NAD(P)H : quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1): chemoprotection, bioactivation,gene regulation and genetic polymorphisms

NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) is an obligate two-electron reducta se that is involved in chemoprotection and can also bioactivate certain ant itumor quinones, This review focuses on detoxification reactions catalyzed by NQO1 and its role in antioxidant defense via the generation of antioxida nt forms of ubiquinone and vitamin E, Bioactivation reactions catalyzed by NQO1 are also summarized and the development of new antitumor agents for th e therapy of solid tumors with marked NQO1 content is reviewed. NQO1 gene r egulation and the role of the antioxidant response element and the xenobiot ic response element in transcriptional regulation is summarized. An overvie w of genetic polymorphisms in NQO1 is presented and biological significance for chemoprotection, cancer susceptibility and antitumor drug action is di scussed. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.