Substrate specificity and inhibitor sensitivity of rabbit 20alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. (25/46)

In this study, we examined the substrate specificity and inhibitor sensitivity of rabbit 20alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (AKR1C5), which plays a role in the termination of pregnancy by progesterone inactivation. AKR1C5 moderately reduced the 3-keto group of only 5alpha-dihydrosteroids with 17beta- or 20alpha/beta-hydroxy group among 3-ketosteroids. In contrast, the enzyme reversibly and efficiently catalyzed the reduction of various 17- and 20-ketosteroids, including estrogen precursors (dehydroepiandrosterone, estrone and 5alpha-androstan-3beta-ol-17-one) and tocolytic 5beta-pregnane-3,20-dione. In addition to the progesterone inactivation, the formation of estrogens and metabolism of the tocolytic steroid by AKR1C5 may be related to its role in rabbit parturition. AKR1C5 also reduced various non-steroidal carbonyl compounds, including isatin, an antagonist of the C-type natriuretic peptide receptor, and 4-oxo-2-nonenal, suggesting its roles in controlling the bioactive isatin and detoxification of cytotoxic aldehydes. AKR1C5 was potently and competitively inhibited by flavonoids such as kaempferol and quercetin, suggesting that its activity is affected by ingested flavonoids.  (+info)

3(20)alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity of monkey liver indanol dehydrogenase. (26/46)

Homogeneous indanol dehydrogenase from monkey liver catalyzed the reversible conversion of 3 alpha- or 20 alpha-hydroxy groups of several bile acids and 5 beta-pregnanes to the corresponding 3- or 20-ketosteroids. The kcat values for the steroids determined at pH 7.4 were low, but the kcat/Km values for the 3-ketosteroids were comparable to or exceeded those for 1-indanol and xenobiotic carbonyl substrates. The enzyme transferred the 4-pro-R-hydrogen atom of NADPH to the 3 beta- or 20 beta-face of the ketosteroid substrate. Competitive inhibition of the hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity of the enzyme by medroxyprogesterone acetate, hexestrol, and 1,10-phenanthroline suggests that both 1-indanol and hydroxysteroid are oxidized at the same active site on the enzyme. The specific inhibitor of the enzyme, 1,10-phenanthroline, suppressed the 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity in the crude extract of monkey liver by 50%. The results strongly suggest that indanol dehydrogenase acts as a 3(20)alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in the metabolism of certain steroid hormones and bile acids.  (+info)

Prostaglandin F-2 alpha receptors in corpora lutea of pregnant rats and relationship with induction of 20 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. (27/46)

Luteal receptors for PGF-2 alpha in the pregnant rat were characterized. No changes in the Kd were found during pregnancy, whereas capacity increased to a maximum on Day 19, decreasing thereafter. The decrease in binding sites seen from Days 20 to 22 may be due to down regulation of the receptor by its ligand, since it was prevented by inhibition of PG synthesis by indomethacin treatment. Likewise, in-vivo treatment with PGF-2 alpha reduced the apparent number of PG binding sites. PG receptor concentration seems to be modulated by oestrogens since an increment was found on Day 19, associated with the known increase in plasma oestradiol concentrations, and since receptor concentration on Day 16 was significantly increased by oestradiol benzoate. The uterus also had a negative influence on the appearance of the PG receptor, since hysterectomy on Day 16 increased the number of binding sites on Day 18. However, receptor concentration and 20 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase induction by hysterectomy was not affected by indomethacin, indicating that these events are probably not related to prostaglandin withdrawal. However, treatment with hCG, which diminishes enzyme induction by hysterectomy, did not produce changes in receptor concentration. The present results suggest that PGF-2 alpha, acting through a specific receptor site, is the physiological luteolytic signal. The consequence of its receptor binding seems to be the blockade of a gonadotrophic stimulus, which in turn determines (1) the decrease in progesterone synthesis and (2) the induction of 20 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase.  (+info)

Purification and characterization of a novel form of 20 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase from Clostridium scindens. (28/46)

We have purified a steroid-inducible 20 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase from Clostridium scindens to apparent homogeneity. The final enzyme preparation was purified 252-fold, with a recovery of 14%. Denaturing and nondenaturing polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis showed that the native enzyme (Mr, 162,000) was a tetramer composed of subunits with a molecular weight of 40,000. The isoelectric point was approximately pH 6.1. The purified enzyme was highly specific for adrenocorticosteroid substrates possessing 17 alpha, 21-dihydroxy groups. The purified enzyme had high specific activity for the reduction of cortisone (Vmax, 280 nmol/min per mg of protein; Km, 22 microM) but was less reactive with cortisol (Vmax, 120 nmol/min per mg of protein; Km, 32 microM) at pH 6.3. The apparent Km for NADH was 8.1 microM with cortisone (50 microM) as the cosubstrate. Substrate inhibition was observed with concentrations of NADH greater than 0.1 mM. The purified enzyme also catalyzed the oxidation of 20 alpha-dihydrocortisol (Vmax, 200 nmol/min per mg of protein; Km, 41 microM) at pH 7.9. The apparent Km for NAD+ was 526 microM. The initial reaction velocities with NADPH were less than 50% of those with NADH. The amino-terminal sequence was determined to be Ala-Val-Lys-Val-Ala-Ile-Asn-Gly-Phe-Gly-Arg. These results indicate that this enzyme is a novel form of 20 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase.  (+info)

