Background: Glucuronidation by the UDP glucuronosyltransferase 1A enzymes (UGT1As) is a major pathway for elimination of drugs and endogenous substances, such as bilirubin.
Objective: To identify the baboon UGT1A gene family, compare it with that of the human, and evaluate the baboon as a model for human glucuronidation.
Methods And Results: Aligning the human and baboon UGT1 loci identified rearrangements occurring since the divergence of baboons and humans.