Sulfonation of environmental chemicals and their metabolites in the polar bear (Ursus maritimus). Drug Metab Dispos

• Main Authors: James C Sacco, Margaret O James
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2005
• Subjects: Arctic; Ursus maritimus
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.1049.9895; http://dmd.aspetjournals.org/content/dmd/33/9/1341.full.pdf

ABSTRACT: Although its habitat comprises mostly remote regions of the Arctic, the polar bear is subject to bioaccumulation of persistent environmental pollutants. Along with their phase I metabolites, they are potential substrates for detoxification via sulfonation and glucuronidation. The capability of polar bear liver to sulfonate a structurally diverse group of environmental chemicals, that is, 3-hydroxybenzo Triclosan was the most rapidly sulfated (apparent V max 1008 pmol/ min/mg) of the substrates tested. Since sulfonation of an acyclic tertiary alcoholic group, as in TCPM, has not previously been reported, we also examined TCPM conjugation in humans and catfish, both of which formed TCPM-sulfate. The hexachlorinated polychlorinated biphenylols, TCPM, and PCP were poor substrates for sulfonation, suggesting that this may be one reason why these substances and structurally similar xenobiotics persist in polar bears.