Steroidogenesis entails processes by which cholesterol is converted to biologically active steroid hormones. Whereas most endocrine texts discuss adrenal, ovarian, testicular, placental, and other steroidogenic processes in a gland-specific fashion, steroidogenesis is better understood as a single process that is repeated in each gland with cell-type-specific variations on a single theme. Thus, understanding steroidogenesis is rooted in an understanding of the biochemistry of the various steroidogenic enzymes and cofactors and the genes that encode them. The first and rate-limiting step in steroidogenesis is the conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone by a single enzyme, P450scc (CYP11A1), but this enzymatically complex step is subject to multiple regulatory mechanisms, yielding finely tuned quantitative regulation. Qualitative regulation determining the type of steroid to be produced is mediated by many enzymes and cofactors. Steroidogenic enzymes fall into two groups: cytochrome P450 enzymes and hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases. A cytochrome P450 may be either type 1 (in mitochondria) or type 2 (in endoplasmic reticulum), and a hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase may belong to either the aldo-keto reductase or short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase families. The activities of these enzymes are modulated by posttranslational modifications and by cofactors, especially electron-donating redox partners. The elucidation of the precise roles of these various enzymes and cofactors has been greatly facilitated by identifying the genetic bases of rare disorders of steroidogenesis. Some enzymes not principally involved in steroidogenesis may also catalyze extraglandular steroidogenesis, modulating the phenotype expected to result from some mutations. Understanding steroidogenesis is of fundamental importance to understanding disorders of sexual differentiation, reproduction, fertility, hypertension, obesity, and physiological homeostasis.

The molecular biology, biochemistry, and physiology of human steroidogenesis and its disorders.

Significant advances have taken place in our knowledge of the enzymes involved in steroid hormone biosynthesis since the last comprehensive review in 1988. Major developments include the cloning, identification, and characterization of multiple isoforms of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, which play a critical role in the biosynthesis of all steroid hormones and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase where specific isoforms are essential for the final step in active steroid hormone biosynthesis. Advances have taken place in our understanding of the unique manner that determines tissue-specific expression of P450aromatase through the utilization of alternative promoters. In recent years, evidence has been obtained for the expression of steroidogenic enzymes in the nervous system and in cardiac tissue, indicating that these tissues may be involved in the biosynthesis of steroid hormones acting in an autocrine or paracrine manner. This review presents a detailed description of the enzymes involved in the biosynthe...

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Dale_Buck_Hales/publication/8144948_Overview_of_steroidogenic_enzymes_in_the_pathway_from_cholesterol_to_active_steroid_hormones/links/02e7e5249ac2529059000000.pdf

Overview of Steroidogenic Enzymes in the Pathway from Cholesterol to Active Steroid Hormones

In the mammalian embryo, both sexes are initially morphologically indistinguishable: specific hormones are required for sex-specific development. Mullerian inhibiting substance and testosterone secreted by the differentiating embryonic testes result in the loss of female (Mullerian) or promotion of male (Wolffian) reproductive duct development, respectively. The signalling molecule Wnt-4 is crucial for female sexual development. At birth, sexual development in males with a mutation in Wnt-4 appears to be normal; however, Wnt-4-mutant females are masculinized—the Mullerian duct is absent while the Wolffian duct continues to develop. Wnt-4 is initially required in both sexes for formation of the Mullerian duct, then Wnt-4 in the developing ovary appears to suppress the development of Leydig cells; consequently, Wnt-4-mutant females ectopically activate testosterone biosynthesis. Wnt-4 may also be required for maintenance of the female germ line. Thus, the establishment of sexual dimorphism is under the control of both local and systemic signals.

Female development in mammals is regulated by Wnt-4 signalling

Short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases (SDR) constitute a large protein family. Presently, at least 57 characterized, highly different enzymes belong to this family and typically exhibit residue identities only at the 15-30% level, indicating early duplicatory origins and extensive divergence. In addition, another family of 22 enzymes with extended protein chains exhibits part-chain SDR relationships and represents enzymes of no less than three EC classes. Furthermore, subforms and species variants are known of both families. In the combined SDR superfamily, only one residue is strictly conserved and ascribed a crucial enzymatic function (Tyr 151 in the numbering system of human NAD(+)-linked prostaglandin dehydrogenase). Such a function for this Tyr residue in SDR enzymes in general is supported also by chemical modifications, site-directed mutagenesis, and an active site position in those tertiary structures that have been characterized. A lysine residue four residues downstream is also largely conserved. A model for catalysis is available on the basis of these two residues. Binding of the coenzyme, NAD(H) or NADP(H), is in the N-terminal part of the molecules, where a common GlyXXXGlyXGly pattern occurs. Two SDR enzymes established by X-ray crystallography show a one-domain subunit with seven to eight beta-strands. Conformational patterns are highly similar, except for variations in the C-terminal parts. Additional structures occur in the family with extended chains. Some of the SDR molecules are known under more than one name, and one of the enzymes has been shown to be susceptible to native, chemical modification, producing reduced Schiff base adducts with pyruvate and other metabolic keto derivatives. Most SDR enzymes are dimers and tetramers. In those analyzed, the area of major subunit contacts involves two long alpha-helices (alpha E, alpha F) in similar and apparently strong subunit interactions. Future possibilities include verification of the proposed reaction mechanism and tracing of additional relationships, perhaps also with other protein families. Short-chain dehydrogenases illustrate the value of comparisons and diversified research in generating unexpected discoveries.

