Biomaterial Database

Side-chain cleavage of C21 steroids by testicular microsomal cytochrome P-450 (17 alpha-hydroxylase/lyase): involvement of heme. 1983

S Nakajin, and P F Hall

The two steps in the side-chain cleavage of C21 steroids to give C19 steroids (i.e. 17 alpha-hydroxylation and C17,20 lyase activity) were examined using a highly purified cytochrome P-450 from microsomes of neonatal pig testis to determine the photochemical action spectra for the two reactions. Photochemical action spectra, using either 4-ene (progesterone) or 5-ene (pregnenolone) substrates, showed maximal reversal of inhibition by CO with light of 451 nm. Evidently the heme of cytochrome P-450 is involved in both 17 alpha-hydroxylation and in C17,20-lyase activity as in the case of the side-chain cleavage of cholesterol. Mechanisms proposed to account for enzymatic cleavage of the alpha-ketol side-chain of C21 steroids (C17,20 lyase activity) must be consistent with these findings.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008861	Microsomes	Artifactual vesicles formed from the endoplasmic reticulum when cells are disrupted. They are isolated by differential centrifugation and are composed of three structural features: rough vesicles, smooth vesicles, and ribosomes. Numerous enzyme activities are associated with the microsomal fraction. (Glick, Glossary of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 1990; from Rieger et al., Glossary of Genetics: Classical and Molecular, 5th ed)	Microsome
D002248	Carbon Monoxide	Carbon monoxide (CO). A poisonous colorless, odorless, tasteless gas. It combines with hemoglobin to form carboxyhemoglobin, which has no oxygen carrying capacity. The resultant oxygen deprivation causes headache, dizziness, decreased pulse and respiratory rates, unconsciousness, and death. (From Merck Index, 11th ed)	Monoxide, Carbon
D003577	Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System	A superfamily of hundreds of closely related HEMEPROTEINS found throughout the phylogenetic spectrum, from animals, plants, fungi, to bacteria. They include numerous complex monooxygenases (MIXED FUNCTION OXYGENASES). In animals, these P-450 enzymes serve two major functions: (1) biosynthesis of steroids, fatty acids, and bile acids; (2) metabolism of endogenous and a wide variety of exogenous substrates, such as toxins and drugs (BIOTRANSFORMATION). They are classified, according to their sequence similarities rather than functions, into CYP gene families (>40% homology) and subfamilies (>59% homology). For example, enzymes from the CYP1, CYP2, and CYP3 gene families are responsible for most drug metabolism.	Cytochrome P-450,Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme,Cytochrome P-450-Dependent Monooxygenase,P-450 Enzyme,P450 Enzyme,CYP450 Family,CYP450 Superfamily,Cytochrome P-450 Enzymes,Cytochrome P-450 Families,Cytochrome P-450 Monooxygenase,Cytochrome P-450 Oxygenase,Cytochrome P-450 Superfamily,Cytochrome P450,Cytochrome P450 Superfamily,Cytochrome p450 Families,P-450 Enzymes,P450 Enzymes,Cytochrome P 450,Cytochrome P 450 Dependent Monooxygenase,Cytochrome P 450 Enzyme,Cytochrome P 450 Enzyme System,Cytochrome P 450 Enzymes,Cytochrome P 450 Families,Cytochrome P 450 Monooxygenase,Cytochrome P 450 Oxygenase,Cytochrome P 450 Superfamily,Enzyme, Cytochrome P-450,Enzyme, P-450,Enzyme, P450,Enzymes, Cytochrome P-450,Enzymes, P-450,Enzymes, P450,Monooxygenase, Cytochrome P-450,Monooxygenase, Cytochrome P-450-Dependent,P 450 Enzyme,P 450 Enzymes,P-450 Enzyme, Cytochrome,P-450 Enzymes, Cytochrome,Superfamily, CYP450,Superfamily, Cytochrome P-450,Superfamily, Cytochrome P450
D006418	Heme	The color-furnishing portion of hemoglobin. It is found free in tissues and as the prosthetic group in many hemeproteins.	Ferroprotoporphyrin,Protoheme,Haem,Heme b,Protoheme IX
D000446	Aldehyde-Lyases	Enzymes that catalyze a reverse aldol condensation. A molecule containing a hydroxyl group and a carbonyl group is cleaved at a C-C bond to produce two smaller molecules (ALDEHYDES or KETONES). EC 4.1.2.	Aldolases,Aldehyde Lyases
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013250	Steroid Hydroxylases	Cytochrome P-450 monooxygenases (MIXED FUNCTION OXYGENASES) that are important in steroid biosynthesis and metabolism.	Steroid Hydroxylase,Steroid Monooxygenases,Hydroxylase, Steroid,Hydroxylases, Steroid,Monooxygenases, Steroid
D013254	Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase	A microsomal cytochrome P450 enzyme that catalyzes the 17-alpha-hydroxylation of progesterone or pregnenolone and subsequent cleavage of the residual two carbons at C17 in the presence of molecular oxygen and NADPH-FERRIHEMOPROTEIN REDUCTASE. This enzyme, encoded by CYP17 gene, generates precursors for glucocorticoid, androgen, and estrogen synthesis. Defects in CYP17 gene cause congenital adrenal hyperplasia (ADRENAL HYPERPLASIA, CONGENITAL) and abnormal sexual differentiation.	17 alpha-Hydroxylase,17,20-Lyase,CYP17,Cytochrome P-450(17 alpha),P450(c17),Steroid 17 alpha-Monooxygenase,Steroid 17-Hydroxylase,Steroid 17-Monooxygenase,17 alpha-Hydroxylase Cytochrome P-450,17 alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone Aldolase,17,20-Desmolase,Cytochrome P-450(17-alpha),Cytochrome P450(17 alpha),Hydroxyprogesterone Aldolase,Steroid 17 alpha-Hydroxylase,Steroid-17-Hydroxylase,17 alpha Hydroxylase,17 alpha Hydroxylase Cytochrome P 450,17 alpha Hydroxyprogesterone Aldolase,17 alpha-Hydroxylase, Steroid,17 alpha-Monooxygenase, Steroid,17,20 Desmolase,17,20 Lyase,17-Hydroxylase, Steroid,17-Monooxygenase, Steroid,17-alpha-Hydroxylase, Steroid,Aldolase, 17 alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone,Aldolase, Hydroxyprogesterone,Steroid 17 Hydroxylase,Steroid 17 Monooxygenase,Steroid 17 alpha Hydroxylase,Steroid 17 alpha Monooxygenase,alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone Aldolase, 17,alpha-Monooxygenase, Steroid 17
D013256	Steroids	A group of polycyclic compounds closely related biochemically to TERPENES. They include cholesterol, numerous hormones, precursors of certain vitamins, bile acids, alcohols (STEROLS), and certain natural drugs and poisons. Steroids have a common nucleus, a fused, reduced 17-carbon atom ring system, cyclopentanoperhydrophenanthrene. Most steroids also have two methyl groups and an aliphatic side-chain attached to the nucleus. (From Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, 11th ed)	Steroid,Catatoxic Steroids,Steroids, Catatoxic