Xenobiotic metabolism
Xenobiotic Metabolism
Xenobiotic metabolism (pronounced: zee-noh-bye-oh-tik meh-tuh-bow-lih-zum) is the set of metabolic pathways that modify the chemical structure of xenobiotics, which are compounds foreign to an organism's normal biochemistry.
Etymology
The term "xenobiotic" is derived from the Greek words "xenos" (stranger, alien) and "bios" (life), and "metabolism" comes from the Greek "metabole" (change). Thus, xenobiotic metabolism refers to the transformation of foreign substances within a living organism.
Process
Xenobiotic metabolism involves three phases: modification, conjugation, and excretion. In the modification phase, the xenobiotic is transformed by enzymes, primarily in the liver, into a more polar compound. The conjugation phase involves the addition of a polar molecule to the xenobiotic to increase its solubility. Finally, the xenobiotic and its metabolites are excreted from the body.
Related Terms
- Xenobiotic: A chemical substance foreign to the biological system.
- Metabolism: The set of life-sustaining chemical reactions in organisms.
- Enzyme: A protein that acts as a biological catalyst.
- Liver: A large, lobed organ that performs many functions, including detoxification and protein synthesis.
- Polar molecule: A molecule with a net dipole as a result of opposing charges.
- Solubility: The property of a solid, liquid, or gaseous chemical substance to dissolve in a solvent.
- Excretion: The process by which metabolic waste is eliminated from an organism.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Xenobiotic metabolism
- Wikipedia's article - Xenobiotic metabolism
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