W0027

The Structure Determination of Murine Cytosolic Epoxide Hydrolase. Maria A. Argiriadi¹, Christophe H. Morisseau², Bruce D. Hammock², and David W. Christianson¹, ¹Roy and Diana Vagelos Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6323, ²Departments of Entomology and Environmental Toxicology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616-8584 USA

Cytosolic epoxide hydrolase's primary function is proposed to be the hydrolytic cleavage of epoxides to yield vicinal trans diols in the liver cells. This is a critical mammalian detoxification mechanism, e.g., epoxides might otherwise modify protein and/or DNA targets in the cell. They also play a role in the formation or degradation of endogenous chemical mediators . By solving this structure we may have a better understanding of how particular toxins are metabolized and possibly how cytosolic epoxide hydrolase maintains steady state levels of physiological mediators.