Incorporation of xenobiotic carboxylic acids into lipids

Human Pharmacokinetics of LYS006, an Oral Leukotriene A4 Hydrolase Inhibitor Displaying Target-Mediated Drug Disposition

LYS006 is a potent leukotriene A4 hydrolase inhibitor currently in clinical development for long-term treatment of various neutrophil-driven inflammatory conditions. Here, we present pharmacokinetics from the first-in-human study with complementary metabolism and transporter profiling data. The randomized first-in-human study included nine cohorts receiving 5-2*100 mg of LYS006 or placebo, a crossover food-effect part, and a multiple-dose part consisting of two fasted (5 mg and 15 mg once daily) and three fed cohorts (20-80 mg twice a day) of LYS006 or placebo. LYS006 and metabolites were assessed in plasma and urine, and transporters involved in LYS006 disposition were analyzed in vitro. Systemic plasma exposure increased with dose; steady-state exposure was dose proportional up to 40 mg twice a day. Steady state was achieved after ∼3 days, with mean accumulation of 2.1-fold for 5 mg once daily and ≤1.4-fold for all higher doses. Despite limited accumulation, a long terminal half-life (T1/2) was observed. The long T1/2 and saturable binding to blood cells, which causes a highly nonlinear blood-to-plasma distribution, reflect a strong impact of target binding on drug distribution at lower concentrations. Skin biopsy and blister fluid concentration data indicated saturable binding in the former but not the latter, suggesting saturable binding in tissues beyond blood. Major excretion of LYS006 (∼90% of dose) through urine at steady state triggered renal transporter investigations that identified LYS006 as a substrate of organic anion transporter (OAT)3, OAT4, breast cancer resistance protein, and multidrug resistance-associated protein 4. Seven metabolites were identified in human plasma and urine, comprising only 4% of the dose recovered in urine at steady state. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Pharmacokinetic data from a first-in-human study combined with in vitro work support dose and regimen selection for patient studies with LYS006 and provide guidance on drug interaction investigations and other clinical pharmacology work needed for further development. Mass balance information at steady state without the use of a radiolabel, skin concentrations, and identification of the major clearance pathway, as well as the transporters driving elimination, make this a particularly conclusive early study despite nonlinear pharmacokinetics impacted by target binding.

Stoichiometric ratios for biotics and xenobiotics capture effective metabolic coupling to re(de)fine biodegradation

Preserving human and environmental health requires anthropogenic pollutants to be biologically degradable. Depending on concentration, both nutrients and pollutants induce and activate metabolic capacity in the endemic bacterial consortium, which in turn aids their degradation. Knowledge on such 'acclimation' is rarely implemented in risk assessment cost-effectively. As a result, an accurate description of the mechanisms and kinetics of biodegradation remains problematic. In this study, we defined a yield 'effectivity', comprising the effectiveness at which a pollutant (substrate) enhances its own degradation by inducing (biomass) cofactors involved therein. Our architecture for calculation represents the interplay between concentration and metabolism via both stoichiometric and thermodynamic concepts. The calculus for yield 'effectivity' is biochemically intuitive, implicitly embeds co-metabolism and distinguishes 'endogenic' from 'exogenic' substances' reflecting various phenomena in biodegradation and bio-transformation studies. We combined data on half-lives of pollutants/nutrients in wastewater and surface water with transition-state rate theory to obtain also experimental values for effective yields. These quantify the state of acclimation: the portion of biodegradation kinetics attributable to (contributed by) 'natural metabolism', in view of similarity to natural substances. Calculated and experimental values showed statistically significant correspondence. Particularly, carbohydrate metabolism and nucleic acid metabolism appeared relevant for acclimation (R² = 0.11-0.42), affecting rates up to 10^4.9(±0.7) times: under steady-state acclimation, a compound stoichiometrically identical to carbohydrates or nucleic acids, is 10^3.2 to 10^4.9 times faster aerobically degraded than a compound marginally similar. Our new method, simulating (contribution by) the state of acclimation, supplements existing structure-biodegradation and kinetic models for predicting biodegradation in wastewater and surface water. The accuracy of prediction may increase when characterizing nutrients/co-metabolites in terms of, e.g., elemental analysis. We discuss strengths and limitations of our approach by comparison to empirical and mechanism-based methods.

