EPHX1
Description
The EPHX1 (epoxide hydrolase 1) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 1.
Epoxide hydrolase 1 is an enzyme encoded by the EPHX1 gene in humans. It plays an important role in both the activation and detoxification of exogenous chemicals such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Microsomal epoxide hydrolase 1 (EPHX1) was first isolated by Watabe and Kanehira from rabbit liver and later also purified from human liver and characterized. EPHX1 belongs to the family of α/β hydrolases and converts epoxides to diols. EPHX1 protein can be found predominantly in the membrane fraction of the endoplasmic reticulum of eukaryotic cells. Its expression in mammals is generally the highest in the liver, followed by adrenal gland, lung, kidney, and intestine. It was also found in bronchial epithelial cells and the upper gastrointestinal tract. EPHX1 expression is individually variable among humans and it can be modestly induced by chemicals such as phenobarbital, β-naphtoflavone, benzanthracene, trans-stilbene oxide, etc. Human EPHX1 orthologues were found in 127 organisms. Human microsomal epoxide hydrolase is coded by EPHX1 gene located on chromosome 1 (1q42.12).
EPHX1 is a biotransformation enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of arene and aliphatic epoxides to less reactive and more water-soluble dihydrodiols by the trans addition of water. This enzyme plays a role in the metabolism of endogenous lipids such as epoxide-containing fatty acids. EPHX1 metabolizes the abundant endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) to free arachidonic acid (AA) and glycerol. It also binds 20(S)-hydroxycholesterol (20(S)-OHC).
EPHX1 is also known as EPHX, EPOX, HYL1, MEH.
