title: Presence of sex steroids and cytochrome P450 genes in amphioxus.
abstract: The presence of sex steroids and their receptors has been demonstrated in all vertebrate groups from Agnatha to Mammalia but not in invertebrates. In genomic analyses of urochordates, cytochrome P450 (CYP) genes important for biosynthesis of sex steroids are absent. In the present study, we confirmed the presence of estrogen, androgen, and progesterone by using radioimmunoassay in gonads of amphioxus, Branchiostoma belcheri, which is considered to be evolutionarily closer to vertebrates than other invertebrates. Furthermore, CYP genes encoding CYP11A, CYP17, and CYP19 and transcripts for 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase were cloned from amphioxus ovaries. Among invertebrates, the presence of hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase enzymes and metabolized steroids was shown in paracytic Taenia and corals. However, CYPs metabolizing sex steroids have not been demonstrated in invertebrates, nor has an attempt been made to consider the entire pathway from cholesterol to estrogen. This study is the first evidence to suggest the presence of CYP enzymes in sex steroid production in invertebrates.
authors: Center for Advanced Marine Research, Ocean Research Institute, University of Tokyo, Nakano, Tokyo 164-8639, Japan.
authors: Takanobu
authors: T
authors: Mizuta
authors: Kaoru
authors: K
authors: Kubokawa
mesh_terms: D015067:17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000728:Androgens / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001141:Aromatase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001483:Base Sequence; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D002786:Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002816:Chordata, Nonvertebrate / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D004958:Estradiol / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D006066:Gonads / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D011374:Progesterone / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D013254:Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D002784:Cholesterol; D015067:17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; C044256:3 (or 17)-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase; D001141:Aromatase; D013254:Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase; D002786:Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme