Massively parallel sequencing has enabled the creation of novel, in-depth genetic tools for nonmodel, ecologically important organisms. We present the de novo transcriptome sequencing, analysis and microarray development for a vertebrate herbivore, the woodrat (Neotoma spp.). This genus is of ecological and evolutionary interest, especially with respect to ingestion and hepatic metabolism of po...

Bilirubin pigments were studied in the bile of 20 normal adults, 25 patients with Gilbert's syndrome, 9 children with Crigler-Najjar disease, and 6 patients with hemolysis, to determine how a deficiency of hepatic bilirubin UDP-glucuronosyltransferase would affect the end products of bilirubin biotransformation. In the bile from patients with Gilbert's syndrome, a striking increase was found in...

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a progressive process leading to end stage renal disease and either dialysis or transplantation. Patients with CKD often have numerous comorbid conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and acid-base and electrolyte disorders that can lead to alterations in homeostasis. Changes in drug disposition including hepatic metabolism via phase 1 (ie, cytochrome P-450 en...

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome, is a complex multifactorial disease characterized by metabolic deregulations that include accumulation of lipids in the liver, lipotoxicity, and insulin resistance. The progression of NAFLD to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and cirrhosis, and ultimately to carcinomas, is governed by interplay of pro-i...

Enzymatic activities are routinely used to identify the contribution of individual forms of cytochrome P450 in a particular biotransformation. p-Nitrophenol O-hydroxylation (PNPH) has been widely used as a measure of CYP2E1 catalytic activity. However, rat and human forms of CYP3A have also been shown to catalyze this activity. In mice, the contributions of CYP3A and CYP2E1 to PNPH activity are...

Pharmacokinetic studies demonstrated that the decrease in drug biotransformation in hepatic failure depends on the metabolic pathways involved. To test whether glucuronidation reactions supported by UDP-glucuronosyltransferases are differentially affected in such conditions, we investigated the in vitro glucuronidation of four selected drugs and xenobiotics (zidovudine, oxazepam, lamotrigine, a...

The present investigation aims at assessing the hepatoprotective effect of triterpene fraction isolated from the stem bark of Wrightia tinctoria (containing lupeol, β-amyrin and β-sitosterol) on CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in the rat. CCl4 (1.5 mg/kg, i.p) is a potent hepatotoxic agent which causes peroxidative degeneration of membrane lipids with the potential outcome of fatty degeneration. Th...

many aldehydes are important components of natural flavours. they are used in food, cosmetic, and biomedical industries in large amounts. plant cells or microorganisms carry out their production by biotransformation, which is one of the biotechnological methods that allow them to be defined as 'natural'. cell cultures of silybum marianum and peganum harmala have been studied with a vi...

Preparation of some chloro, bromo and iodo steroids derived from testosterone and epiandrosterone is described. The biotransformation of halogenated products by fungus mucor plumbeus are preformed. Introduction of the halogen atom into the steroids moiety severely affected the biotransformation results. Keyword: Mucor plumbeus, biotransformation, steroids, 3dibromomethylene-5α-androstan-17-one....