Endocrine Abstracts

Reproduction requires the temporal and spacial control of specific and exact signals, delivered by locally regulated hormonal flux. In the case of androgen biosynthesis, cytochrome P450 17α-hydroxylase, 17,20-lyase (P450c17) is the key enzyme. However, P450c17 is a multi-functional P450, so, it synthesizes cortisol in the zona fascicula of the adrenal cortex and also androgen precursors in the adrenal zona reticularis and the gonads. The regulation of this dual activity h...

Cytochrome P450 aromatase is a membrane bound enzyme that synthesises estrogens. This reaction involves electron delivery from NADPH via cytochrome P450 reductase (CPR). Little is known as to how the P450arom performs the aromatase reaction or how it associates with CPR in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). In humans, there is only one P450arom, however pigs have three isozymes. The catalytic efficiency of one of these, the porcine gonadal P450arom, is much lower than the human a...