Substrate Specificity and the Use of Chitosan-Entrapped Rabbit Hepatic Microsomal Udp-Glucuronyl Transferase for Detoxification

Rabbit hepatic microsomal UDP-Glucuronyl transferase (EC.2.4.1.17) was immobilized in chitosan, which is an ionotropic gelatation agent, and the resulting preparation was used as a biocatalyst for the glucuronidation of toxic substances and drugs such as; 1-naphthol, phenol, 4-nitrophenol, bilirubin, testesterone, estrone, lamotrigine, imipramine and chlorpromazine. For studying the drug metabolism in vitro and obtaining artificial liver support (detoxification) chitosan-entrapped UDPGT towards 1-naphthol was tested by using two model reactor system. The conversion curves of 1-naphthol to its glucuronide indicated that the column reactor system was found to be better and seems suitable for detoxification with a high yield of glucuronide formation.