In vitro genotoxic assessment of xenobiotic diacylglycerols in an in vitro micronucleus assay

Xenobiotic diacylglycerols (DG) may induce pathological disorders by causing abnormal chromosomal segregation, which could be aneuploid. In this study, seven xenobiotic-diacylglycerols (four of drug origin and three of pesticide origin) were evaluated for their ability to induce aneuploidy in mammalian cultures using in vitro cytokinesis blocked micronucleus (CBMN) assay coupled with kinetochore labeling and interphase fluorescent in situ hybridization. Out of seven xeno-DGs, two (ibuprofen-DG and fenbufen-DG) induced statistically significant (P < 0.001) and dose-dependent increase in micronucleus induction, but this apparent micronucleus induction was very weak in case of fenbufen-DG. These MN were produced predominantly by aneugenic and clastogenic mechanisms, respectively, confirmed by immunofluorescent labeling of kinetochores. Fluorescent in situ hybridization analysis revealed that ibuprofen-DG induced significantly higher nondisjunction for chromosomes 10, 17, and 18. Other xenobiotic diacylglycerols (indomethacin-DG, salicylic acid-DG, 4-(2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxy) butanoic acid-DG (MCPB-DG), 2-(2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxy) propanoic acid-DG (MCPP-DG) and 2-(4-dichlorophenoxy)-butanoic acid-DG (2,4 DB-DG) did not induce micronuclei, but the concentrations tested did not reach levels that caused the marked growth suppression typically required for testing for regulatory testing purposes. However, the levels of growth suppression achieved were similar to that seen with ibuprofen-DG, which was positive. This study shows that xeno-DGs, which have been neglected in the past for their possible link to any pathological disorders, need serious assessment of their mutagenic potential.

Incorporation of xenobiotic carboxylic acids into lipids by cultured 3T3-L1 adipocytes

The study was established to assess the potential for a variety of xenobiotic aromatic carboxylic acids to be incorporated into glycerolipids. The 14C-labelled xenobiotic acids were included in incubations of cultured 3T3-L1 adipocytes under defined conditions. Lipids were extracted and identified by TLC and radioscanning. Ibuprofen, 4-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)-butanoic acid (2,4-DB), 4-(2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxy)-butanoic acid (MCPB) and 2-(2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxy)-propanoic acid (MCPP) (all 0.5 mM) were incorporated into lipid extracts at rates of 220, 227, 199 and 21 pmol microg(-1) phospholipid/h, respectively. 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), indomethacin, naproxen and fluroxypyr were incorporated at rates lower than MCPP or not at all. The incorporation of acids was first order to at least 1 mM acid (except MCPB: 300 microM). Triacylglycerol analogues were the major products with incorporation into diacylglycerol and phosphatidylcholine also observed. After digestion with pancreatic lipase, ibuprofen-containing triacylglycerol was unusual in that the main product was the monoacylglycerol analogue, suggesting that esterification had been at the sn-2 position. Incubation with cultured 3T3-L1 adipocytes is a useful and easy method to assess whether xenobiotic compounds can be incorporated into glycerolipids; of eight acids assessed, four (of which three have not previously been reported) were shown to form xenobiotic triacylglycerols.

Effect of the water-soluble fraction of petroleum on microsomal lipid metabolism of Macrobrachium borellii (Arthropoda: Crustacea)

The effect of the water-soluble fraction of crude oil (WSF) on lipid metabolism was studied at critical metabolic points, namely fatty acid activation, enzymes of triacylglycerol and phospholipid synthesis, and membrane (lipid packing) properties in the freshwater prawn Macrobrachium borellii. To determine the effect of the contaminant, adults and embryos at different stages of development were exposed to a sublethal concentration of WSF for 7 days. After exposure, microsomal palmitoyl-CoA synthetase (ACS) showed a two-fold increase in adult midgut gland. Embryo's ACS activity was also affected, the increment being correlated with the developing stage. Endoplasmic reticulum acylglycerol synthesis was also increased by WSF exposure in adults and stage 5 embryos, but not at earlier stages of development. Triacylglycerol synthesis was particularly increased (18.5%) in adult midgut gland. The microsomal membrane properties were studied by fluorescent steady-state anisotropy, using the rotational behavior of the fluorescent probe 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH). Microsomes from midgut gland of WSF-exposed prawn showed no differences in fluidity. Nevertheless, microsomes incubated with WSF in vitro increased their fluidity in a temperature- and WSF concentration-dependent fashion. Both, aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons individually tested elicited an increase in membrane fluidity at 10 mg/l, but at 4 mg/l only nC10-C16 aliphatics did. In vivo results indicate that WSF increased the activity of microsomal enzymes that are critical in lipid metabolism, though this change was not due to direct alterations in membrane fluidity, suggesting a synthesis induction, or an enzyme-regulatory mechanism. Nevertheless, hydrocarbons elicited membrane fluidity alterations in in vitro experiments at concentrations that could be found in the environment after an oil spill.

