Nomenclature Guidelines

Nomenclature Guidelines

UGT genes

New UGT genes are named according to the HUGO Gene Nomenclature Guidelines as currently recommended in this paper:

Nomenclature update for the mammalian UDP glycosyltransferase (UGT) gene superfamily. Mackenzie PI, Bock KW, Burchell B, Guillemette C, Ikushiro S, Iyanagi T, Miners JO, Owens IS, Nebert DW. Pharmacogenet Genomics. 2005 Oct;15(10):677-85.

…which updated the process described here…

The UDP glycosyltransferase gene superfamily: recommended nomenclature update based on evolutionary divergence. Mackenzie PI, Owens IS, Burchell B, Bock KW, Bairoch A, Bélanger A, Fournel-Gigleux S, Green M, Hum DW, Iyanagi T, Lancet D, Louisot P, Magdalou J, Chowdhury JR, Ritter JK, Schachter H, Tephly TR, Tipton KF, Nebert DW. Pharmacogenetics. 1997 Aug;7(4):255-69.

…and before that described here…

The UDP glucuronosyltransferase gene superfamily: suggested nomenclature based on evolutionary divergence. Burchell B, Nebert DW, Nelson DR, Bock KW, Iyanagi T, Jansen PL, Lancet D, Mulder GJ, Chowdhury JR, Siest G, et al. DNA Cell Biol. 1991 Sep;10(7):487-94.

UGT families are grouped by Kingdom with reserved number ranges as follows:

Additional Information

UGT families are grouped by Kingdom with reserved number ranges as follows:
KingdomReserved Number Ranges 
AnimalsUGTs 1 - 50and 201 - 500; 2001 - 5000; etc
Fungi/YeastUGTs 51 - 70and 501 - 700; 5001 - 7000; etc
PlantsUGTs 71 - 100and 701 - 1000; 7001 - 10000; etc
BacteriaUGTs 101 - 200and 1001 - 2000; 10001 - 20000; etc
  • UGT families (indicated by first number) show ~45% or greater amino acid sequence identity
  • UGT sub-families (indicated by letter/s following family number) show ~60% or greater amino acid sequence identity
  • Do not use letters “I” or “O” for subfamily since they can be confused with numbers “1” and “o”.
  • UGT genes (indicated by number following subfamily letter) show ~100% identity
  • Slightly less than 100% identity may be found for allelic variants (same gene).

Note: These family and subfamily percent identity cut-offs are only considered guidelines.  Adherence to these limits tends to change over time often in an attempt to cluster similar families and subfamilies as the numbers of available sequences in each group has grown.

Human UGT Alleles

Human UGT alleles are named by a subcommittee of the UGT nomenclature committee chaired by Dr. Chantal Guillemette.  Specific information regarding human UGT allele nomenclature can be found at the Laval University website.

Please contact Dr. Guillemette for more information on naming new human UGT alleles.