What is your enzyme missing?
O-linked and N-linked glucuronides require different conditions for complete hydrolysis. Most β-glucuronidases are optimized for only one type.
Not All Glucuronide Bonds Hydrolyze The Same Way
- Glucuronides exist in two forms: N-linked and O-linked
- O-linked glucuronides (morphine, codeine, oxymorphone) connect through an oxygen group and require pH 5.0-7.0
- N-linked glucuronides (amitriptyline, nortriptyline, imipramine) connect through a nitrogen group and require pH 7.0-9.0
If your enzyme doesn’t cover both N-linked and O-linked glucuronides, it’s not finishing the job, and your results reflect that. You need an enzyme that is engineered to cover both linkage types, eliminating the critical gap that single-enzyme products leave behind.
Download this poster presentation, which compares the activities of commercially available β-glucuronidase enzymes on O-linked and N-linked drug glucuronides in different pH buffers.
An Enzyme That Can Hydrolyze Both Linkage Types
IMCSzyme® RT combines engineered β-glucuronidase variants selected for coverage across both linkage types, so more glucuronides are detected at confirmation.