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J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol

Title:		Cytochrome P-450 C21scc: one enzyme with two actions: hydroxylase and lyase
Author(s):		Hall PF;
Address:		"Department of Medicine, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, University of New South Wales, Kensington, Australia"
Journal Title:		J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol
Year:		1991
Volume:		40
Issue:		4-Jun
Page Number:		527 - 532
DOI:		10.1016/0960-0760(91)90272-7
ISSN/ISBN:		0960-0760 (Print) 0960-0760 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Testis, adrenal, ovary and placenta contain a microsomal cytochrome P-450 that is capable of converting progesterone to androstenedione and pregnenolone to dehydroepiandrosterone. This conversion requires 17 alpha-hydroxylation followed by C17,20-lyase activity which are both catalyzed by this one protein. Gene cloning and Northern blotting reveal that, at least in man, the same gene is responsible for both testicular and adrenal enzymes. The enzyme was first purified from neonatal pig testis. Both the testicular and adrenal enzymes show a marked preference for the 5-ene substrate (pregnenolone) in keeping with the extensive use of the 5-ene pathway in that species. Affinity alkylation with 17 alpha-bromoacetoxyprogesterone reveals a conserved cysteine at the active site of the enzyme and confirms the conclusion that a single enzyme catalyzes both reactions. Under some circumstances the enzyme catalyzes only 17 alpha-hydroxylation to permit the formation of the C21 steroid cortisol. The regulation of lyase activity, i.e. the determination of the extent to which the second activity is expressed, results from the availability of P-450 reductase. No doubt the greater concentration of this protein in testicular as opposed to adrenal microsomes (x 3.5) is responsible for the production of androgens in the testis and cortisol in the adrenal. Testicular cytochrome b5 also specifically stimulates lyase activity and also causes the porcine enzyme to catalyze a new reaction, i.e. delta 16-synthetase, resulting in synthesis of the important pheromone androsta-4,16-dien-3-one from progesterone"
Keywords:		Adrenal Glands/enzymology Animals Binding Sites Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme/*physiology Cytochromes b5/metabolism Male Microsomes/enzymology Pregnenolone/metabolism Progesterone/metabolism Substrate Specificity Swine Testis/*enzymology;
Notes:		"MedlineHall, P F eng DK38363/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/ Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. Review England 1991/01/01 J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 1991; 40(4-6):527-32. doi: 10.1016/0960-0760(91)90272-7"