Short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases (SDR).

This review summarizes the brain mechanisms controlling sleep and wakefulness. Wakefulness promoting systems cause low-voltage, fast activity in the electroencephalogram (EEG). Multiple interacting neurotransmitter systems in the brain stem, hypothalamus, and basal forebrain converge onto common effector systems in the thalamus and cortex. Sleep results from the inhibition of wake-promoting systems by homeostatic sleep factors such as adenosine and nitric oxide and GABAergic neurons in the preoptic area of the hypothalamus, resulting in large-amplitude, slow EEG oscillations. Local, activity-dependent factors modulate the amplitude and frequency of cortical slow oscillations. Non-rapid-eye-movement (NREM) sleep results in conservation of brain energy and facilitates memory consolidation through the modulation of synaptic weights. Rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep results from the interaction of brain stem cholinergic, aminergic, and GABAergic neurons which control the activity of glutamatergic reticular formation neurons leading to REM sleep phenomena such as muscle atonia, REMs, dreaming, and cortical activation. Strong activation of limbic regions during REM sleep suggests a role in regulation of emotion. Genetic studies suggest that brain mechanisms controlling waking and NREM sleep are strongly conserved throughout evolution, underscoring their enormous importance for brain function. Sleep disruption interferes with the normal restorative functions of NREM and REM sleep, resulting in disruptions of breathing and cardiovascular function, changes in emotional reactivity, and cognitive impairments in attention, memory, and decision making.

/pdf/control-of-sleep-and-wakefulness-51vkuya5ho.pdf

Control of Sleep and Wakefulness

https://febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1016/0014-5793%2888%2980548-9

Complete amino acid sequence of human placental 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase deduced from cDNA

17 beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17HSD) isoenzymes catalyse the interconversion between highly active 17 beta-hydroxy- and low-activity 17-keto-steroids and thereby regulate the biological activity of sex steroids. The present study was carried out to characterize 17HSD activity and the expression of 17HSD type 1 and 2 isoenzymes in several human cell types and tissues. The data indicate that in cultured cells the direction of 17HSD activity is exclusively determined by the expression of these distinct isoenzymes. The intracellular environment could not modulate the direction of the enzyme activities in any of the cell types analysed. 17HSD type 1 acts as a reductase converting oestrone into oestradiol, whereas 17HSD type 2 possesses oxidative activity inactivating oestradiol by converting it into oestrone. The data, furthermore, suggest that of the two 17HSD type 1 mRNAs (1.3 and 2.3 kb), expression of the 1.3 kb mRNA is related to enzyme concentration in all the cell types studied. This mRNA is principally expressed in cells of placental and ovarian origin, but is also present in malignant breast epithelial cells. In contrast, 17HSD type 2 is more widely expressed. It is present in several oestradiol-metabolizing tissues as well as in some target cells of sex steroid action. The opposite reaction directions observed in the cultured cells, together with differences in the distribution of the isoenzymes, suggest that type 1 is involved in oestradiol production in females while type 2 plays a role in the inactivation of this sex steroid in peripheral tissues, both in females and in males. However, some examples exist of simultaneous expression of both enzymes in the same cell type or tissue.

Human 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 and type 2 isoenzymes have opposite activities in cultured cells and characteristic cell- and tissue-specific expression.

Production, purification, and functional analysis of recombinant human and mouse 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 7 ☆

The expression of 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17-HSD) enzyme protein was studied in benign and malignant human breast tissue using the time-resolved immunofluorometric assay (IFMA), immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry. The presence and distribution of estrogen and progestin receptors was also analyzed immunohistochemically. Cytosolic 17-HSD concentrations in malignant breast specimens were highly variable (less than or equal to 0.2-311 ng/mg protein). As was previously found for the placental enzyme, the molecular weight of the 17-HSD expressed in malignant breast tissue was 35 kDa, estimated following polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting. The cellular distribution of 17-HSD was further studied by immunohistochemistry. Immunostaining for 17-HSD was observed in 71% of the benign breast lesions (fibroadenomas and cases of mastopathia chronica) and in 47% of the cancer specimens (intra-ductal carcinomas, invasive ductal carcinomas). In benign lesions, the staining was exclusively localized in the cytoplasm of epithelial cells, with no immunoreactivity in the stromal cells. The staining in the cancer specimens was also detected only in the cytoplasm of malignant epithelial cells. A strong or moderate expression of 17-HSD was related to the presence of PR in the specimen (chi 2 = 4.657, p = 0.031). However, the expression of PR was not a prerequisite for expression of 17-HSD in all the cancer specimens. Our data suggest that, in addition to the reported regulation of 17-HSD by progestins, other factors are also involved in this process in breast tissue.

V. Isomaa

Papers

Complete amino acid sequence of human placental 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase deduced from cDNA

Human 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 and type 2 isoenzymes have opposite activities in cultured cells and characteristic cell- and tissue-specific expression.

Production, purification, and functional analysis of recombinant human and mouse 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 7 ☆

Immunological analysis of 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in benign and malignant human breast tissue

Role of 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 in endocrine and intracrine estradiol biosynthesis