Epoxide Hydrolase

Epoxide hydrolase is an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of epoxides, converting them into diols. This reaction is crucial for detoxifying epoxides, which are reactive and potentially harmful compounds produced during the metabolism of various xenobiotics and endogenous compounds, including the metabolism of aromatic compounds and the breakdown of polyunsaturated fatty acids. By converting epoxides to less reactive diols, epoxide hydrolase plays a significant role in the body’s defensive mechanisms against chemical-induced toxicity and carcinogenesis. There are two main types of epoxide hydrolases: microsomal and soluble epoxide hydrolase, each contributing to different pathways and functions within cellular metabolism and detoxification processes.