A metabolomic approach to the metabolism of the areca nut alkaloids arecoline and arecaidine in the mouse

The areca alkaloids comprise arecoline, arecaidine, guvacoline, and guvacine. Approximately 600 million users of areca nut products, for example, betel quid chewers, are exposed to these alkaloids, principally arecoline and arecaidine. Metabolism of arecoline (20 mg/kg p.o. and i.p.) and arecaidine (20 mg/kg p.o. and i.p.) was investigated in the mouse using a metabolomic approach employing ultra-performance liquid chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometric analysis of urines. Eleven metabolites of arecoline were identified, including arecaidine, arecoline N-oxide, arecaidine N-oxide, N-methylnipecotic acid, N-methylnipecotylglycine, arecaidinylglycine, arecaidinylglycerol, arecaidine mercapturic acid, arecoline mercapturic acid, and arecoline N-oxide mercapturic acid, together with nine unidentified metabolites. Arecaidine shared six of these metabolites with arecoline. Unchanged arecoline comprised 0.3-0.4%, arecaidine 7.1-13.1%, arecoline N-oxide 7.4-19.0%, and N-methylnipecotic acid 13.5-30.3% of the dose excreted in 0-12 h urine after arecoline administration. Unchanged arecaidine comprised 15.1-23.0%, and N-methylnipecotic acid 14.8%-37.7% of the dose excreted in 0-12 h urine after arecaidine administration. The major metabolite of both arecoline and arecaidine, N-methylnipecotic acid, is a novel metabolite arising from carbon-carbon double-bond reduction. Another unusual metabolite found was the monoacylglyceride of arecaidine. What role, if any, that is played by these uncommon metabolites in the toxicology of arecoline and arecaidine is not known. However, the enhanced understanding of the metabolic transformation of arecoline and arecaidine should contribute to further research into the clinical toxicology of the areca alkaloids.

Hepatic enzymatic synthesis and hydrolysis of CoA esters of solvent-derived oxa acids

Many ethylene glycol-derived solvents are oxidized to xenobiotic alkoxyacetic acids (3-oxa acids) by hepatic enzymes. The toxicity of these ubiquitous solvents has been associated with their oxa acid metabolites. For many xenobiotic carboxylic acids, the toxicity is associated with the CoA ester of the acid. In this study, related alkoxyacetic acids were evaluated as potential substrates for acyl-CoA synthetases found in mitochondrial, peroxisomal, and microsomal fractions isolated from rat liver. Likewise, chemically synthesized oxa acyl-CoAs were used as substrates for acyl-CoA hydrolases associated with the same rat liver fractions. Activities of the xenobiotic oxygen-substituted substrates were compared with analogous physiologic aliphatic substrates by UV-vis spectrophotometric methods. All of the solvent-derived oxa acids were reasonable substrates for the acyl-CoA synthetases, although their activity was usually less than the corresponding physiologic acid. Acyl-CoA hydrolase activities were decreased compared with acyl-CoA synthetase activities for all substrates, especially for the oxa acyl-CoAs. These studies suggest that these xenobiotic carboxylic acids may be converted to reactive acyl-CoA moieties which will persist in areas of the cell proximal to lipid synthesis, beta-oxidation, protein acylation, and amino acid conjugation. The interaction of these xenobiotic acyl-CoAs with those processes may be important to their toxicity and/or detoxification.

