Biotransformation and bioactivation reactions – 2015 literature highlights

Since 1972, Drug Metabolism Reviews has been recognized as one of the principal resources for researchers in pharmacological, pharmaceutical and toxicological fields to keep abreast of advances in drug metabolism science in academia and the pharmaceutical industry. With a distinguished list of authors and editors, the journal covers topics ranging from relatively mature fields, such as cytochrome P450 enzymes, to a variety of emerging fields. We hope to continue this tradition with the current compendium of mini-reviews that highlight novel biotransformation processes that were published during the past year. Each review begins with a summary of the article followed by our comments on novel aspects of the research and their biological implications. This collection of highlights is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather to be illustrative of recent research that provides new insights or approaches that advance the field of drug metabolism. AbbreviationsNAPQIN-acetyl-p-benzoquinoneimineALDH aldehyde dehydrogenaseAO aldehyde oxidaseAKR aldo-keto reductaseCES carboxylesteraseCSB cystathionine β-synthaseCSE cystathionine γ-lyaseP450 cytochrome P450DHPO 2,3-dihydropyridin-4-oneESI electrosprayFMO flavin monooxygenaseGSH glutathioneGSSG glutathione disulfideICPMS inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometryi.p. intraperitonealMDR multidrug-resistantNNAL 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanolNNK 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanoneoaTOF orthogonal acceleration time-of-flightPBK physiologically based kineticPCP pentachlorophenolSDR short-chain dehydrogenase/reductaseSULT sulfotransferaseTB tuberculosis