title: Human aromatase: perspectives in biochemistry and biotechnology.
abstract: Aromatase (CYP19) is involved in steroidogenesis, catalyzing the conversion of androgens into estrogens through a unique reaction that causes the aromatization of the A ring of the steroid. The enzyme is widely distributed and well conserved among species as it plays a crucial role in physiological processes such as control of reproduction and neuroprotection. It has also been a subject of intense research both at the biotechnological level in drug development due to its involvement in estrogen-dependent tumors and at a fundamental biochemical level because there are numerous questions regarding its reaction mechanism. This review will report the great progress made in this area.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Nardo
authors.forename: Gianfranco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gilardi
mesh_terms: D001141:Aromatase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D001709:Biotechnology; D004967:Estrogens / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008958:Models, Molecular; D056004:Molecular Dynamics Simulation
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D001141:Aromatase