title: Lanosterol 14alpha-demethylase (CYP51) and spermatogenesis.
abstract: CYP51 is the only gene of the cytochrome P450 (P450, or CYP) superfamily that is expressed in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. In animals, the gene product, P45014DM, catalyzes the lanosterol 14alpha-demethylase reaction, an essential step in cholesterol biosynthesis. P45014DM serves a housekeeping role, and it was surprising to find the highest level of CYP51 expression in the testes. This is a result of very high-level CYP51 expression in postmeiotic, haploid spermatids and results in elevated P45014DM activity in these cells. It is proposed that the elevated level of 14alpha-demethylase activity leads to production of signaling sterols by haploid germ cells, although the function of such sterols in males is unknown.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry, Medical Center for Molecular Biology, and Medical Faculty, University of Ljubljana.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rozman
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Waterman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism*; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D058886:Sterol 14-Demethylase; D013737:Testis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: C548418:CYP51A1 protein, human; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D058886:Sterol 14-Demethylase