Dimerization of human uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase allozymes 1A1 and 1A9 alters their quercetin glucuronidation activities

Heterodimerization of Human UDP-Glucuronosyltransferase 1A9 and UDP-Glucuronosyltransferase 2B7 Alters Their Glucuronidation Activities

Human UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) play a pivotal role as prominent phase II metabolic enzymes, mediating the glucuronidation of both endobiotics and xenobiotics. Dimerization greatly modulates the enzymatic activities of UGTs. In this study, we examined the influence of three mutations (H35A, H268Y, and N68A/N315A) and four truncations (signal peptide, single transmembrane helix, cytosolic tail, and di-lysine motif) in UGT2B7 on its heterodimerization with wild-type UGT1A9, using a Bac-to-Bac expression system. We employed quantitative fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) techniques and co-immunoprecipitation assays to evaluate the formation of heterodimers between UGT1A9 and UGT2B7 allozymes. Furthermore, we evaluated the glucuronidation activities of the heterodimers using zidovudine and propofol as substrates for UGT2B7 and UGT1A9, respectively. Our findings revealed that the histidine residue at codon 35 was involved in the dimeric interaction, as evidenced by the FRET efficiencies and catalytic activities. Interestingly, the signal peptide and single transmembrane helix domain of UGT2B7 had no impact on the protein-protein interaction. These results provide valuable insights for a comprehensive understanding of UGT1A9/UGT2B7 heterodimer formation and its association with glucuronidation activity. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Our findings revealed that the H35A mutation in UGT2B7 affected the affinity of protein-protein interaction, leading to discernable variations in fluorescence resonance energy transfer efficiencies and catalytic activity. Furthermore, the signal peptide and single transmembrane helix domain of UGT2B7 did not influence heterodimer formation. These results provide valuable insights into the combined effects of polymorphisms and protein-protein interactions on the catalytic activity of UGT1A9 and UGT2B7, enhancing our understanding of UGT dimerization and its impact on metabolite formation.

Subfunctionalization of a monolignol to a phytoalexin glucosyltransferase is accompanied by substrate inhibition

Uridine diphosphate-dependent glycosyltransferases (UGTs) mediate the glycosylation of plant metabolites, thereby altering their physicochemical properties and bioactivities. Plants possess numerous UGT genes, with the encoded enzymes often glycosylating multiple substrates and some exhibiting substrate inhibition kinetics, but the biological function and molecular basis of these phenomena are not fully understood. The promiscuous monolignol/phytoalexin glycosyltransferase NbUGT72AY1 exhibits substrate inhibition (K_i) at 4 μM scopoletin, whereas the highly homologous monolignol StUGT72AY2 is inhibited at 190 μM. We therefore used hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry and structure-based mutational analyses of both proteins and introduced NbUGT72AY1 residues into StUGT72AY2 and vice versa to study promiscuity and substrate inhibition of UGTs. A single F87I and chimeric mutant of NbUGT72AY1 showed significantly reduced scopoletin substrate inhibition, whereas its monolignol glycosylation activity was almost unaffected. Reverse mutations in StUGT72AY2 resulted in increased scopoletin glycosylation, leading to enhanced promiscuity, which was accompanied by substrate inhibition. Studies of 3D structures identified open and closed UGT conformers, allowing visualization of the dynamics of conformational changes that occur during catalysis. Previously postulated substrate access tunnels likely serve as drainage channels. The results suggest a two-site model in which the second substrate molecule binds near the catalytic site and blocks product release. Mutational studies showed that minor changes in amino acid sequence can enhance the promiscuity of the enzyme and add new capabilities such as substrate inhibition without affecting existing functions. The proposed subfunctionalization mechanism of expanded promiscuity may play a role in enzyme evolution and highlights the importance of promiscuous enzymes in providing new functions.

