UGT2B15
UDP glucuronosyltransferase family 2 member B15
Theoretical — per Powers
Gene summary
A protein-coding gene on chromosome 4 (steroid conjugation and clearance). Encodes a glycosyltransferase that is invovled in the metabolism and elimination of toxic compounts, both endogenous and of xenobiotic origin. This gene plays a role in the regulation of estrogens and androgens.
Source: NCBI Gene, accessed 2026-10-07.
Protein reference (UniProt)
- Protein
UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 2B15
- Function
UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) that catalyzes phase II biotransformation reactions in which lipophilic substrates are conjugated with glucuronic acid to increase the metabolite's water solubility, thereby facilitating excretion into either the urine or bile. Essential for the elimination and detoxification of drugs, xenobiotics and endogenous compounds. Catalyzes the glucuronidation of endogenous steroid hormones such as androgens (testosterone, androsterone) and estrogens (estradiol, epiestradiol, estriol, catechol estrogens). Displays glucuronidation activity toward several classes of xenobiotic substrates, including phenolic compounds (eugenol, 4-nitrophenol, 4-hydroxybiphenyl) and phenylpropanoids (naringenin, coumarins). Catalyzes the glucuronidation of monoterpenoid alcohols such as borneol, menthol and isomenthol, a class of natural compounds used in essential oils (By similarity).
- Subcellular location
Endoplasmic reticulum membrane.
- Tissue specificity
Expressed in many tissues. Present in liver, prostate and testis.
Source: UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot P54855, release 2026_03, licensed CC BY 4.0. This is the protein’s normal biology, not evidence about post-drug syndromes; associated conditions are inherited disorders of the gene, not PFS, PSSD or PRSD.
Why its pathway is in the library
Steroid clearance is the exit route for androgens and their metabolites — the pathway at the center of Powers' PFS model (defective glucuronidation/sulfation trapping androgens intracellularly). Gut bacterial enzymes can undo this clearance, linking it to the microbiome thread.
Written for the whole conjugation & clearance family, not for UGT2B15 specifically.
Powers’ note (his unpublished theorizing)
Named by Powers (DWP-003, unpublished) as a secondary (“minor”) glucuronidation exit whose defects can compound a UGT2B17 defect.
Narrative library record
Function
Androgen-conjugating UGT expressed in liver, prostate, adipose, skin, and other tissues; glucuronidates DHT, androsterone, and androstane-3-alpha,17-beta-diol, directly terminating their activity and marking them for urinary excretion.
Corpus relevance
The most directly relevant UGT for Powers' model: it clears exactly the androgens at issue (DHT, androsterone, 3-alpha-diol), and defective UGT2B15 activity would produce the near-zero urinary androgen pattern he reports on DUTCH testing (DWP-002). Attribution: theoretical-per-Powers.
Powers’ claims naming UGT2B15
- Powers gene claim
UGT2B15; UGT2B7 — defective (minor)
Confidence: direct
Defects in these secondary glucuronidation enzymes can compound the UGT2B17 defect, further reducing testosterone exit capacity.
UGT2B15UGT2B17UGT2B7PGL-UGT2B15-UGT2B7circa May 2026PFS
Mentioned in 11 corpus records
- Powers · Reddit post
I think I have figured out at least one specific phenotype of PFS, and it is different from the "allopregnanolone" theory
u/drwillpowers · r/DrWillPowers
Powers' key genetics-first post: he proposed a specific PFS phenotype whose "base, core defect" is defective UGT2B17, disabling testosterone's main glucuronidation exit pathway. Carriers show shockingly low 3α-androstanediol glucuronide and near-zero urinary…
AKR1C1AKR1C2AKR1C3AKR1C4HSD17B2+3DWP-0032026PFSCore corpus - Powers · Reddit commentCurated Powers pick
Re: Had another random pssdpfs thought about the…
u/drwillpowers · r/DrWillPowers
Reply to a community member's glucuronidation-theory thought about sulfation labs. Powers notes the discussed factor interacts with androgen production and ABCC-family transporters (he believes ABCB1 specifically, with the caveat that he read it long ago)…
ABCB1LRP2UGT2B15UGT2B17UGT2B7PRH-13982026-04-01T15:22:34ZPFSPSSDPowers Reddit history - Peer-reviewed paperPSSD Discord pick
Multiple roles for UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT)2B15 and UGT2B17 enzymes in androgen metabolism and prostate cancer evolution
