Assessment of steroidogenesis and steroidogenic enzyme functions

Abstract

There is some confusion in the literature about steroidogenesis in endocrine glands and steroidogenesis in peripheral intracrine tissues. The objective of the present review is to bring some clarifications and better understanding about steroidogenesis in these two types of tissues. Concerns about substrate specificity, kinetic constants and place of enzymes in the pathway have been discussed. The role of 17α-hydroxylase/17-20 lyase (CYP17A1) in the production of dehydroepiandrosterone and back-door pathways of dihydrotestosterone biosynthesis is also analyzed. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "Synthesis and biological testing of steroid derivatives as inhibitors".

Keywords: 17-OH-PREG; 17-OH-PROG; 17-hydroxypregnenolone; 17-hydroxyprogesterone; 17α-hydroxylase/17–20 lyase (P450c17); 17β-HSD; 17β-HSDn; 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase; 3α-HSD; 3α-diol; 3α-diol-G; 3α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase; 3β-HSD; 3β-HSDn; 3β-diol; 3β-diol-G; 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase; 4-androstenedione; 4-dione; 5-androstene-3β,17β-diol; 5-diol; 5α-androstane-3α,17β-diol; 5α-androstane-3α,17β-diol glucuronide; 5α-androstane-3β*17β-diol glucuronide; 5α-androstane-3β,17β-diol; 5α-red; 5α-redn; 5α-reductase; ADT,; ADT-G; AR; Androgen biosynthesis; Backdoor pathway; CYP11A; CYP17A1; CYP19; CYP21A; Cancer cells; CholS; DHEA; DHEAS; DHT; Dihydrotestosterone; E1; E1S; E2; ER; Estradiol; Intracrine; Oestrogen biosynthesis; P450 21-hydroxylase (P450c21); P450 side chain cleavage (P450scc); PREG; PROG; SARM; STS; SULT1A3; SULT1E1; Steroidogenesis; T; Testosterone; UDT-glucuronosyl transferase; UGT; androgen receptor; androsterone; androsterone glucuronide; aromatase; cholesterol sulfate; dehydroepiandroserone sulfate; dehydroepiandrosterone; dihydrotestosterone; epi-ADT; epi-ADTS; epi-androsterone; epi-androsterone sulfate; estradiol; estrogen receptor; estrogen sulfotransferase type 1; estrone; estrone sulfate; phenol sulfotransferase type 3; pregnenolone; progesterone; selective androgen receptor modulator; steroid sulfotransferase; testosterone; type n 17β- hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase; type n 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase; type n 5α-reductase.