Effect of Oral Semaglutide on the Pharmacokinetics of Levonorgestrel and Ethinylestradiol in Healthy Postmenopausal Women and Furosemide and Rosuvastatin in Healthy Subjects

BACKGROUND

The first oral glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) comprises semaglutide co-formulated with the absorption enhancer, sodium N-(8-[2-hydroxybenzoyl] amino) caprylate (SNAC). Oral semaglutide may alter the pharmacokinetics of co-administered drugs via effects of semaglutide or SNAC. Two separate one-sequence crossover trials investigated the effects of oral semaglutide and SNAC on the pharmacokinetics of ethinylestradiol, levonorgestrel, furosemide and rosuvastatin.

METHODS

Healthy, postmenopausal women (n = 25) received once-daily combined ethinylestradiol and levonorgestrel (Trial 1) and healthy male and female subjects (n = 41) received single doses of furosemide and rosuvastatin (Trial 2), either alone, with SNAC alone or with oral semaglutide. Lack of drug-drug interaction was concluded if 90% confidence intervals (CIs) for the ratio of area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) or maximum concentration (Cmax), with/without oral semaglutide, were within a pre-specified interval (0.80-1.25).

RESULTS

The AUC values of ethinylestradiol and levonorgestrel were not affected by oral semaglutide co-administration (estimated ratios [90% CI] 1.06 [1.01-1.10] and 1.06 [0.97-1.17], respectively); Cmax was not affected. The no-effect criterion was not met for furosemide or rosuvastatin for the AUC (1.28 [1.16-1.42] and 1.41 [1.24-1.60], respectively) or Cmax. SNAC alone did not affect the AUC or Cmax of ethinylestradiol, levonorgestrel or rosuvastatin; the Cmax of furosemide was slightly decreased. Adverse events were similar to those previously observed for GLP-1RAs (both trials).

CONCLUSION

Co-administration with oral semaglutide did not affect the pharmacokinetics of ethinylestradiol or levonorgestrel. There was a small increase in exposure of furosemide and rosuvastatin; however, these increases are not expected to be of clinical relevance.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBERS

NCT02845219 and NCT03010475.

Glabrone as a specific UGT1A9 probe substrate and its application in discovering the inhibitor glycycoumarin

UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A9 (UGT1A9) is one of the most important UGT isoforms, and plays an important role in the metabolic elimination of therapeutic drugs via glucuronidation. Herbal medicines affecting the activity of UGT1A9 may influence the metabolism of related drugs, thus causing herb-drug interactions and even adverse effects. However, few methods are available to evaluate the activity of UGT1A9. In this study, a natural product glabrone was discovered as an isoform-specific probe substrate for UGT1A9. The V_max and K_m values of glabrone were 362.6 nmol/min/mg protein and 17.2 μM for human liver microsomes (HLMs), and 382.3 nmol/min/mg protein and 16.6 μM for recombinant human UGT1A9, respectively. Glabrone 7-O-glucuronide, the UGT1A9 metabolite of glabrone, was prepared by using a plant glucuronosyltransferase UGT88D1, and the structure was identified by NMR spectroscopy. Using glabrone as a probe, we established a rapid HPLC method to screen UGT1A9 inhibitors from 54 natural products isolated from the Chinese herbal medicine licorice. Among them, glycycoumarin was found as a potent UGT1A9 inhibitor with an IC₅₀ value of 6.04 μM. In rats, the pretreatment of glycycoumarin (4 mg/kg, i.p.) for 3 days could remarkably increase the plasma concentrations of dapagliflozin while decrease the concentrations of dapagliflozin-O-glucuronide after administration of dapagliflozin (1 mg/kg, i.v.), which is mainly metabolized by UGT1A9. The results indicated the potential risk of herb-drug interactions between licorice and UGT1A9-metabolizing drugs.

