title: P450 enzymes of estrogen metabolism.
abstract: Endogenous and exogenous estrogens undergo extensive oxidative metabolism by specific cytochrome P450 enzymes. Certain drugs and xenobiotics have been found to be potent inducers of estrogen hydroxylating enzymes with C-2 hydroxylase induction being greater than that of C-16 hydroxylase. Oxygenated estrogen metabolites have different biological activities, with C-2 metabolites having limited or no activity and C-4 and C-16 metabolites having similar potency to estradiol. Pathophysiological roles for some of the oxygenated estrogen metabolites have been proposed, e.g. 16 alpha-hydroxyestrone and 4-hydroxyestrone. These reactive estrogens are capable of damaging cellular proteins and DNA and may be carcinogenic in specific cells.
authors.affiliation: Strang-Cornell Cancer Research Laboratory, New York, NY 10021.
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Martucci
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fishman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000378:metabolism*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System