Inhibition of 20 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity by follicle-stimulating hormone and androgens in cultured rat granulosa cells: a search for the mechanism of action. (29/46)

Alterations of progesterone metabolism and especially of 20 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (20 alpha-HSD) activity were studied in cultured rat granulosa cells following various treatments. The cells were incubated for up to 48 h with or without follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), androgens, hydroxyflutamide, estrogens, chlorea toxin, and dibutyryl cAMP [Bu2 cAMP]. Subsequently, the cells were incubated for 3 h with [4-14 C] progesterone (0.5 microM). The progesterone utilization and accumulation of 20 alpha-reduced and 5 alpha-reduced metabolites were assessed following thin-layer chromatography separation of radiolabeled steroids. Both FSH (1 microgram/ml) and testosterone (0.5 microM) decreased the 20 alpha-HSD activity by decreasing the maximal velocity (by 52% and 37%, respectively) without changing significantly the Km value. The inhibition of 20 alpha-HSD was demonstrable following 12 and 24 h exposure to FSH and following 24 and 48 h exposure to testosterone. Effects comparable to that induced by testosterone were elicited by other androgens (androstenedione and 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone), but not by estrogens (estradiol-17 beta and estrone). Hydroxyflutamide reversed testosterone-induced effects: the increase of endogenous progesterone accumulation and the decrease of 20 alpha-HSD activity. Both cholera toxin (0.001-10 micrograms/ml) and Bu2 cAMP (62.5-1000 micrograms/ml) caused a dose-dependent inhibition of 20 alpha-HSD activity. Present results indicate that: the inhibition of 20 alpha-HSD by both FSH and androgens may be of a noncompetitive nature; androgen action on 20 alpha-HSD may be a true androgenic, receptor-mediated effect; and cAMP may mediate the FSH action on 20 alpha-HSD activity.  (+info)

The 20 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase of Streptomyces hydrogenans. (30/46)

In addition to the well-known 3 alpha,20 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase ('cortisone reductase'), Streptomyces hydrogenans produces a relatively stable, NAD-dependent 20 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase of molecular mass approximately 48 kDa. This enzyme catalyzes the transfer of hydrogen from the 4-pro-S position of NADH.  (+info)

In vitro secretion of progestins by rat luteal cells and their 20 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity. (31/46)

Functionally active or regressing corpora lutea were harvested from pseudopregnant (psp) rats between days 5-8 of psp or day 15 of psp, respectively. They were enzymatically dispersed and cultured for 24 h to assess progestins in the medium and 20 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase [20 alpha-HSD, catalyzing the conversion of progesterone to 20 alpha-dihydroprogesterone (20 alpha-OH-P)] activity in the cell. Though the active luteal cells retained low 20 alpha-HSD activity, they secreted 6-7 times more 20 alpha-OH-P than progesterone as the regressing luteal cells did. There was no significant difference between the total amounts of progestins in the 2 groups. When increasing doses of pregnenolone were added to the media, progesterone secretion from the active luteal cells was promoted and the progesterone to 20 alpha-OH-P ratio became comparable to the circulating progestins ratio during the mid-luteal phase. In contrast, from the regressing luteal cells only 20 alpha-OH-P secretion was promoted. These results indicate that an insufficient precursor supply results in the catabolism of a large part of synthesized progesterone before its release from luteal cells and suggest the presence of a high affinity but low capacity 20 alpha-HSD in active corpora lutea.  (+info)

Changes in follicular steroidogenic enzymes following the preovulatory surge of gonadotropins and experimentally-induced atresia. (32/46)

Atresia that is induced experimentally and the preovulatory surge of gonadotropins stimulate similar changes in follicular steroidogenesis in the rat, i.e., both enhance production of progesterone and reduce production of androgen and 17 beta-estradiol. In this study, mature cycling rats were either stimulated with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) or atresia was induced by blocking the proestrous surge of gonadotropins through the use of pentobarbitone or hypophysectomy. Changes in activity of C17,20-lyase (lyase) and 20 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (20 alpha SDH) were estimated from homogenates of 10-15 Graafian follicles by evaluating conversion of precursors to products that were separated and quantified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Within 3 h of administration to proestrous rats, hCG reduced follicular lyase activity (pmole androstenedione produced per mg protein during 30 min incubation) from (mean +/- SEM) 221.3 +/- 24.2 to 120.2 +/- 30.4, and to 8.5 +/- 0.1 after 9 h. By contrast, 20 alpha SDH activity increased somewhat after hCG stimulation. Similar changes were observed after follicular atresia was induced, with hypophysectomy causing the most striking changes. Lyase was reduced to 60% within 6 h after the operation, and to 2% within 24 h. Activity of 20 alpha SDH was doubled within 6 h of hypophysectomy and remained high even 24 h later. Thus, in preovulatory rat follicles, luteinizing hormone (LH)/hCG reduces lyase activity and similar changes occur in such follicles undergoing atresia. There was no clear correlation between 20 alpha SDH and lyase activities; our results did not support the argument that 20 alpha SDH products regulate lyase following the ovulatory stimulus and atresia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)  (+info)