Sparteine metabolism was studied in human liver microsomes from nine extensive ([EM] urinary metabolic ratio [MR] less than 20) and four poor metabolizers ([PM] MR greater than 20). The formation of 2- and 5-dehydrospartein displayed monophasic Michaelis-Menten kinetics. In livers from PMs the formation of the major sparteine metabolite 2-dehydrosparteine was characterized by more than a thirtyfold increase in Michaelis-Menten constant (Km)(1880 +/- 1044 mumol/L) as compared with EM subjects with an MR less than 1 (58.3 +/- 38.8 mumol/L). EM subjects with an MR greater than 3 who may constitute heterozygous metabolizers showed Km values in between (658 +/- 301 mumol/L). There was no difference in maximum rate of metabolism (Vmax) of 2-dehydrosparteine formation between EM and PM subjects (101 +/- 39 vs. 86 +/- 52 pmol/min/mg). The formation of 5-dehydrosparteine exhibited a Km of 100 +/- 123 mumol/L similar to the Km of 2-dehydrosparteine formation. The urinary MR correlated positively with the Km for 2-dehydrosparteine formation. The intrinsic clearance for 2-dehydrosparteine showed a highly significant negative correlation with the MR. The pronounced differences in Km together with the significant correlation between Km and MR with no marked differences in Vmax between phenotypes suggest that the impaired oxidation capacity in PM subjects is more likely the result of a P-450 isozyme with altered catalytic properties rather than a decreased amount of enzyme.