Stereospecificity of flobufen metabolism in guinea pigs in vitro and in vivo: Phase I of biotransformation

Flobufen (F) is an original nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug that exists in two enantiomeric forms. Its biotransformation was investigated in male guinea pigs because of the similarities shown in a preliminary F metabolic study between guinea pig and man. Stereospecificity of the respective enzymes was studied in vitro, using microsomes and cytosol, and in vivo, in urine and feces. Rac-F, R-F, and S-F served as substrates. The amount of 4-dihydroflobufen stereoisomers (DHF) and other metabolites (M-17203 and UM-2) was determined by chiral HPLC using an R,R-ULMO column. It was observed that F reductases were distributed differently in microsomes and cytosol. The microsomal fraction showed higher activity and different stereospecificity in rac-F, R-F, and S-F reduction compared to cytosol. (2R;4S)-DHF was the principle metabolite in microsomes and (2S;4S)-DHF was the principle metabolite in cytosol. In vivo experiments revealed the excretion of a main metabolite UM-2 in addition to other metabolites M-17203 and DHF stereoisomers. UM-2 was predominantly excreted after S-F administration. Stereoselectivity of DHF stereoisomers excretion was different in urine and in feces. The absence of UM-2 and M-17203 in microsomes and cytosol and their presence in urine and feces showed that both could arise in some other extrahepatic tissue or cell compartment or that their formation depends on liver cell integrity.

Nafenopin-, ciprofibroyl-, and palmitoyl-CoA conjugation in vitro: kinetic and molecular characterization of marmoset liver microsomes and expressed MLCL1

Acyl-CoA conjugation of xenobiotic carboxylic acids is catalyzed by hepatic microsomal long-chain fatty acid CoA ligases (LCL, EC 6.2.1.3). Marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) are considered genetically closer to humans than rodents and are used in pharmacological and toxicological studies. We have demonstrated that marmoset liver microsomes catalyze nafenopin-, ciprofibroyl-, and palmitoyl-CoA conjugation and that only palmitoyl-CoA conjugation is significantly upregulated (1.7-fold, P < 0.02) by a high fat diet. Additionally, the apparent C(50) values for nafenopin-, ciprofibroyl-, and palmitoyl-CoA conjugation of 149.7, 413.4, and 3.4 microM were comparable to those reported for human liver microsomes viz, 213.7, 379.8, and 3.4 microM, respectively. Comparison with human data was enabled by the cloning of a full-length marmoset cDNA (MLCL1) that encoded a 698-amino-acid protein sharing 83% similarity with rat liver acyl-CoA synthetase (ACS1) and 93 and 90% similarity with human liver LCL1 and LCL2, respectively. MLCL1 transiently expressed in COS-7 cells activated nafenopin (C(50) 192.9 microM), ciprofibrate (C(50) 168.7 microM), and palmitic acid (C(50) 4.5 microM) to their respective CoA conjugates. This study also demonstrated that the sigmoidal kinetics observed for nafenopin- and ciprofibroyl-CoA conjugation were not unique to human liver microsomes but were also characteristic of marmoset liver microsomes and recombinant MLCL1. More extensive characterization of the substrate specificity of marmoset LCL isoforms will aid in determining further the suitability of marmosets as a model for human xenobiotic metabolism via acyl-CoA conjugation.

Rationale and applications of lipids as prodrug carriers

Lipidic prodrugs, also called drug-lipid conjugates, have the drug covalently bound to a lipid moiety, such as a fatty acid, a diglyceride or a phosphoglyceride. Drug-lipid conjugates have been prepared in order to take advantage of the metabolic pathways of lipid biochemistry, allowing organs to be targeted or delivery problems to be overcome. Endogenous proteins taking up fatty acids from the blood stream can be targeted to deliver the drug to the heart or liver. For glycerides, the major advantage is the modification of the pharmacokinetic behavior of the drug. In this case, one or two fatty acids of a triglyceride are replaced by a carboxylic drug. Lipid conjugates exhibit some physico-chemical and absorption characteristics similar to those of natural lipids. Non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs such as acetylsalicylic acid, indomethacin, naproxen and ibuprofen were linked covalently to glycerides to reduce their ulcerogenicity. Mimicking the absorption process of dietary fats, lipid conjugates have also been used to target the lymphatic route (e.g., L-Dopa, melphalan, chlorambucil and GABA). Based on their lipophilicity and resemblance to lipids in biological membranes, lipid conjugates of phenytoin were prepared to increase intestinal absorption, whereas glycerides or modified glycerides of L-Dopa, glycine, GABA, thiorphan and N-benzyloxycarbonylglycine were designed to promote brain penetration. In phospholipid conjugates, antiviral and antineoplasic nucleosides were attached to the phosphate moiety. After presenting the biochemical pathways of lipids, the review discusses the advantages and drawbacks of lipidic prodrugs, keeping in mind the potential pharmacological activity of the fatty acid itself.