Gauthier-Landry L, Bélanger A, Barbier O · Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Review of two glucuronidation enzymes, UGT2B15 and UGT2B17, that convert DHT metabolites (3α-diol and androsterone) into inactive, easily excreted glucuronide conjugates. It describes how these enzymes control local androgen availability and androgen-receptor…
ARUGT2B15UGT2B17DISC-0032015 (epub 2014)PFSPSSD Discord picks - Peer-reviewed paper
UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 2B15 (UGT2B15) and UGT2B17 enzymes are major determinants of the androgen response
Sarah Chouinard; Olivier Barbier; Alain Bélanger · Journal of Biological Chemistry
The UGT2B15 and UGT2B17 enzymes conjugate dihydrotestosterone and its metabolites androstane-3α,17β-diol and androsterone. Both enzymes are present in epithelial cells of the human prostate, where significant concentrations of the corresponding glucuronides…
UGT2B15UGT2B17MECH-0492007Systems review · Oct 2026 - Gene recordPowers’ theory
UGT1A1 — UDP glucuronosyltransferase family 1 member A1
chromosome 2 (2q37 region; 233.76-233.77 Mb GRCh38)
UDP-glucuronosyltransferase that conjugates glucuronic acid onto lipophilic molecules - steroids, bilirubin, hormones, drugs - converting them to water-soluble, excretable metabolites. Over 100 described variants alter its activity (for example, Gilbert…
ABCC2ABCC3UGT1A1UGT2B15UGT2B17+1GENE-UGT1A1PFSCore corpus - Gene recordPowers’ theory
UGT2B7 — UDP glucuronosyltransferase family 2 member B7
chromosome 4 (UGT2B gene cluster, 4q13 region)
Broad-specificity glucuronosyltransferase of the UGT2B cluster that conjugates steroid hormones and many drugs for excretion; handles a wide substrate range including opioids and NSAIDs alongside endogenous steroids.
ABCC2UGT1A1UGT2B15UGT2B17UGT2B7GENE-UGT2B7Core corpus - Gene recordPowers’ theory
Steroid-glucuronidating enzyme of extrahepatic tissues (notably prostate) that conjugates C19 steroids including DHT, androsterone, and 3-alpha-diol; notable for common copy-number variation (whole-gene deletion is frequent) associated in the literature with…
ABCC3UGT1A1UGT2B15UGT2B17UGT2B7GENE-UGT2B17PFSCore corpus - Gene recordPowers’ theory
Apical membrane efflux pump (MRP2) of liver, kidney, and intestine that exports organic anions - including bilirubin glucuronides and drug conjugates - out of cells for elimination. Loss causes Dubin-Johnson syndrome; polymorphisms alter drug pharmacokinetics.
ABCC2ABCC3UGT1A1UGT2B15UGT2B17GENE-ABCC2Core corpus - Gene recordPowers’ theory
Basolateral membrane efflux pump (MRP3) of liver, intestine, kidney, adrenals, and pancreas that exports organic anions - bile constituents, bilirubin glucuronides, steroid conjugates - into blood for renal elimination; upregulated when ABCC2 fails, showing…
ABCC2ABCC3UGT2B15UGT2B17GENE-ABCC3Core corpus - Gene recordPowers’ theory
Cytosolic sulfotransferase expressed in liver and adrenal glands that catalyzes the sulfation of steroids and bile acids, converting them into water-soluble sulfate conjugates for excretion; variants are studied for effects on circulating DHEA-sulfate levels.
HSD17B2SLCO1B1SULT2A1UGT2B15UGT2B17+1GENE-SULT2A1PFSCore corpus - Gene recordPowers’ theory
Encodes OATP1B1, the sodium-independent organic-anion transporter on liver cell membranes that moves bilirubin, hormones, toxins, and many drugs from blood into the liver for clearance; biallelic loss together with SLCO1B3 causes Rotor syndrome (conjugated…
ABCC2ABCC3SLCO1B1SLCO1B3UGT1A1+2GENE-SLCO1B1PFSCore corpus
Also in steroid conjugation and clearance
All 31 genes- UGT2B17Powers
UDP glucuronosyltransferase family 2 member B17
chr 4· Conjugation & clearance· 30 records - AKR1C2Powers
aldo-keto reductase family 1 member C2
chr 10· Steroid synthesis· 12 records - UGT2B7Powers
UDP glucuronosyltransferase family 2 member B7
chr 4· Conjugation & clearance· 11 records - AKR1C3Powers
aldo-keto reductase family 1 member C3
chr 10· Steroid synthesis· 9 records - AKR1C4Powers
aldo-keto reductase family 1 member C4
chr 10· Steroid synthesis· 8 records - AKR1C1Powers
aldo-keto reductase family 1 member C1
chr 10· Steroid synthesis· 7 records - SULT2A1Powers
sulfotransferase family 2A member 1
chr 19· Conjugation & clearance· 7 records - UGT1A1Powers
UDP glucuronosyltransferase family 1 member A1
chr 2· Conjugation & clearance· 7 records
Browse by family on the gene families page.