Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 27, 2026
11:31
Evaluation of the Storage Stability of Extracellular Vesicles
Published on: May 22, 2019
15.0K
Stability and Hydrolysis of Desomorphine-Glucuronide
Jessica Winborn1, Sarah Kerrigan1
1Department of Forensic Science, Sam Houston State University, Box 2525, 1003 Bowers Blvd, Huntsville, TX 77341, USA.
Journal of Analytical Toxicology
|March 31, 2019
Summary
Investigating desomorphine-glucuronide hydrolysis, this study found that while multiple methods achieve high deconjugation, Patella vulgata β-glucuronidase is most effective under challenging conditions. Stability studies confirmed drug integrity.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Analytical Chemistry
- Forensic Toxicology
Background:
- Desomorphine, a potent opioid found in Krokodil, undergoes Phase II metabolism via glucuronidation to desomorphine-glucuronide.
- Hydrolysis of conjugated opioids is often necessary for accurate analysis, but desomorphine-glucuronide has been understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To optimize and evaluate six different hydrolysis procedures for desomorphine-glucuronide.
- To assess the deconjugation efficiency of various chemical and enzymatic hydrolysis methods.
- To determine the stability of desomorphine and its glucuronide conjugate in aqueous solutions.
Main Methods:
- Comparison of acid hydrolysis with five β-glucuronidase sources (BGTurbo™, IMCSzyme™, Escherichia coli, Helix pomatia, Patella vulgata).
- Optimization of hydrolysis conditions and evaluation of deconjugation efficiencies.
- Stability assessment of desomorphine and desomorphine-glucuronide at 60°C across a pH range of 4-10.
Main Results:
- All tested hydrolysis methods achieved complete hydrolysis (≥96%) under optimal conditions.
- Patella vulgata demonstrated the highest efficiency among β-glucuronidases under simulated challenging conditions.
- BGTurbo™ and IMCSzyme™ provided rapid hydrolysis without requiring sample cleanup for LC-Q/TOF-MS analysis.
- No degradation of desomorphine or desomorphine-glucuronide was observed under tested stability conditions.
Conclusions:
- Effective hydrolysis of desomorphine-glucuronide can be achieved using various methods, with P. vulgata showing superior performance in difficult scenarios.
- Certain commercial enzyme preparations offer rapid and convenient hydrolysis for LC-Q/TOF-MS.
- Desomorphine and its glucuronide are stable in aqueous solutions across a relevant pH range and at elevated temperatures.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Hydrolysis
121.9K
Overview
Hydrolysis is a chemical reaction in which the addition of water breaks down a polymer into its simpler monomer units. For example, peptides break into amino acids, carbohydrates into simple sugars, and DNA into nucleotides. Enzymes often facilitate these processes.
Hydrolysis Reverses Dehydration Synthesis
Complex carbohydrates can be broken down by breaking the bonds between individual sugar units. The reaction breaks a glycosidic bond as water is added to the compound. The...
Hydrolysis is a chemical reaction in which the addition of water breaks down a polymer into its simpler monomer units. For example, peptides break into amino acids, carbohydrates into simple sugars, and DNA into nucleotides. Enzymes often facilitate these processes.
Hydrolysis Reverses Dehydration Synthesis
Complex carbohydrates can be broken down by breaking the bonds between individual sugar units. The reaction breaks a glycosidic bond as water is added to the compound. The...
121.9K
01:08Hydrolysis of ATP
81.2K
The bonds of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) can be broken through the addition of water, releasing one or two phosphate groups in an exergonic process called hydrolysis. This reaction liberates the energy in the bonds for use in the cell—for instance, to synthesize proteins from amino acids.
If one phosphate group is removed, a molecule of ADP—adenosine diphosphate—remains, along with inorganic phosphate. ADP can be further hydrolyzed to AMP—adenosine...
If one phosphate group is removed, a molecule of ADP—adenosine diphosphate—remains, along with inorganic phosphate. ADP can be further hydrolyzed to AMP—adenosine...
81.2K
01:24Phase II Reactions: Glucuronidation
1.7K
Glucuronidation, a pivotal phase II biotransformation process, involves the coupling of glucuronic acid to a drug or xenobiotic. Given its widespread occurrence and critical role in drug metabolism, it's considered the most crucial phase II reaction. It enhances the water solubility of substances, aiding their expulsion from the body. The driving force behind these reactions is a group of enzymes known as UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs). UGTs facilitate the transfer of a glucuronic acid...
1.7K
03:18Nuclear Stability
23.0K
Protons and neutrons, collectively called nucleons, are packed together tightly in a nucleus. With a radius of about 10−15 meters, a nucleus is quite small compared to the radius of the entire atom, which is about 10−10 meters. Nuclei are extremely dense compared to bulk matter, averaging 1.8 × 1014 grams per cubic centimeter. If the earth’s density were equal to the average nuclear density, the earth’s radius would be only about 200 meters.
To hold positively charged protons together...
To hold positively charged protons together...
23.0K
01:53RNA Stability
35.7K
Intact DNA strands can be found in fossils, while scientists sometimes struggle to keep RNA intact under laboratory conditions. The structural variations between RNA and DNA underlie the differences in their stability and longevity. Because DNA is double-stranded, it is inherently more stable. The single-stranded structure of RNA is less stable but also more flexible and can form weak internal bonds. Additionally, most RNAs in the cell are relatively short, while DNA can be up to 250 million...
35.7K
01:28Stability
405
The time response of a linear time-invariant (LTI) system can be divided into transient and steady-state responses. The transient response represents the system's initial reaction to a change in input and diminishes to zero over time. In contrast, the steady-state response is the behavior that persists after the transient effects have faded.
The stability of an LTI system is determined by the roots of its characteristic equation, known as poles. A system is stable if it produces a bounded...
The stability of an LTI system is determined by the roots of its characteristic equation, known as poles. A system is stable if it produces a bounded...
405