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UGT Enzymes

Meaning

UGT Enzymes, short for Uridine Diphosphate Glucuronosyltransferases, are a superfamily of critical phase II detoxification enzymes primarily localized in the liver, but also found in other tissues like the gut and kidney. Their essential function is to catalyze the process of glucuronidation, which attaches a glucuronic acid molecule to various lipophilic compounds, including hormones, drugs, and toxins. This conjugation process increases the compound’s water solubility, thereby facilitating its safe excretion from the body via bile and urine.