Steroid biosynthesis by a sesterterpene pathway in the rat adrenal gland in vitro.
Rat adrenal gland preparations were incubated with radioactive cholesterol and 23,24-dinor-5-cholen-3 beta-ol. Steroids were isolated, purified by thin-layer and high performance liquid chromatography and crystallised to constant specific activity. It was found that the rat adrenal gland can utilise 23,24-dinor-5-cholen-3 beta-ol to produce corticosterone. Also, in contrast to the conversion of cholesterol to corticosterone which occurs in the mitochondrial fraction, the conversion of 23,24-dinor-5-cholen-3 beta-ol to corticosterone occurs in the microsomal fraction. It was concluded that the sesterterpene pathway for steroid biosynthesis can function in the rat adrenal gland and that the intermediates are converted to steroid hormones in the microsomal fraction.
D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002621:Chemistry; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006900:Hydroxylation; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008861:Microsomes / Q000378:metabolism; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D013256:Steroids / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D013256:Steroids; D002784:Cholesterol; D003345:Corticosterone