Biomaterial Database

Bioactivation of xenobiotics by formation of toxic glutathione conjugates. 1991

M Koob, and W Dekant

Institut für Toxikologie, Universität Würzburg, F.R.G.

Evidence has been accumulating that several classes of compounds are converted by glutathione conjugate formation to toxic metabolites. The aim of this review is to summarize the current knowledge on the biosynthesis and toxicity of glutathione S-conjugates derived from halogenated alkanes, halogenated alkenes, and hydroquinones and quinones. Different types of toxic glutathione conjugates have been identified and will be discussed in detail: (i) conjugates which are transformed to electrophilic sulfur mustards, (ii) conjugates which are converted to toxic metabolites in an enzyme-catalyzed multistep mechanism, (iii) conjugates which serve as a transport form for toxic quinones and (iv) reversible glutathione conjugate formation and release of the toxic agent in cell types with lower glutathione concentrations. The kidney is the main, with some compounds the exclusive, target organ for compounds metabolized by pathways (i) to (iii). Selective toxicity to the kidney is easily explained due to the capability of the kidney to accumulate intermediates formed by processing of S-conjugates and to bioactivate these intermediates to toxic metabolites. The influences of other factors participating in the renal susceptibility are discussed.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007668	Kidney	Body organ that filters blood for the secretion of URINE and that regulates ion concentrations.	Kidneys
D011809	Quinones	Hydrocarbon rings which contain two ketone moieties in any position. They can be substituted in any position except at the ketone groups.
D005978	Glutathione	A tripeptide with many roles in cells. It conjugates to drugs to make them more soluble for excretion, is a cofactor for some enzymes, is involved in protein disulfide bond rearrangement and reduces peroxides.	Reduced Glutathione,gamma-L-Glu-L-Cys-Gly,gamma-L-Glutamyl-L-Cysteinylglycine,Glutathione, Reduced,gamma L Glu L Cys Gly,gamma L Glutamyl L Cysteinylglycine
D006846	Hydrocarbons, Halogenated	Hydrocarbon compounds with one or more HYDROGEN atoms substituted with HALOGENS.	Halogenated Hydrocarbons
D006873	Hydroquinones	Derivatives of hydroquinone (1,4-dihydrobenzene) made by reduction of BENZOQUINONES.	Quinol,p-Dihydroxybenzenes,para-Dihydroxybenzenes,Quinols,p Dihydroxybenzenes,para Dihydroxybenzenes
D000473	Alkanes	The generic name for the group of aliphatic hydrocarbons Cn-H2n+2. They are denoted by the suffix -ane. (Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed)	Alkane
D000475	Alkenes	Unsaturated hydrocarbons of the type Cn-H2n, indicated by the suffix -ene. (Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed, p408)	Alkene,Olefin,Olefins,Pentene,Pentenes
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