INTEDE: interactome of drug-metabolizing enzymes

Drug-metabolizing enzymes (DMEs) are critical determinant of drug safety and efficacy, and the interactome of DMEs has attracted extensive attention. There are 3 major interaction types in an interactome: microbiome-DME interaction (MICBIO), xenobiotics-DME interaction (XEOTIC) and host protein-DME interaction (HOSPPI). The interaction data of each type are essential for drug metabolism, and the collective consideration of multiple types has implication for the future practice of precision medicine. However, no database was designed to systematically provide the data of all types of DME interactions. Here, a database of the Interactome of Drug-Metabolizing Enzymes (INTEDE) was therefore constructed to offer these interaction data. First, 1047 unique DMEs (448 host and 599 microbial) were confirmed, for the first time, using their metabolizing drugs. Second, for these newly confirmed DMEs, all types of their interactions (3359 MICBIOs between 225 microbial species and 185 DMEs; 47 778 XEOTICs between 4150 xenobiotics and 501 DMEs; 7849 HOSPPIs between 565 human proteins and 566 DMEs) were comprehensively collected and then provided, which enabled the crosstalk analysis among multiple types. Because of the huge amount of accumulated data, the INTEDE made it possible to generalize key features for revealing disease etiology and optimizing clinical treatment. INTEDE is freely accessible at: https://idrblab.org/intede/.

Inhibition of UDP-glucuronosyltransferases by different furoquinoline alkaloids

Herbs are often administered in combination with therapeutic drugs, raising the possibility for herb-drug interactions (HDIs). Furoquinoline alkaloids are found in Rutaceae plants, which are structurally similar and have many medicinal properties. This study aims to investigate the inhibition of four furoquinoline alkaloids on the activity of UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs).The recombinant UGTs-catalyzed glucuronidation metabolism of 4-methylumbelliferone (4-MU) was utilized to investigate the inhibition potential. Inhibition type and parameters were determined, and in silico docking was employed to elucidate the inhibition difference of furoquinoline alkaloids towards UGTs.Dictamine, haplopine, γ-fagarine and skimmianine strongly inhibited UGT1A3, UGT1A7, UGT1A9 and UGT2B4, respectively. Among them, dictamnine inhibited more than 70% of the four UGTs. Inhibition kinetics determination showed that they all exerted competitive inhibition, and the inhibition kinetic constant (K_i) was determined to be 8.3, 7.2, 3.7 and 33.9 μM, respectively. In vitro-in vivo extrapolation (IVIVE) was employed to demonstrate the inhibition possibility for four alkaloids. Skimmianine was proved to be more suitable for clinical application. In silico docking study indicated that the hydrophobic interactions played a key role in the inhibition of furoquinoline alkaloids towards three of the four UGTs. In conclusion, monitoring the interactions between furoquinoline alkaloids and drugs mainly undergoing UGTs-catalyzed metabolism is necessary.

The UGTome: The expanding diversity of UDP glycosyltransferases and its impact on small molecule metabolism

The UDP glycosyltransferase (UGT) superfamily of enzymes is responsible for the metabolism and clearance of thousands of lipophilic chemicals including drugs, toxins and endogenous signaling molecules. They provide a protective interface between the organism and its chemical-rich environment, as well as controlling critical signaling pathways to maintain healthy tissue function. UGTs are associated with drug responses and interactions, as well as a wide range of diseases including cancer. The human genome contains 22 UGT genes; however as befitting their exceptionally diverse substrate ranges and biological activities, the output of these UGT genes is functionally diversified by multiple processes including alternative splicing, post-translational modification, homo- and hetero-oligomerization, and interactions with other proteins. All UGT genes are subject to extensive alternative splicing generating variant/truncated UGT proteins with altered functions including the capacity to dominantly modulate/inhibit cognate full-length forms. Heterotypic oligomerization of different UGTs can alter kinetic properties relative to monotypic complexes, and potentially produce novel substrate specificities. Moreover, the recently profiled interactions of UGTs with non-UGT proteins may facilitate coordination between different metabolic processes, as well as providing opportunities for UGTs to engage in novel 'moonlighting' functions. Herein we provide a detailed and comprehensive review of all known modes of UGT functional diversification and propose a UGTome model to describe the resulting expansion of metabolic capacity and its potential to modulate drug/xenobiotic responses and cell behaviours in normal and disease contexts.

