Molecular Toxicology

Phase II Drug Metabolism and Toxicity

This Group is led by Dr Betty Sallustio and Professor Andrew Somogyi

After a drug is absorbed into the body, it typically undergoes a range of enzyme-catalysed alterations to its chemical structure, generating a range of derivatives known as metabolites. Typically, such metabolites are more water-soluble than the parent drug, and so they are rapidly eliminated into urine. In some cases however, enzymes inadvertently convert drugs into toxic or chemically reactive species. This process is known as drug bioactivation. This research Group is interested in the ability of a major pathway of drug metabolism - the glucuronidation system - to bioactivate certain types of drugs to toxic species.

Projects:

Conversion of COOH-containing drugs to DNA-damaging species via glucuronidation:

• Dr Betty Sallustio - Queen Elizabeth Hospital
• Professor Andrew Somogyi