tissues such as the kidneys, intestines, lungs, and skin. The human genome encodes for a large number of UGT genes, which are further categorized into families and subfamilies based on their substrate specificity and sequence homology. Different UGT isoforms exhibit distinct substrate preferences, allowing for the conjugation of a wide array of molecules including bilirubin, steroid hormones, thyroid hormones, bile acids, and xenobiotics like drugs, environmental toxins, and carcinogens.

Genetic variations in UGT genes, known as polymorphisms, can lead to differences in enzyme activity among individuals. These variations can influence drug metabolism, affecting drug efficacy and the risk of adverse drug reactions. For example, certain UGT polymorphisms are associated with altered pharmacokinetics of drugs like acetaminophen, morphine, and tamoxifen. Understanding UGT function and variability is therefore important in fields such as pharmacology, toxicology, and personalized medicine.