title: Analysis and characteristics of multiple types of human 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase.
abstract: Androgens and estrogens are not only synthesized in the gonads but also in peripheral target tissues. Accordingly, recent molecular cloning has allowed us to identify multiple types of 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (17beta-HSD), the key and exclusive enzymes involved in the formation and inactivation of sex steroids. However, only one form, namely, type 3 17beta-HSD, is responsible for pseudohermaphroditism in deficient boys. To date, seven human 17beta-HSDs have been isolated and characterized. Although they catalyze substrates having a similar structure, 17beta-HSDs have very low homology. In intact cells in culture, these enzymes catalyze the reaction in a unidirectional way - types 1, 3, 5 and 7 catalyze the reductive reaction, while types 2, 4 and 8 catalyze the oxidative reaction. It is noteworthy that rat type 6 17beta-HSD also catalyzes the reaction in the oxidative direction. In this report, we analyze the different characteristics of the multiple types of human 17beta-HSD.
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council Group in Molecular Endocrinology, Oncology and Molecular Endocrinology Research Center, Laval University Hospital Center (CHUL) and Laval University, Quebec, G1V 4G2, Sainte-Foy, Canada. van.luu-the@crchul.ulaval.ca
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Luu-The
mesh_terms: D015067:17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000728:Androgens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004967:Estrogens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D004967:Estrogens; D007527:Isoenzymes; D015067:17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; C044256:3 (or 17)-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase