P450 enzymes in steroid processing

Abstract:

Steroid hormones are a group of biomolecules with similar structures derived from the common four-ring carbon skeleton of cholesterol. Individual steroid molecules possess a diverse range of biological activities, which derive from the subtle structural changes imposed by differences in the number of carbon atoms (21, 19, or 18) and sites of oxygenation. The process of cholesterol oxidation to steroid hormones is organized and sequential, forming the basis for steroidogenic pathways. The cytochrome P450 enzymes are the dominant catalysts that define these pathways and restrict steroid flux in the various steroidogenic cell types. The various vitamin D metabolites, which derive from 7-dehydrocholesterol and have an open B ring, also follow P450-dominated pathways to active or inactive compounds. Steroidogenesis differs from most other processes involving cytochrome P450 enzymes in that different diseases result from genetic deficiencies in each of these enzymes, and that many of these enzymes are mitochondrial (type I) P450s. This chapter reviews the key P450 enzymes and pathways to the various steroids. It begins with a historical perspective and a discussion of the biological classifications of steroid hormones.

Año de publicación:

2015

Keywords:

Fuente:

scopus