Effect ofs-triazine and phenoxyalkanoic acid herbicides on UDP-glucuronosyltransferase in rat liver microsomes

Abstract

Twelve herbicides, representatives of two chemical groups, substituted phenoxyalkanoic acids and s-triazines, were tested for their inhibitory effect on the glucuronidation of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP), phenolphthalein (PPh) and 4-methylumbelliferone (4-MU) by rat liver microsomes. One millimole MCPA, ametryn and cyanazine significantly decreased PPh UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) activity, while propazine was found to be a most potent inhibitor of 4-NP glucuronidation. Concentrations of 0.1 mM dichlorprop and cyanazine were still inhibitory against PPh-UGT. The inhibition of 4-MU glucuronidation by the herbicides was low and not specific. As a whole, s-triazine derivatives were more inhibitory than the substituted phenoxyalkanoic acids. Kinetic studies with propazine revealed a non-competitive type of inhibition towards the acceptor substrate 4-NP, with an apparent Ki value of 0.540 mM. With ametryn, an uncompetitive type of inhibition against PPh and a mixed type of inhibition towards UDPGA were found, with apparent Ki values of 0.330 mM and 0.380 mM, respectively. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry