Meta-Biol

• Pathways

17-alpha-hydroxypregnenolone, NADPH + H+, and O2 react to form DHA (dehydroepiandrostenedione), NADP+, H2O, and acetaldehyde. CYP17 (which also catalyzes 17-alpha-hydroxylation) catalyzes this lyase reaction. There are marked species differences in which substrate is used for this lyase activity. The human enzyme prefers 17alpha-pregnenolone (delta5 steroid) as substrate (Brock, BJ, Waterman, MR, 1999). Corticotropin (Adrenocorticotropic hormone, ACTH) acts through the ACTH receptor called melanocortin receptor type 2 (MC2R) to stimulate steroidogenesis, increasing the production of androgens (McKenna et al, 1997).