Salvianolic acid B protects against ANIT-induced cholestatic liver injury through regulating bile acid transporters and enzymes, and NF-κB/IκB and MAPK pathways

The purpose of this study was to investigate the pharmacological effects of salvianolic acid B (SA-B) on α-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT)-induced cholestatic liver injury with the focus on bile acid homeostasis and anti-inflammatory pathways. Rats were randomly assigned into four groups. The control group was given normal saline (i.p.) for 7 consecutive days and on the 5th day was given the vehicle (i.g.). Model group was treated with normal saline (i.p.) for 7 days and administrated with ANIT (75 mg/kg, i.g.) on the 5th day. The SA-B groups were treated with SA-B (15 mg/kg and 30 mg/kg, i.p.) for 7 consecutive days as well as ANIT (75 mg/kg, i.g.) on the 5th day. We found that the serum levels of ALT, γ-GT, TBA, and other liver function indexes were found to be lower in the SA-B treatment groups than in the model group. SA-B also upregulated the transporters and enzymes involved in bile acid homeostasis such as Bsep, Oatp2, and Cyp3a2 in rats and BSEP, CYP3A4, and OATP2 in human cell lines. Moreover, SA-B suppressed NF-κB translocation into the nucleus, inhibited phosphorylation of p38 and JNK, and inhibited inflammation markers including IL-1β, IL-6, TGF-β, TNF-α, and COX-2 to extenuate cholestatic liver injury both in vivo and vitro. Taken together, our findings suggest that anti-cholestatic effects of SA-B may be associated with its ability to regulate NF-κB/IκB and MAPK inflammatory signaling pathways to inhibit inflammation and regulate transporters and enzymes to maintain bile acid homeostasis.

The regioselective glucuronidation of morphine by dimerized human UGT2B7, 1A1, 1A9 and their allelic variants

Uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) 2B7 is expressed mostly in the human liver, lung and kidney and can transfer endogenous glucuronide group into its substrate and impact the pharmacological effects of several drugs such as estriol, AZT and morphine. UGT2B7 and its allelic variants can dimerize with the homologous enzymes UGT1A1 and UGT1A9, as well as their allelic variants, and then change their enzymatic activities in the process of substrate catalysis. The current study was designed to identify this mechanism using morphine as the substrate of UGT2B7. Single-recombinant allozymes, including UGT2B7^*1 (wild type), UGT2B7^*71S (A71S, 211G>T), UGT2B7^*2 (H268Y, 802C>T), UGT2B7^*5 (D398N, 1192G>A), and double-recombinant allozymes formed by the dimerization of UGT1A9^*1 (wild type), UGT1A9^*2 (C3Y, 8G>A), UGT1A9^*3 (M33T, 98T>C), UGT1A9^*5 (D256N, 766G>A), UGT1A1 (wild type) with its splice variant UGT1A1b were established and incubated with morphine in vitro. Each sample was analyzed with HPLC-MS/MS. All enzyme kinetic parameters were then measured and analyzed. From the results, the production ratio of its aberrant metabolism and subsequent metabolites, morphine-3-glucuronide (M3G) and morphine-6-glucuronide (M6G), changes regioselectively. Double-recombinant allozymes exhibit stronger enzymatic activity catalyzing morphine than the single-recombinant alloyzymes. Compared to UGT2B7^*1, UGT2B7^*2 singles or doubles have lower K_m values for M3G and M6G, whereas UGT2B7^*5 allozymes perform opposite effects. The double allozymes of UGT1A9^*2 or UGT1A9^*5 with UGT2B7 tend to produce M6G. Interestingly, the majority of single or double allozymes significantly reduce the ratio of M3G to M6G. The UGT1A9^*2-UGT2B7^*1 double enzyme has the lowest M3G:M6G ratio, reflecting that more M6G would form in morphine glucuronide metabolism. This study demonstrates that UGT2B7 common SNPs and their dimers with UGT1A1 and UGT1A9 and their allelic variants can regioselectively affect the generation of two metabolites of morphine via altering the CL_int ratios of M3G to M6G. These results may predict the effectiveness of morphine antinociception in individualized opioid treatment.

