Enzymes epoxide hydrolases

L. W. Wormhoudt, J. N. Commandeur, N. P. Vermeulen, Genetic Polymorphisms of Human V-Acetyltransferase, Cytochrome P450, Glutathione 5-Transferase, and Epoxide Hydrolase Enzymes Relevance to Xenobiotic Metabolism and Toxicity , Crit. Rev. Toxicol. 1999, 29, 59 - 124. 

Benzene oxide may be hydrated through the action of epoxide hydrolase enzyme,... 

The body oxidizes the alkene components of drugs and other substances to epoxides, which are then hydrolyzed to diols by an epoxide hydrolase enzyme. The more reactive epoxides are rapidly converted to water-soluble diols and eliminated in the urine. Epoxide hydrolase enzymes are sometimes used in organic synthesis to produce chiral diols. 

Wormhoudt LW, Commandeur JN, Vermeulen NP (1999) Genetic polymorphisms of human N-acetyltransferase, cytochrome P450, glutathione-S-transferase, and epoxide hydrolase enzymes relevance to xenobiotic metabolism and toxicity. Crit Rev Toxicol 29 59-124... 

Figure 43-1 I Schematic view of the role of NAT enzymes in the metabolism of aromatic amines. N-acetylation might be a detoxification reaction in a number of cases however, after N-hydroxylation of aromatic amines (e.g., by CYP enzymes), NAT enzymes can bioactivate these intermediates by either 0-acetylation or intramolecular N,0-acety transfer, leading to the formation of nitrenium ions, which might react with DNA or alternatively be detoxified by, for example, GST enzymes. Importantly, it is shown that a number of other biotransformation enzymes are also involved in the metabolism of aromatic amines as well. (Redrawn from Wormhoudt LW, Commandeur jNM, Vermeuien NPE. Genetic polymorphisms of human N-acetyitransferase, cytochrome P450, glutathione-S-transferase, and epoxide hydrolase enzymes relevance to xenobiotic metabolism and toxicity. Crit Rev Toxicol 1999 29 59-124. Reproduced by permission from Taylor and Francis, Inc.)...

Epoxide hydrolysis is a valuable synthetic transformation. A number of epoxide hydrolase enzymes are known [37]. One of the most interesting and original transformations described using catalytic antibodies is the intramolecular cyclization of racemic hydroxyepoxide 17 (Scheme 7). This compound normally yields tetrahydrofuran 19a following Baldwin s rule. By contrast a single enantiomer of the disfavored product tetrahydropyran 20 a is obtained using a catalytic antibody raised against A-oxide hapten 16 [38]. The same antibody also catalyzes cyclization of hydroxyepoxide 18 to yield optically enriched oxepane... 

Drug Interactions. Levetiracetam neither inhibits nor indnces the CYP450, UGT, or epoxide hydrolase enzyme systems, and in vitro data predict a low potential for pharmacokinetic interactions. Levetiracetam does not appear to interact with other AEDs, warfarin, digoxin, or oral contraceptive drngs. ° ... 

Abbreviations PAH, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon DE, diol epoxide PAHDE, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon diol epoxide PAHTC, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon triol carbocation TC, triol carbocation BaP, benzo[a]pyrene BeP, benzo[e]pyrene BA, benz[a]anthracene DBA, dibenz[a,h]anthracene BcPh, benzo[c)phenanthrene Ch, chrysene MCh, methylchrysene MBA, 7-methyl benz[a]anthracene DMBA, 7,12-dimethyl benz[a]anthracene EBA, 7-ethyl benz[a]anthracene DB(a,l)P, dibenzo[a,l]pyrene MSCR, mechanism-based structure-carcinogenicity relationship PMO, Perturbational molecular orbital method dA, deoxyadenosine dC, deoxycytosine dG, deoxyguanosine MOS, monoxygenase enzyme system EH, epoxide hydrolase enzyme system N2(G), exocyclic nitrogen of guanine C, electrophilic centre of PAHTC K, intercalation constant CD, circular dichroism LD, linear dichroism. 

The hydrolysis of epoxides to give 1 -diols is an area that is ripe for development. Some work has been published showing that epoxides such as cyclohexane epoxide (36) form optically active diols, in this case cyclo-hexane-(lR,2i )-diol (37). The research has concentrated on the use of enzymes present in liver microsomes, and while this elegant work has indicated what can be achieved, it is clear that rapid progress and the involvement of non-experts in this particular area must await the discovery of readily available epoxide hydrolase enzyme(s) from microbial sources. 

For a review on epoxide hydrolases and related enzymes in the context of organic synthesis, see Faber, K. Biotransformations in Organic Chemistry, Springer New York 2004. 

The metabolism of foreign compounds (xenobiotics) often takes place in two consecutive reactions, classically referred to as phases one and two. Phase I is a functionalization of the lipophilic compound that can be used to attach a conjugate in Phase II. The conjugated product is usually sufficiently water-soluble to be excretable into the urine. The most important biotransformations of Phase I are aromatic and aliphatic hydroxylations catalyzed by cytochromes P450. Other Phase I enzymes are for example epoxide hydrolases or carboxylesterases. Typical Phase II enzymes are UDP-glucuronosyltrans-ferases, sulfotransferases, N-acetyltransferases and methyltransferases e.g. thiopurin S-methyltransferase. 

Several reports regarding the directed evolution of enantioselective epoxide hydrolases (EHs) have appeared [23,57-59]. These enzymes constitute important catalysts in synthetic organic chemistry [4,60]. The first two reported studies concern the Aspergillus niger epoxide hydrolase (ANEH) [57,58]. Initial attempts were made to enhance the enantioselectivity of the AN E H -catalyzed hydrolytic kinetic resolution of glycidyl phenyl ether (rac-19). The WT leads to an Evalue of only 4.6 in favor of (S)-20 (see Scheme 2.4) [58]. 

Chiral epoxides and their corresponding vicinal diols are very important intermediates in asymmetric synthesis [163]. Chiral nonracemic epoxides can be obtained through asymmetric epoxidation using either chemical catalysts [164] or enzymes [165-167]. Biocatalytic epoxidations require sophisticated techniques and have thus far found limited application. An alternative approach is the asymmetric hydrolysis of racemic or meso-epoxides using transition-metal catalysts [168] or biocatalysts [169-174]. Epoxide hydrolases (EHs) (EC 3.3.2.3) catalyze the conversion of epoxides to their corresponding vicinal diols. EHs are cofactor-independent enzymes that are almost ubiquitous in nature. They are usually employed as whole cells or crude... 

The microsomal fraction consists mainly of vesicles (microsomes) derived from the endoplasmic reticulum (smooth and rough). It contains cytochrome P450 and NADPH/cytochrome P450 reductase (collectively the microsomal monooxygenase system), carboxylesterases, A-esterases, epoxide hydrolases, glucuronyl transferases, and other enzymes that metabolize xenobiotics. The 105,000 g supernatant contains soluble enzymes such as glutathione-5-trans-ferases, sulfotransferases, and certain esterases. The 11,000 g supernatant contains all of the types of enzyme listed earlier. 

Emphasis is given to the critical role of metabolism, both detoxication and activation, in determining toxicity. The principal enzymes involved are described, including monooxygenases, esterases, epoxide hydrolases, glutathione-5 -transferases, and glucuronyl transferases. Attention is given to the influence of enzyme induction and enzyme inhibition on toxicity. 

Epoxide hydrolase A type of enzyme that converts epoxides to diols by the addition of water. 

---