The role of 5a-reduction in steroid hormone physiology

2001 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 673 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean D. Wilson

A role for 5α-reduction in androgen physiology was first established with the recognition that dihydrotestosterone, the 5α-reduced metabolite of testosterone, is formed in many androgen target tissues, binds to the androgen receptor with greater affinity than testosterone, and plays an essential role in virilization of the urogenital sinus and urogenital tubercle during male development. Two 5α-reductases perform this reaction, and both isoenzymes utilize NADPH as cofactor and have broad specificity for steroids containing a Δ4, 3-keto configuration. 5α-Reduction, which is essentially irreversible, flattens the steroid molecule because of altered relation of the A and B rings, and stabilizes the hormone–receptor complex. Studies involving in vitro reporter gene assays and intact mice in which both isoenzymes are disrupted, indicate that the fundamental effect of dihydrotestosterone formation is to amplify hormonal signals that can be mediated by testosterone at higher concentrations. 5α-Reduction also plays a role in the action of other steroid hormones, including the plant growth hormone, brassinolide, the boar pheromones, androstanol and androstenol, progesterone (in some species), and, possibly, aldosterone and cortisol. The fact that the reaction is important in plants and animals implies a fundamental role in steroid hormone action.

1971 ◽  
Vol 68 (1_Suppl) ◽  
pp. S279-S294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Robel

ABSTRACT Of the information available on steroid hormone metabolism in responsive tissues, only that relating hormone metabolism to physiological activity is reviewed, i. e. metabolite activity in isolated in vitro systems, binding of metabolites to target tissue receptors, specific steroid hormone metabolizing enzymes and relationship of hormone metabolism to target organ physiological state. Further, evidence is presented in the androgen field, demonstrating 5α-reduced metabolites, formed inside the target cells, as active compounds. This has led to a consideration of testosterone as a »prehormone«. The possibility that similar events take place in tissues responding to progesterone is discussed. Finally, the role of hormone metabolism in the regulation of hormone availability and/or renewal in target cells is discussed. In this context, reference is made to the potential role of plasma binding proteins and cytosol receptors.


2000 ◽  
Vol 113 (16) ◽  
pp. 2821-2827 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Quarmby

Recent biochemical studies of the AAA ATPase, katanin, provide a foundation for understanding how microtubules might be severed along their length. These in vitro studies are complemented by a series of recent reports of direct in vivo observation of microtubule breakage, which indicate that the in vitro phenomenon of catalysed microtubule severing is likely to be physiological. There is also new evidence that microtubule severing by katanin is important for the production of non-centrosomal microtubules in cells such as neurons and epithelial cells. Although it has been difficult to establish the role of katanin in mitosis, new genetic evidence indicates that a katanin-like protein, MEI-1, plays an essential role in meiosis in C. elegans. Finally, new proteins involved in the severing of axonemal microtubules have been discovered in the deflagellation system of Chlamydomonas.


2007 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 129-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasunari Takami ◽  
Tatsuya Ono ◽  
Tatsuo Fukagawa ◽  
Kei-ichi Shibahara ◽  
Tatsuo Nakayama

Chromatin assembly factor-1 (CAF-1), a complex consisting of p150, p60, and p48 subunits, is highly conserved from yeast to humans and facilitates nucleosome assembly of newly replicated DNA in vitro. To investigate roles of CAF-1 in vertebrates, we generated two conditional DT40 mutants, respectively, devoid of CAF-1p150 and p60. Depletion of each of these CAF-1 subunits led to delayed S-phase progression concomitant with slow DNA synthesis, followed by accumulation in late S/G2 phase and aberrant mitosis associated with extra centrosomes, and then the final consequence was cell death. We demonstrated that CAF-1 is necessary for rapid nucleosome formation during DNA replication in vivo as well as in vitro. Loss of CAF-1 was not associated with the apparent induction of phosphorylations of S-checkpoint kinases Chk1 and Chk2. To elucidate the precise role of domain(s) in CAF-1p150, functional dissection analyses including rescue assays were preformed. Results showed that the binding abilities of CAF-1p150 with CAF-1p60 and DNA polymerase sliding clamp proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) but not with heterochromatin protein HP1-γ are required for cell viability. These observations highlighted the essential role of CAF-1–dependent nucleosome assembly in DNA replication and cell proliferation through its interaction with PCNA.


1989 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 3710-3719
Author(s):  
J Banroques ◽  
J N Abelson

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae prp mutants (prp2 through prp11) are known to be defective in pre-mRNA splicing at nonpermissive temperatures. We have sequenced the PRP4 gene and shown that it encodes a 52-kilodalton protein. We obtained PRP4 protein-specific antibodies and found that they inhibited in vitro pre-mRNA splicing, which confirms the essential role of PRP4 in splicing. Moreover, we found that PRP4 is required early in the spliceosome assembly pathway. Immunoprecipitation experiments with anti-PRP4 antibodies were used to demonstrate that PRP4 is a protein of the U4/U6 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle (snRNP). Furthermore, the U5 snRNP could be immunoprecipitated through snRNP-snRNP interactions in the large U4/U5/U6 complex.


