9 - Steroids Flashcards
What is included in the basic steroid template?
4 rings (sterane) and 2 methyl groups positioned at 10 and 13, but are labelled as C-18 and C-19 when both are present
What happens to 1,2-disubstituted cyclohexanes?
- Can be cis (same side) or trans (across from each other)
- Trans will be axial-axial or equatorial-equatorial
- Cis will be axial-equatorial
What is the relative configuration along the backbone of all biologically active steroids?
- a = alpha (below the plane); B = beta (above the plane)
- 5a-10B-9a-14a-13B
What is the geometry of all biologically active steroids?
- Trans-trans-trans geometry at ring junctions
- Anti-anti geometry for adjacent ring junctions
What is the ideal shape for a polycyclic steroid?
- Rigid “rod” shape is biologically active and more stable (alpha)
- Rigid “bent” shape is not active and less stable (beta)
What are the rules for nomenclature of double bonds of steroids?
- Give the position from which the double bond originates
- If the double bond points to any other position other than the next highest number, the atom where the bond terminates must be given
What are the 3 rules for steroid classes?
1) Carbon at C-17? (androstane and estane = no)
2) Methyl at C-10? (androstane = yes; estane = no)
3) If there is a carbon at C-17, is it a 2 carbon chain or 8 carbon chain? (pregnane = 2 C’s; cholestane = 8 C’s)
What are the main steroid hormone actions?
1) Follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone in ovaries or testes
2) Corticosteroids in adrenal cortex
How do steroids travel in blood?
Travel attached to protein carriers b/c don’t readily dissolve in blood plasma or water
Describe the mechanism of steroid hormone actions
1) Steroids are carried to the cell by protein carriers and dissociate near their target cells and bind to a steroid receptor
2) Steroid/receptor complex is carried to nucleus (translocation)
3) Binding of complex to DNA regulatory site
4) Instructs DNA to transcribe mRNA
5) mRNA then delivers its message to ribosomes in cytoplasm to increase protein synthesis (translation)
- OR steroid hormone can enter cell, directly enter nucleus, and bind to steroid receptor already in nucleus
Are estrogens, androgens, progestins, and adrenocorticoids needed in low or high concentrations to be effective?
Extremely low (less than 1 nM)
What do estrogens, androgens, progestins, and adrenocorticoids have high binding affinity for?
Intracellular hormone responsive elements (short DNA sequence)
What are the 2 main subtypes of adrenocorticoids?
Glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids
___ serves as the starting point for all steroid hormones that are produced in the body
Cholesterol
What is cholesterol an essential component of?
- Animal cell membranes
- Acts as spacers to fill in the gaps to stabilize the membrane