title: Mechanisms in tissue-specific regulation of estrogen biosynthesis in humans.
abstract: In humans, aromatase P450, which catalyses conversion of C(19)-steroids to estrogens, is expressed in several tissues, including gonads, brain, adipose tissue, skin and placenta, and is encoded by a single-copy gene (CYP19); however, this does not hold true for all species. The human gene is approximately 130 kb and its expression is regulated, in part, by tissue-specific promoters and by alternative splicing mechanisms. Using transgenic mouse technology, it was observed that ovary-, adipose tissue- and placenta-specific expression of human CYP19 is directed by relatively small segments of DNA within 500 bp upstream of each of the tissue-specific first exons. Thus, the use of alternative promoters allows greater versatility in tissue-specific regulation of CYP19 expression. Characterization and identification of transcription factors and crucial cis-acting elements within genomic regions that direct tissue-specific expression will contribute to improved understanding of the regulation of CYP19 expression in the tissues that synthesize estrogens under both physiological and pathophysiological conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390-9038, USA.
authors.forename: Amrita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kamat
authors.forename: Margaret M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Hinshelwood
authors.forename: Barbara A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Murry
authors.forename: Carole R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Mendelson
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D017398:Alternative Splicing / Q000235:genetics; D001141:Aromatase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D004967:Estrogens / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006066:Gonads / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009928:Organ Specificity / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D001141:Aromatase