Epoxide Hydrolase Isoenzymes and their Individual Contribution to the Control of Toxic Metabolites

Epoxides are highly strained three membered cyclic ethers which are formed in vivo by the microsomal cytochrome P450 dependent monooxygenases as intermediates of several important biosynthetic pathways (leukotriene A4, squalene 2, 3-oxide) and as metabolites of numerous xenobiotic compounds containing olefinic or aromatic double bonds. Further transformation of these epoxides may occur by either, rearrangement to phenols, aliphatic aldehydes, or ketones; by cytochrome P450 dependent reduction to the parent compound; or by spontaneous or enzymatic conjugation to gluta-thione. Epoxides may also bind covalently to cellular nucleophiles, such as proteins and nucleic acids thus eliciting carcino…