Formation of bilirubin glucoside

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Abstract
1. Rat liver microsomal preparation can effect the transglucosylation from UDP-glucose to bilirubin in the presence of Mg2+. 2. Other nucleotides, namely CDP-glucose, ADP-glucose and GDP-glucose, were not active as glucosyl donors. 3. Only trace amounts of galactose, galacturonic acid and N-acetylglucosamine were conjugated to bilirubin when their respective UDP derivatives were used in the reaction mixture. 4. The azobilirubin glucosides produced by coupling with p-diazobenzenesulphonic acid and diazotized ethyl anthranilic acid were separable from the corresponding azobilirubin glucuronides by t.l.c. 5. The glucoside was, however, hydrolysed by both β-glucosidase and various preparations of β-glucuronidase; azobilirubin and glucose were liberated in the process. 6. Kinetic studies showed that the effects of pH and Mg2+ on the two conjugating systems were similar. 7. The specific activities of hepatic bilirubin UDP-glucosyltransferase, expressed as μg of bilirubin ‘equivalents’ conjugated/h per mg of protein, are respectively 1.7 and 2.4 for male and female rats. 8. The Km values for bilirubin and UDP-glucose are 5.7×10-5m and 1.6×10-3m respectively. 9. The glucoside and glucuronide conjugations of bilirubin are discussed in relation to the availability of the conjugating agents and aglycone in the liver.