title: Steroidogenic acute regulatory protein: its presence and function in brain neurosteroidogenesis.
abstract: Neurosteroids are synthesized de novo and involved in a variety of physiological functions in the central and peripheral nervous systems. Although the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) plays an essential role in the steroidogenesis of peripheral endocrine glands, its presence and role in the brain had been previously questioned because of difficulties in detecting it. However, a number of recent studies have confirmed the presence of StAR in rodent and human brains. Moreover, there is evidence suggesting that StAR plays a role in steroidogenesis in the brain, as it does in peripheral endocrine organs. The present review presents data regarding the presence and role of StAR in brain steroidogenesis, demonstrating the essential characteristics of the protein.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Institute of Health Science, College of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, 92 Chilam-dong, Jinju, 660-751, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Joon
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sang Soo
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Gyeong Jae
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Wan Sun
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008954:Models, Biological; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D013256:Steroids / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000098682:Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein
chemical_list: D010750:Phosphoproteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013256:Steroids; D000098682:Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein