UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1-8 is anenzyme that in humans is encoded by theUGT1A8gene.[5][6][7]
This gene encodes aUDP-glucuronosyltransferase, anenzyme of theglucuronidation pathway that transforms smalllipophilic molecules, such assteroids,bilirubin, hormones, and drugs, into water-soluble, excretablemetabolites. This gene is part of a complex locus that encodes several UDP-glucuronosyltransferases. The locus includes thirteen unique alternate firstexons followed by four common exons. Four of the alternate first exons are considered pseudogenes. Each of the remaining nine5′ exons may be spliced to the four common exons, resulting in nine proteins with differentN-termini and identicalC-termini. Each first exon encodes the substrate binding site, and is regulated by its own promoter. The enzyme encoded by this gene has glucuronidase activity with many substrates includingcoumarins,phenols,anthraquinones,flavones, and someopioids.[5]
This article incorporates text from theUnited States National Library of Medicine, which is in thepublic domain.
