Editing Omeprazole (section)

==== Bioactivation ====
As with all structually-similar benzimidazole [[proton pump inhibitor]]s, omeprazole is a [[prodrug]]. A basic molecule, it accumulates in the acidic [[canaliculus (parietal cell)|canaliculi]] of [[parietal cells]] in a protonated form where the S=O group becomes S-OH, which in turn is interconvertible with an achiral, reactive [[sulfonamide]] form. The sulfonamide form is able to attach onto the [[cysteine]] residue on the H<sup>+</sup>/K<sup>+</sup>-ATPase, thereby irreversibly inhibiting it.<ref name=Huttunen>{{cite journal | vauthors = Huttunen KM, Raunio H, Rautio J | title = Prodrugs--from serendipity to rational design | journal = Pharmacological Reviews | volume = 63 | issue = 3 | pages = 750–771 | date = September 2011 | pmid = 21737530 | doi = 10.1124/pr.110.003459 }}</ref>

: [[File:Omeprazole Mechanism V1.svg|class=skin-invert-image|500px|Omeprazol rearrangement in the body]]

This process is not affected by chirality, by AstraZeneca's own admission.<ref name="www1.astrazeneca-us.com">{{cite web | url = http://www1.astrazeneca-us.com/pi/Nexium.pdf | title = Nexium Prescribing Information | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091008000830/http://www1.astrazeneca-us.com/pi/Nexium.pdf | archive-date=8 October 2009 | publisher = AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals }}</ref>