title: Tissue-specific regulation of cytochrome P-450 dependent testosterone 15 alpha-hydroxylase.
abstract: Testosterone 15 alpha-hydroxylase activity in kidney microsomes is higher in male mice than in female mice, while in the liver the activity is higher in females than in males. Cytochrome P-450 15 alpha, a specific form of cytochrome P-450 having testosterone 15 alpha-hydroxylase activity, accounts for virtually all of the testosterone 15 alpha-hydroxylase activity in female kidney microsomes, while other isozymes of testosterone 15 alpha-hydroxylase are present in male kidney microsomes. In female kidney, P-450 15 alpha expression is regulated by a single sex-dependent locus, called Rsh for "regulation of steroid hydroxylase." The higher level of P-450 15 alpha expression in male kidneys is dependent on androgens. Of all mice strains, 129/J seems to be the least dependent on androgens to maintain a high expression of P-450 15 alpha in male kidneys. Castration of male mice lowers kidney levels of P-450 15 alpha but in the liver, P-450 15 alpha levels rise after castration. This reciprocal regulation of P-450 15 alpha genes in liver and kidney was investigated by isolating cDNA clones encoding P-450 15 alpha from liver and kidney cDNA libraries. Two highly homologous cDNA clones encoding P-450 15 alpha designated type I and type II were identified, and levels of type I and type II mRNA in liver and kidney were determined by differential restriction mapping of double-stranded cDNA prepared from mRNA from these tissues.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Guelph, Ont., Canada.
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Squires
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Negishi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001189:Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000072467:Cytochrome P450 Family 2; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D007668:Kidney / Q000201:enzymology; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D008861:Microsomes / Q000201:enzymology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D013250:Steroid Hydroxylases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D004247:DNA; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D013250:Steroid Hydroxylases; D001189:Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases; C460223:Cyp2a4 protein, mouse; D000072467:Cytochrome P450 Family 2; C050356:steroid 15-alpha-hydroxylase