Biomaterial Database

Microbial models of mammalian metabolism of xenobiotics: An updated review. 1999

E A Abourashed, and A M Clark, and C D Hufford

Department of Pharmacognosy and National Center for the Development of Natural Products, Research Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA.

The utilization of microbes as models for mammalian metabolism of xenobiotics has been well established since the concept was first introduced by Smith and Rosazza in the early seventies. The core assumption of this concept rests on the fact that fungi are eukaryotic organisms that possess metabolizing enzyme systems similar to those present in mammalian systems. Hence, the outcome of xenobiotic metabolism in both systems is expected to be similar, if not identical, and, thus, fungi can be used to predict the outcome of mammalian metabolism of various xenobiotics, including drugs. Utilizing microbial models offers a number of advantages over the use of animals in metabolism studies, mainly reduction in use of animals, ease of setup and manipulation, higher yield and diversity of metabolite production, and lower cost of production. In a continuation to our contribution to this field, this review will outline the results of studies that were conducted over the last seven years to emphasize the similarities between the microbial and mammalian metabolic pathways of xenobiotics through the endorsement of the concept of microbial models of mammalian metabolism .

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008322	Mammals	Warm-blooded vertebrate animals belonging to the class Mammalia, including all that possess hair and suckle their young.	Mammalia,Mammal
D008954	Models, Biological	Theoretical representations that simulate the behavior or activity of biological processes or diseases. For disease models in living animals, DISEASE MODELS, ANIMAL is available. Biological models include the use of mathematical equations, computers, and other electronic equipment.	Biological Model,Biological Models,Model, Biological,Models, Biologic,Biologic Model,Biologic Models,Model, Biologic
D005658	Fungi	A kingdom of eukaryotic, heterotrophic organisms that live parasitically as saprobes, including MUSHROOMS; YEASTS; smuts, molds, etc. They reproduce either sexually or asexually, and have life cycles that range from simple to complex. Filamentous fungi, commonly known as molds, refer to those that grow as multicellular colonies.	Fungi, Filamentous,Molds,Filamentous Fungi,Filamentous Fungus,Fungus,Fungus, Filamentous,Mold
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001711	Biotransformation	The chemical alteration of an exogenous substance by or in a biological system. The alteration may inactivate the compound or it may result in the production of an active metabolite of an inactive parent compound. The alterations may be divided into METABOLIC DETOXICATION, PHASE I and METABOLIC DETOXICATION, PHASE II.
D015262	Xenobiotics	Chemical substances that are foreign to the biological system. They include naturally occurring compounds, drugs, environmental agents, carcinogens, insecticides, etc.	Xenobiotic