Life Science Encyclopedia

UGT2B7 (UDP-Glucuronosyltransferase-2B7) is a phase II metabolism isoenzyme found to be active in the liver, kidneys, epithelial cells of the lower gastrointestinal tract and also has been reported in the brain.

This enzyme is located on the endoplasmic reticulum and nuclear membranes of cells. Its function is to catalyse the conjugation of a wide variety of lipophilic aglycon substrates with glucuronic acid, using uridine diphosphate glucuronic acid.

UGT2B7 is the major enzyme isoform for the metabolism of Morphine to the main metabolites, morphine-3-glucuronide (M3G) and morphine-6-glucuronide (M6G).^[1]

References

1. ^ Coffman B, Rios G, King C, Tephly T (1997). "Human UGT2B7 catalyzes morphine glucuronidation". Drug Metab. Dispos. 25 (1): 1-4. PMID 9010622.