Complementary deoxyribonucleic acid cloning and expression of a human liver uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferase glucuronidating carboxylic acid-containing drugs

A cDNA clone, designated UGT2B7 variant, encoding a 529-amino acid human liver microsomal uridine diphosphate- glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) was isolated from a λ gt11 human liver cDNA library. UGT2B7 variant synthesized in COS-7 cells was screened for activity toward a range of clinically used drugs and other xenobiotics. The expressed enzyme glucuronidated several carboxylic acid-containing nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents including, in order of relative substrate activity, naproxen, ketoprofen, ibuprofen, fenoprofen, tiaprofenic acid, benoxprofen, zomepirac, diflunisal and indomethacin. Additionally, the stereoselectivity of ketoprofen, naproxen (S/R ratio approximately unity) and ibuprofen (S/R ratio 1.62) glucuronidation by the UGT2B7 variant was shown to differ. Two other carboxylic acid-containing drugs (clofibric acid and valproic acid) and a limited range of drugs containing an alcohol or phenolic functional group were also glucuronidated by expressed UGT2B7 variant. The deduced amino sequence of UGT2B7 variant was shown to differ only in one amino acid (tyrosine for histidine at position 268) from a previously published uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferase cDNA, UGT2B7. Like the previously reported enzyme, this variant efficiently glucuronidated hyodeoxycholic acid, estriol, 4-hydroxyestrone and 2-hydroxyestriol. It is, therefore, apparent that UGT2B7 variant has the capacity to glucuronidate with a degree of specificity both endogenous compounds and xenobiotics. Preferred substrates for UGT2B7 variant include xenobiotic carboxylic acids, polyhydroxylated estrogens and hyodeoxycholic acid.