In vitro study of fenoprofen chiral inversion in rat: comparison of brain versus liver

The extent and the overall stereoselectivity of the combined steps involved in the chiral inversion of fenoprofen, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, was investigated in rat brain microsomes and cytosol. Results were compared with those obtained with the same liver subcellular compartments. Brain microsomes catalysed the stereoselective activation of the R(-)-enantiomer to its coenzyme A thioester with a specific activity approximately 10-fold less than that obtained with liver microsomes. Rat brain microsomes and cytosol mediated the racemization and hydrolysis of both R(-)- and S( + )-fenoprofenoyl-CoA. In brain fractions the epimerase activity was lower than in liver, whereas the hydrolysis process appeared more efficient. Thus, the data indicated that the three-step mechanism occurred in brain subcellular compartments leading to a minor chiral inversion of fenoprofen compared with that in liver.

The metabolism of 3-phenoxybenzoic acid-containing xenobiotic triacylglycerols in vitro by pancreatic, hormone-sensitive and lipoprotein lipases

Two model substrates, rac-1-(3-phenoxy-[ring-14C]benzoyl)-2,3-dipalmitoyl glycerol (1(3PBA)DPG) and sn-2-(3-phenoxy-[ring-14C]benzoyl)-1,3-dipalmitoyl glycerol (2(3PBA)DPG), were compared with tri[1-14C]palmitoylglycerol or tri[9,10(n)-3H]oleoylglycerol as substrates for pancreatic lipase, lipoprotein lipase, and hormone-sensitive lipase. The loss of 3PBA from the sn-2 position was always low because of the positional specificity of the lipases. The loss of 3PBA from the rac-1 position was similarly low with hormone-sensitive lipase (about 7% of the loss of oleate), but higher with pancreatic lipase (about 35% that of oleate) and lipoprotein lipase (about 23% that of oleate). With one exception, more than 50% and up to 80% of the 14C-3PBA was still in the form of a diacylglycerol after incubation with a lipase, whereas free acid or monoacylglycerol forms would have been expected. Lipoprotein lipase acting on 1-(14C-3PBA)DPG produced nearly 70% of its product as nonesterified 3PBA and only 25% as the diacylglycerol. The results suggest that 3PBA-containing xenobiotic triacylglycerols, and the 3PBA-glycerol ester bond in particular, are poorer substrates for lipases than are their natural counterparts, with the result that high proportions of partially digested xenobiotic acylglycerols are produced. The three lipases performed differently with the xenobiotic substrates; this could have consequences for the relative rates of storage and clearance of the xenobiotic triacylglycerols from the body.

Extractable organohalogens in tissues of beluga whales from the Canadian Arctic and the St. Lawrence estuary

Samples of blubber, brain, kidney, liver, and muscle of individual beluga whales were extracted and analyzed for extractable organic Cl (EOCl), Br (EOBr), and I (EOI) by neutron activation analysis. The highest levels of EOCl (554 microg g(-1) lipid) were found in the kidney of Arctic beluga and the lowest (24 microg g(-1) lipid) in the blubber. Levels in brain and liver lipids were on average of equal magnitude. The unequal distribution of EOCl in tissue lipids is in marked contrast to the equal distribution, in lipid, demonstrated for organochlorines such as DDTs and PCBs by a number of investigations. The distribution of brominated (EOBr) and iodinated (EOI) compounds was similar and markedly different from that of EOCl. The tissue distribution of EOCl seems to be related to the proportion to polar lipids in the tissues. Beluga from St. Lawrence had significantly higher brain EOCl levels than the Arctic samples whereas the levels of EOCl in liver and kidney were higher in the Arctic whales.

