Metabolism of estrogens and androgens by scleractinian corals
Autor: | Shannon Atkinson, Ann M. Tarrant, M. J. Atkinson, Charles H. Blomquist, P.H. Lima |
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Rok vydání: | 2003 |
Předmět: |
17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases
Estrone Physiology medicine.drug_class Coral Biology Biochemistry chemistry.chemical_compound 3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase Androstanedione Botany medicine Animals Testosterone Androstenedione Molecular Biology Montipora capitata Estradiol fungi technology industry and agriculture Estrogens biochemical phenomena metabolism and nutrition Anthozoa Androgen biology.organism_classification chemistry Estrogen Isotope Labeling Zooxanthellae Androgens Dinoflagellida population characteristics NADP geographic locations |
Zdroj: | Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part B: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. 136:473-485 |
ISSN: | 1096-4959 |
Popis: | Estrogens and androgens are steroids that act as reproductive hormones in vertebrates. These compounds have also been detected in reef-building corals and other invertebrates, where they are hypothesized to act as bioregulatory molecules. Experiments were conducted using labeled steroid substrates to evaluate metabolism of estrogens and androgens by coral homogenates. GC-MS analysis of 13C-labeled steroids showed that Montipora capitata coral homogenates or fragments could convert estradiol to estrone and testosterone to androstenedione and androstanedione, evidence that M. capitata contains 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and 5alpha-reductase. When homogenates from three coral species and symbiotic dinoflagellates (zooxanthellae) were incubated with tritiated steroid substrates, metabolites separated by thin-layer chromatography confirmed that 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity occurred in all species tested. NADP+ was the preferred cofactor in dehydrogenation reactions with coral homogenates. Reduction of estrone and androstenedione occurred at lower rates and aromatization of androgens was not observed. It is unclear whether estrogens detected previously in coral tissues are produced endogenously or sequestered in coral tissue from dietary or environmental sources. Previous studies have demonstrated that corals can take up estrogens from the water column overlying coral reefs. Considered in total, these observations suggest corals could alter the concentration or form of steroids available to reef organisms. |
Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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