Endogenous Protein Interactome of Human UDP-Glucuronosyltransferases Exposed by Untargeted Proteomics

The conjugative metabolism mediated by UDP-glucuronosyltransferase enzymes (UGTs) significantly influences the bioavailability and biological responses of endogenous molecule substrates and xenobiotics including drugs. UGTs participate in the regulation of cellular homeostasis by limiting stress induced by toxic molecules, and by controlling hormonal signaling networks. Glucuronidation is highly regulated at genomic, transcriptional, post-transcriptional and post-translational levels. However, the UGT protein interaction network, which is likely to influence glucuronidation, has received little attention. We investigated the endogenous protein interactome of human UGT1A enzymes in main drug metabolizing non-malignant tissues where UGT expression is most prevalent, using an unbiased proteomics approach. Mass spectrometry analysis of affinity-purified UGT1A enzymes and associated protein complexes in liver, kidney and intestine tissues revealed an intricate interactome linking UGT1A enzymes to multiple metabolic pathways. Several proteins of pharmacological importance such as transferases (including UGT2 enzymes), transporters and dehydrogenases were identified, upholding a potential coordinated cellular response to small lipophilic molecules and drugs. Furthermore, a significant cluster of functionally related enzymes involved in fatty acid β-oxidation, as well as in the glycolysis and glycogenolysis pathways were enriched in UGT1A enzymes complexes. Several partnerships were confirmed by co-immunoprecipitations and co-localization by confocal microscopy. An enhanced accumulation of lipid droplets in a kidney cell model overexpressing the UGT1A9 enzyme supported the presence of a functional interplay. Our work provides unprecedented evidence for a functional interaction between glucuronidation and bioenergetic metabolism.

Inter-isoform Hetero-dimerization of Human UDP-Glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) 1A1, 1A9, and 2B7 and Impacts on Glucuronidation Activity

Human UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) play a pivotal role in phase II metabolism by catalyzing the glucuronidation of endobiotics and xenobiotics. The catalytic activities of UGTs are highly impacted by both genetic polymorphisms and oligomerization. The present study aimed to assess the inter-isoform hetero-dimerization of UGT1A1, 1A9, and 2B7, including the wild type (1A1*1, 1A9*1, and 2B7*1) and the naturally occurring (1A1*1b, 1A9*2/*3/*5, and 2B7*71S/*2/*5) variants. The related enzymes were double expressed in Bac-to-Bac systems. The fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) technique and co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) revealed stable hetero-dimerization of UGT1A1, 1A9, and 2B7 allozymes. Variable FRET efficiencies and donor-acceptor distances suggested that genetic polymorphisms resulted in altered affinities to the target protein. In addition, the metabolic activities of UGTs were differentially altered upon hetero-dimerization via double expression systems. Moreover, protein interactions also changed the regioselectivity of UGT1A9 for querectin glucuronidation. These findings provide in-depth understanding of human UGT dimerization as well as clues for complicated UGT dependent metabolism in humans.

Structure and Protein-Protein Interactions of Human UDP-Glucuronosyltransferases

Mammalian UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) catalyze the transfer of glucuronic acid from UDP-glucuronic acid to various xenobiotics and endobiotics. Since UGTs comprise rate-limiting enzymes for metabolism of various compounds, co-administration of UGT-inhibiting drugs and genetic deficiency of UGT genes can cause an increased blood concentration of these compounds. During the last few decades, extensive efforts have been made to advance the understanding of gene structure, function, substrate specificity, and inhibition/induction properties of UGTs. However, molecular mechanisms and physiological importance of the oligomerization and protein–protein interactions of UGTs are still largely unknown. While three-dimensional structures of human UGTs can be useful to reveal the details of oligomerization and protein–protein interactions of UGTs, little is known about the protein structures of human UGTs due to the difficulty in solving crystal structures of membrane-bound proteins. Meanwhile, soluble forms of plant and bacterial UGTs as well as a partial domain of human UGT2B7 have been crystallized and enabled us to predict three-dimensional structures of human UGTs using a homology-modeling technique. The homology-modeled structures of human UGTs do not only provide the detailed information about substrate binding or substrate specificity in human UGTs, but also contribute with unique knowledge on oligomerization and protein–protein interactions of UGTs. Furthermore, various in vitro approaches indicate that UGT-mediated glucuronidation is involved in cell death, apoptosis, and oxidative stress as well. In the present review article, recent understandings of UGT protein structures as well as physiological importance of the oligomerization and protein–protein interactions of human UGTs are discussed.