Vitamin K epoxide reductase activity in the metabolism of epoxides

Abstract The importance of vitamine K epoxide reductase for the metabolism of a range of structurally diverse epoxides has been investigated. Vitamin K 1 epoxide is reduced by rat liver microsomes at a rate of 0.47 nmoles/g liver/min. The rate of menadione oxide reduction is not significantly higher than the non-enzymatic reduction rate. No measurable reduction of benzo[ a ]pyrene 4,5-oxide, benzo[ a ]pyrene 7,8-oxide, phenanthrene 9,10-oxide, styrene 7,8-oxide, and dieldrin has been detected, nor could trichothecene T-2 toxin inhibit reduction of vitamin K 1 epoxide. Thus, vitamin K epoxide reductase is very specific for vitamin K 1 epoxide. Taking into account the range of structurally di…