title: Promiscuous 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases: testosterone 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activities of mouse type I and VI 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases.
abstract: 3Beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3beta-HSD) activity is essential for the synthesis of all classes of steroid hormones, converting various delta5-3beta-hydroxysteroids into hormonally active delta4-3-ketosteroids in NAD+ -dependent reactions. Certain 3beta-HSD isoforms have been reported to exhibit additional dehydrogenase character (e.g., 17-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/reductase). We have investigated whether mouse type I (adrenal/gonadal) and type VI 3beta-HSDs (uterine/embryonic) display significant 17beta-HSD-like activity. Nonsteroidogenic HEK 293T cells were transiently transfected with pCMV-based expression vectors containing mouse type I and type VI 3beta-HSDs. Transfected cells expressing either mouse type I or type VI 3beta-HSD converted testosterone to androstenedione, albeit at rates one-tenth of those of pregnenolone to progesterone in similarly transfected 293T cells. Our findings demonstrate that the mouse 3beta-HSD I and VI isoforms can inactivate testosterone within an intact cell milieu. These findings are important not only in establishment of structure-function relationships, but also whenever murine systems are used for developmental/reproductive paradigms associated with human disorders.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Reproductive Biology, University of Edinburgh Medical School, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.forename: B E C
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Howe
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Howie
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Morley
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Nicol
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Payne
mesh_terms: D015067:17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000378:metabolism*; D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000818:Animals; D016466:CHO Cells; D002460:Cell Line; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D051381:Rats; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D007527:Isoenzymes; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D015067:17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases