Steroids (Ben) Flashcards
What kind of reactions are most of the reactions in steroid synthesis?
Catalyzed by what type of enzymes?
And what is the general formula for these rxns?
Hydroxylations** catalyzed by **CYP450 enzymes

Where are steroid hormone synthesis reactions located within the cell?
ER or Mitochondria
What is the 2nd most frequent reaction type in steroid hormone synthesis?
Via what kind of enzyme + co-factor?
Oxidoreduction reactions
Via dehydrogenases** using **NAD+
What is the electron donor molecule in the CYP450 enzymes?
And what special part of the enzyme transfers the electrons?
NADPH donates electrons
- Heme-iron in CYP450 enzyme transfers electrons twice during the hydroxylation reactions

CYP450 needs another enzyme to transfer key elements of the reaction to it.
What is the enyzme?
What does it transfer and how?
CYP450 Reductase
- transfers 2 electrons** **one by one from NADPH

What is the general name of the entire enzyme complex shown here?

Microsomal Electron Transport Chain
- because it consists of the CYP450 reductase enzyme which transfers electrons to the CYP450 enzyme
What are the components of the mitochondrial (not microsomal) electron transport chain involved in some CYP450 steroid synthesis reactions?
In what organ is this chain found?
Found on adrenal mitochondria…
Adrenodoxin Reductase - takes electrons from NADPH to adrenodoxin
Adrenodoxin - an iron-sulfur protein which transfers electrons to the CYP450

What is the first step in the synthesis of all steroid hormones?
Reactants?
Enyzme?
Product?
(Include # of Cs)
Cleavage of cholesterols side chain…
P450SCC Side Chain Cleavage Enyzme
Cholesterol (27C) + 3 NADPH + 3 O2 →
Pregnenolone (21C) + Isocaproaldehyde + 3 NADP+ + 3 H2O

Why are 3 NADPH used in the side chain cleavage enzyme reaction?
Because it is a 3 step reaction:
- Hydroxylation of C22
- Hydroxylation of C20
- Cleavage of bond between C20 and 22

Where is P450SCC located?
the inner mitochondrial membrane
How is cholesterol transported into the mitochondria for steroid hormone synthesis?
What is the name of the condition resulting from a lack of the molecule necessary for this?
StAR
(Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein)
- if this is missing = Congenital Lipoid Adrenal Hyperplasia
What two hormones signal increased steroid hormone production?
In which tissues?
- ACTH - adrenal gland
- LH - testes, ovaries
How do LH and ACTH induce steroid hormone synthesis?
(One route leading to 2 effects)
induction of cAMP increase
- induces StAR activation
- activates PKA which phosphorylates/activates cholesterol esterase
What two actions does the P450c17 enyzme have?
17-hydroxylase
and
17,20 lyase
What two reactions are performed by the 17 hydroxylase activity of the P450c17 enzyme?
- Pregnenolone → 17OH Pregnenolone
- Progesterone → 17OH Progesterone

What two reactions are performed by the 17,20-lyase activity of P450c17?
- 17OH Pregnenolone → DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone)
- 17OH Progesterone → androstenedione

What 3 reactions are catalyzed by 3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase (3OHSDH)?
And what happens in these reactions?
Transfers double bond from B ring to A ring + dehydrogenates the 3-OH
- Pregnenenolone → Progesterone
- 17OH Pregnen → 17 OH Progest
- DHEA → Androstenedione

What is the activity of the P450c21 enyzme?
21 hydroxylase
hydroxylates the LAST carbon of progesterone and 17OH progesterone

What two reactions does P450c21 perform via its 21-OHase activity?
- Progesterone → 11-Deoxycorticosterone
- 17OH Progesterone → Deoxycortisol

What one enzyme catalyzes two different reactions with 3 different activities to make a final product of steroid hormone synthesis?
Aldosterone Synthase
-
11-hydroxylase
11-deoxycorticosterone > corticosterone -
18-hydroxylase/dehydrogenase
corticosterone > aldosterone

Where is aldosterone synthase found (specific cell layer) and what kind of hormone does it produce?
What gene encodes it?
- found in the zona glomerulosa
- produces mineralocorticoid (specifically aldosterone)
- encoded by CYP11B2
Lack of which enzyme/enzyme activities determines the production of only mineralocorticoids by the zona glomerulosa?
P450c17
with its 17-OHase and 17,20 Lyase activities
- this keeps steroid synthesis in the glomerulosa to the pregnenolone-to-aldosterone path only
What gene/enyzme performs the last reaction in the glucocorticoid path?
11-Hydroxylase
encoded by CYP11B1**
(does not have 18-OHase/DHase activity of CYP11B2)
What is the last reaction in the glucocorticoid pathway?
11-Deoxycortisol → Cortisol
via CYP11B1 gene’s 11-Hydroxylase activity