Sphingosine inhibits rat hepatic monoacylglycerol acyltransferase in Triton X-100 mixed micelles and isolated hepatocytes

Hepatic monoacylglycerol acyltransferase (MGAT), a developmentally-regulated microsomal activity that catalyzes the synthesis of sn-1,2-diacylglycerol, is regulated by anionic phospholipids and sn-1,2-diacylglycerol in Triton X-100 mixed micelles. Spingomyelin stimulated MGAT activity, whereas sphingosine, sphinganine, phytosphingosine, and stearylamine were inhibitors (IC50 of 9, 5.5, 5, and 6 mol %, respectively). Since ceramide and octylamine had relatively little effect, inhibition appears to require a free amino group and a long-chain hydrocarbon. Inhibition by sphingosine was competitive with respect to phosphatidic acid, phosphatidylinositol, or phosphatidylserine, suggesting that anionic phospholipids may activate MGAT at a specific site that is competitively blocked by sphingolipids. Both sphingosine and sphinganine inhibited MGAT activity in cultured hepatocytes from 10-day-old rats in a dose-dependent manner. Stimulation of MGAT activity by diacylglycerol was specific for sn-1,2-stereoisomers that contained two long fatty acyl chains. The diacylglycerol analogs phorbol 12-myristyl 13-acetate and ceramide had no effect. The highly cooperative activation of MGAT by sn-1,2-diacylglycerol was also inhibited by sphingosine. It is unlikely that activation of MGAT by low molar concentrations of anionic phospholipids is solely due to electrostatic interactions between the enzyme and negatively charged lipids because high ionic strength, neomycin, and Ca2+ had similar effects on enzyme activity irrespective of the presence or absence of phosphatidic acid. These data suggest that MGAT activity may be regulated physiologically by specific intermediates of glycerolipid metabolism and that, in neonatal rat liver, signal transduction may be linked to the synthesis of complex lipids via the monoacylglycerol pathway.

Fatty acid conjugates of xenobiotics

In this review, we discuss the formation and toxicity of fatty acid conjugates of xenobiotics. Conjugates formed in vivo and in vitro and those detected as contaminants are reviewed. Due to the lipophilic nature of these conjugates, they may accumulate in various body organs and cause toxic manifestations. In vivo formation of these fatty acid conjugates appears to be catalyzed by enzyme(s). Fatty acid ethyl esters are the most widely studied esters and have been implicated in the onset or pathogenesis of myocardial and pancreatic diseases in alcoholics. In experimental animals, studies on 2-chloroethyl linoleate, palmitoylpentachlorophenol and oleoyl and linoleoyl anilides clearly indicate that lipid conjugates of xenobiotics are involved in target organ toxicity. These findings warrant further detailed studies to isolate and identify other fatty acid conjugates and to evaluate their toxicity. Thorough toxicokinetic and metabolic studies are also needed to identify putative toxic agents. Identifying these agents could help in understanding the mechanism of pathogenesis associated with lipid conjugation. Finally fatty acid conjugates of drugs (prodrugs), have been shown to have increased half-lives and long-lasting dose-response. Thus these conjugates may be useful for enhancing the therapeutic potential of drugs and should be explored further.

Coenzyme A esters of 2-aryloxyphenoxypropionate herbicides and 2-arylpropionate antiinflammatory drugs are potent and stereoselective inhibitors of rat liver acetyl-CoA carboxylase

The CoA esters of diclofop, haloxyfop and fluazifop are up to 425-fold more potent than the corresponding unconjugated herbicides as inhibitors of rat liver acetyl-CoA carboxylase (EC 6.4.1.2); the most potent inhibitor is (R)-fluazifopyl-CoA2 (Ki = 0.03 microM). The binding site is stereoselective for (R)-diclofop, the herbicidally active enantiomer, and for (R)-diclofopyl-CoA. The CoA esters of the antiinflammatory drugs ibuprofen and fenoprofen also strongly inhibit this carboxylase. (S)-Ibuprofenyl-CoA (Ki = 0.7 microM), the CoA ester of the enantiomer with antiinflammatory activity, is 15-fold more potent as an inhibitor than (R)-ibuprofenyl-CoA. These results suggest that some of the biological effects of these herbicides and antiinflammatory drugs in animals may be due to the inhibition of acetyl-CoA carboxylase by their acyl-CoA derivatives.