title: The mechanism of the synthesis of 16-androstenes in human testicular homogenates.
abstract: The biochemical pathway leading to the 16-unsaturated C19 steroids--known as sex pheromone (precursors) in pig and man--is still a matter of dispute. In the 16-ene-synthetase process, via which 5,16-androstadien-3 beta-ol (ADL) or 4,16-androstadien-3-one (ADN) are biosynthesized from pregnenolone (P5) or progesterone (P4), a number of 2 or even 3 step conversions have been suggested in porcine tests, including 20 beta-reduction, 21-hydroxylation and 16,17-dehydrogenation. Studying the 16-ene-synthetase reaction in human testicular homogenates, we adduced evidence for the hypothesis that ADL is synthesized from P5 in a single step, not requiring separate intermediates. Our proposal for the 16-ene-synthetase mechanism also explains why, at least in our hands, synthesis of ADL is always accompanied by co-synthesis of its satellite 5-androstene-3 beta,17 alpha-diol (epiA5): both steroids are synthesized as a mere consequence of the fact that the proposed elimination and substitution reactions for the synthesis of ADL and epiA5, respectively, are competitive processes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, St. Radboud Hospital, University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Weusten
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Legemaat
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: van der Wouw
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Smals
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Kloppenborg
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Benraad
mesh_terms: D000736:Androstenes / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000737:Androstenols / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008956:Models, Chemical; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011284:Pregnenolone / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000736:Androstenes; D000737:Androstenols; C000152:androsta-5,16-dien-3 beta-ol; D011284:Pregnenolone; D010088:Oxidoreductases; C019701:androsta-5,16-dien-3 beta-ol synthetase