Glucuronuria in the Koala

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dc.contributor.authorMcLean, Stuart
dc.contributor.authorBrandon, Sue
dc.contributor.authorDavies, Noel
dc.contributor.authorBoyle, Rebecca
dc.contributor.authorFoley, William
dc.contributor.authorMoore, Ben
dc.contributor.authorPass, Georgia
dc.date.accessioned2015-12-13T23:16:19Z
dc.date.issued2003
dc.date.updated2015-12-12T08:47:39Z
dc.description.abstractGlucuronuria is normal in marsupial folivores such as the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus), which excretes 2-3 g glucuronic acid daily. Although this has long been attributed to the metabolites of Eucalyptus terpenes, we have found that these are mostly excreted in the unconjugated form. We now report on the aglycones that account for most of the glucuronic acid in koala urine. Urine (24 hr) was collected from six male koalas (8.8 ± 0.4 kg, mean ± SE) that were maintained on E. cephalocarpa foliage. Urine samples were analyzed by liquid and gas chromatography (LC and GC) coupled with mass spectrometry (MS). Glucuronides were readily identified by LC-MS/MS, which generated characteristic product ions at m/z 113 and 175. From the corresponding parent glucuronide ions, the masses of the aglycones were calculated. Confirmation of identity was by GC-MS after hydrolysis with β-glucuronidase and comparison with standard compounds. Quantitation was by GC. The major non-terpene aglycones were 4-methylcatechol, resorcinol, salicyl alcohol, and two unidentified C7H8O2 phenols. Smaller amounts of benzoic acid, benzyl alcohol, orcinol, pcresol, phenol, and phloroglucinol were detected. We have previously reported that terpene metabolites account for about 10% urinary glucuronides in the same koalas fed E. cephalocarpa. The present study found that an additional 60% urinary glucuronic acid is conjugated with non-terpene, mainly phenolic, aglycones. It seems likely that these phenolic compounds are present in leaves as glycosides and are chiefly responsible for the glucuronuria in koalas.
dc.identifier.issn0098-0331
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1885/89349
dc.publisherPlenum Publishing Corporation
dc.sourceJournal of Chemical Ecology
dc.subjectKeywords: 4 methylcatechol; benzoic acid derivative; beta glucuronidase; glucuronic acid; phenol derivative; resorcinol; saligenin; terpene; chemical ecology; marsupial; urine; article; bear; detoxification; Eucalyptus; excretion; foliage; gas chromatography; hydro Detoxification; Eucalyptus; Glucuronic acid; Koala; Phascolarctos cinereus; Phenolics; Terpenes
dc.titleGlucuronuria in the Koala
dc.typeJournal article
local.bibliographicCitation.issue6
local.bibliographicCitation.lastpage1477
local.bibliographicCitation.startpage1465
local.contributor.affiliationMcLean, Stuart, University of Tasmania
local.contributor.affiliationBrandon, Sue, University of Tasmania
local.contributor.affiliationDavies, Noel, University of Cambridge
local.contributor.affiliationBoyle, Rebecca, University of Tasmania
local.contributor.affiliationFoley, William, College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, ANU
local.contributor.affiliationMoore, Ben, College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, ANU
local.contributor.affiliationPass, Georgia, University of Tasmania
local.contributor.authoremailu9616309@anu.edu.au
local.contributor.authoruidFoley, William, u9616309
local.contributor.authoruidMoore, Ben, u9707086
local.description.embargo2037-12-31
local.description.notesImported from ARIES
local.description.refereedYes
local.identifier.absfor060604 - Comparative Physiology
local.identifier.absfor060699 - Physiology not elsewhere classified
local.identifier.ariespublicationMigratedxPub19338
local.identifier.citationvolume29
local.identifier.doi10.1023/A:1024273722192
local.identifier.scopusID2-s2.0-0037490900
local.identifier.uidSubmittedByMigrated
local.type.statusPublished Version

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