title: Microsomal UDP-glucuronyltransferase-catalyzed bilirubin diglucuronide formation in human liver.
abstract: Human liver microsomal bilirubin UDP-glucuronyltransferase catalyzes formation of bilirubin mono- and diglucuronide. KmUDPGA and Vmax of the enzyme are 0.6 mM and 1.69 nmol/mg protein X min. In vitro, bilirubin readily dissolves in the microsomal lipid phase. Taking this into account a Kmbilirubin of 60.6 microM was found, which is much higher than the in vivo microsomal UCB concentration of human liver (2.9-11.4 microM). The total capacity of human liver to form bilirubin mono- and diglucuronide in vitro exceeds the in vivo mono- and diglucuronide production rates by a factor 8 to 10. Radiation-inactivation studies reveal that human liver microsomal bilirubin UDP-glucuronyltransferase is a tetrameric enzyme with a molecular mass of 209 000 +/- 20 000 Da. The complete tetrameric enzyme catalyzes both glucuronidation steps, formation of bilirubin monoglucuronide and conversion of mono- to diglucuronide. In its monomeric form, the enzyme with molecular mass of 55 000 +/- 1 500 Da catalyzes only the first step of bilirubin glucuronidation, the formation of bilirubin monoglucuronide.
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Jansen
mesh_terms: D001663:Bilirubin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002458:Cell Fractionation; D014453:Glucuronosyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008862:Microsomes, Liver / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: C019270:bilirubin diglucuronide; D014453:Glucuronosyltransferase; D001663:Bilirubin