title: Metabolism of androst-4-ene-3,17-dione by subcellular fractions of rat adrenal tissue with particular reference to microsomal C19-steroid 5alpha-reductase.
abstract: The location and some characteristics of rat adrenal C(19)-steroid 5alpha-reductase were investigated by using [7alpha-(3)H]androst-4-ene-3,17-dione and [7alpha-(3)H]testosterone as substrates. The enzymes system was shown to be NADPH-dependent and associated with the microsomal fraction. In addition, some evidence was also obtained for the existence of a separate NADH-dependent system in the soluble fraction. Further investigation of androst-4-ene-3,17-dione metabolism by subcellular fractions indicated the presence of NADH-dependent 3alpha- and 3beta-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase systems in the microsomal pellet. This pellet also appeared to contain an NADH-dependent 17beta-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase system, and a similar though separate system was detected in the cytosol. Malate (20mm) effectively inhibited the microsomal C(19)-steroid 5alpha-reductase, which showed similar values for K(m) and V(max.) when either androst-4-ene-3,17-dione or testosterone was used as substrate. Cytochrome c was added to all incubation mixtures used for the determination of these values to inhibit the formation of metabolites other than 5alpha-androstane-3,17-dione and 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone (17beta-hydroxy-5alpha-androstan-3-one) respectively. It was also found that corticosterone did not inhibit the 5alpha-reduction of androst-4-ene-3,17-dione under these conditions, indicating that separate enzymes exist for the 5alpha-reduction of C(19)- and C(21)-steroids in the rat adrenal.
mesh_terms: D015068:17-Ketosteroids / Q000378:metabolism*; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000728:Androgens / Q000378:metabolism*; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D007700:Kinetics; D008293:Malates / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008861:Microsomes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D009249:NADP; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D013250:Steroid Hydroxylases / Q000378:metabolism; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone; D013997:Time Factors; D014316:Tritium
chemical_list: D015068:17-Ketosteroids; D000728:Androgens; D008293:Malates; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D014316:Tritium; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D009249:NADP; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D013250:Steroid Hydroxylases; D003345:Corticosterone