Carboxylesterase (CE) reaction phenotyping assay

Understand if your compound is a substrate of carboxylesterases.

Carboxylesterase (CE) reaction phenotyping is a non-CYP mediated metabolism assay within our portfolio of in vitro ADME screening services. Cyprotex deliver consistent, high quality data with the flexibility to adapt protocols based on specific customer requirements.

Determining potential metabolism by carboxylesterase enzymes

Human carboxylesterases (CE) are Phase I drug-metabolizing enzymes of the serine hydrolase superfamily. They hydrolyze a variety of ester containing drugs and prodrugs.
hCE1 and hCE2 are the most extensively studied of the human CEs. They differ in their substrate specificity and tissue distribution. hCE1 is expressed in many organs especially in the liver, with low expression in the gastrointestinal tract. hCE2 protein is also expressed in many extrahepatic tissues, especially in the gastrointestinal tract and at lower levels in the liver.
To improve oral bioavailability, ester prodrugs are often designed so they can be hydrolyzed by carboxylesterases either in the intestine or the liver with the intention of liberating the active drug.
Cyprotex’s carboxylesterase reaction phenotyping assay identifies if your compound is a substrate for carboxylesterase enzymes.

Of the enzymes involved in phase I reactions, cytochrome P450 enzymes play a pivotal role in drug metabolism (i.e. approximately 75% of clinically used drugs), followed by esterases, which contribute to the metabolism of 10% of the clinical, therapeutic drugs that contain ester, amide and thioester bonds.

¹Fukami T. and Yokoi T. (2012), Drug Metab Pharmacokinet 27(5); 466-477

Protocol

Carboxylesterase (CE) reaction phenotyping assay protocol

Test Systems*	hCE1-b, hCE1-c, hCE2 expressed enzymes, or Human liver/intestinal microsomes incubated with and without CE inhibitor
Test Article Concentration	1 µM
Positive Control Substrates	Trandolapril (hCE1 substrate) Irinotecan (hCE2 substrate, monitoring for formation of 7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin)
Test Article Requirements	100 µL of a 10 mM DMSO solution (or equivalent amount in solid)
Analysis Method	LC-MS/MS
Data Delivery	Parent compound remaining at each time point for each isoform Half life Standard error of half life

*Alternative species or enzyme sources (i.e. plasma, blood) are available on request. We also have experience in evaluating other esterase mediated metabolism such as paraoxonase and butyrylcholinesterase metabolism.

Data

Data from the carboxylesterase (CE) reaction phenotyping assay

Figure 1
Assessment of CE probe substrates trandolapril (hCE1 substrate), oseltamivir (hCE1 substrate) and procaine (hCE2 substrate) in different enzyme sources.

Figure 2
Human liver microsomal intrinsic clearance of the hCE1 substrate, trandolapril, in the presence of NADPH over a 45 min time course and in the absence of NADPH at 45 min, incubated with and without benzil (non-specific CE inhibitor).

By evaluating the metabolism of trandolapril in the presence and absence of the cofactor NADPH and in the presence and absence of benzil, it is possible to identify the relevance of CYP and non-CYP (i.e., carboxylesterase) mediated metabolism. In the absence of CYP activity, trandolapril is more rapidly cleared via carboxylesterase metabolism.

References

¹ Fukami T and Yokoi T. (2012) The emerging roles of human esterases. Drug Metab Pharmacokinet 27(5); 466-477
² Imai T. (2006) Human carboxylesterase isozymes: catalytic properties and rational drug design. Drug Metab Pharmacokinet 21(3); 173-185