Application

Microsomes from Liver, Pooled has been used in cell survival and mutation assays in Escherichia coli.

Microsomes from Liver, Pooled has been also been used to study the metabolic stability of antitumor agents and tunicamycin.

Biochem/physiol Actions

Liver microsomes are subcellular particles derived from the endoplasmic reticulum of hepatic cells. These microsomes are a rich source of drug metabolizing enzymes, including cytochrome P-450. Microsome pools from various sources are useful in the study of xenobiotic metabolism and drug interactions.

Microsomes might act as cell organelles and are actively involved in protein synthesis. Carbon monoxide-binding pigment of microsomes, named P-450, is an integral element of mixed function oxidase systems involved in the oxidative demethylation and hydroxylation of drugs and steroids. Murine liver microsomes plays a crucial role in degradation of small antimicrobial β^2,2-amino acid derivatives.

General description

Microsomes are the fraction of "submicroscopic” particles isolated from homogenates of liver and other tissues. Microsomes are rich in ribonucleic acid (RNA).