1983 ◽  
Vol 244 (6) ◽  
pp. F674-F678 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. M. Friedlaender ◽  
Z. Kornberg ◽  
H. Wald ◽  
M. M. Popovtzer

The effects of 1 alpha (OH)vitamin D3 [1 alpha (OH)D3] and 24,25(OH)2vitamin D3 [24,25(OH)2D3] on the phosphaturic action of parathyroid hormone (PTH) were studied in two groups of parathyroidectomized (PTX) rats. In group 1, PTX PTH-infused rats received intravenous 1 alpha (OH)D3, and in group 2, PTX PTH-infused rats received intravenous 24,25(OH)2D3. PTX PTH-infused rats served as controls. The effects of both vitamin D metabolites on renal PTH-activated adenylate cyclase (AC) were studied in vitro. In group 1, PTH increased fractional excretion of phosphate (CP/CIn) from 0.045 +/- 0.012 (+/- SE) to 0.263 +/- 0.011 (P less than 0.005). 1 alpha (OH)D3 failed to influence this response. In group 2, PTH increased CP/CIn from 0.055 +/- 0.008 to 0.289 +/- 0.027 (P less than 0.005). 24,25(OH)2D3 reduced the PTH-induced rise in CP/CIn from 0.289 +/- 0.027 to 0.192 +/- 0.021 (P less than 0.01) and decreased the urinary excretion of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate. In vitro, 24,25(OH)2D3 blunted the PTH-activated AC, whereas 1 alpha (OH)D3 had no effect. These results show that 24,25(OH)D3, similar to two other 25(OH) metabolites of vitamin D-25(OH)vitamin D3 and 1,25(OH)2vitamin D3-suppresses the phosphaturic action of PTH, whereas 1 alpha(OH)D3, which is devoid of a 25(OH) group, lacks this effect. This suggests that a 25(OH) group is a prerequisite for the antiphosphaturic effect of vitamin D, whereas the 1 alpha (OH) group is not essential for this action.


2002 ◽  
Vol 169 (7) ◽  
pp. 3978-3986 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. William Vandivier ◽  
Carol Anne Ogden ◽  
Valerie A. Fadok ◽  
Peter R. Hoffmann ◽  
Kevin K. Brown ◽  
...  

Blood ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 104 (11) ◽  
pp. 3101-3101
Author(s):  
Yoshihiko Sakurai ◽  
Midori Shima ◽  
Shogo Kasuda ◽  
Shoko Omura ◽  
Masahiro Takeyama ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: The replacement therapy with plasma-derived factor VIII (FVIII)/von Willebrand factor (VWF) concentrates is the first line treatment for the patients with type 3 von Willebrand disease (VWD). However, development of anti-VWF alloantibodies (inhibitor) is a major problem since the inhibitor neutralizes the VWF activity and may cause anaphylactic reactions. As an alternative treatment, the usage of FVIII concentrates has been reported but the mechanism of the hemostatic effects remains to be elucidated. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to address the role of FVIII in the hemostatic mechanism in the absence of VWF by in vitro and ex vivo analysis in the treatment for type 3 VWD with recombinant FVIII (rFVIII). Patient/Methods: The patient is a 55-year-old male with type 3 VWD. Blood samples were obtained before and 30 min after bolus administration. Rotating thromboelastometry (ROTEM) assay was performed to examine global interactions in hemostasis. To elucidate the effect on platelet activation, α-thrombin- and shear-induced platelet aggregation studies were performed. Further, α-thrombin-induced [Ca2+]i rise was assessed using fura2-AM loaded platelets. Results and Implications: The patient underwent two surgical procedures of multiple teeth extractions successfully with minimal bleeding by bolus administration of rFVIII (50 IU/kg) before procedure and followed by continuous infusion at rate of 10 IU/kg/h for 15 hours. FVIII:C was elevated from 1.0% to 20~30% 30 min after bolus infusion and maintained ~15% after 12 h-continuous infusion. ROTEM analysis showed that infusion of rFVIII shortened clotting time (preinfusion 2083.8±784.3 sec vs. post-infusion 1022.0±191.5 sec) and clot formation time (pre 1267.3±455.4 sec vs. post 705.8±261.8 sec) and increased α (pre 8.5±7.4 degree vs. post 23.5±4.4 degree). The α value and CFT indicate the rate of increase of elastic shear modulus. Addition of rFVIII to preinfusion blood in vitro corrected ROTEM parameters and thrombin-induced aggregation dose-dependently. Infusion of FVIII enhanced thrombin-induced platelet aggregation (% maximal aggregation: pre 26.3% vs. post 98.2%) as well as low shear-induced platelet aggregation (% maximal aggregation: pre 18% vs. post 52%). Furthermore, infusion of rFVIII meliorated thrombin-induced intracellular calcium flux of washed platelets (thrombin 10 nM, Ca flux: pre 414.0 nM vs. post 620.6 nM). Recently, the cell-based model of hemostasis provides a solid foundation for the relation between platelet and coagulation. Although coagulation initiation occurs normally via the extrinsic pathway, amplification mediated by the intrinsic pathway is seriously disturbed in type 3 VWD due to the marked decrease in FVIII. Therefore, correction of FVIII could result in the improvement of hemostasis. Our data demonstrated the effectiveness of FVIII in the surgical treatment for type 3 VWD and further suggested that FVIII molecules are incorporated into platelet phospholipids to facilitate platelet activation as well as act directly to intrinsic pathways to normalize coagulation. Conclusions: Our observations suggested that FVIII plays an essential role in hemostasis in the absence of VWF and provided the rationale for the usage of rFVIII in the hemostatic management of type 3 VWD.


Steroids ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 66-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaime Steinsapir ◽  
Thomas G. Muldoon

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