The crystal structure of 3alpha -hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/carbonyl reductase from Comamonas testosteroni shows a novel oligomerization pattern within the short chain dehydrogenase/reductase family.

The crystal structure of 3alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/carbonyl reductase from Comamonas testosteroni (3alpha-HSDH) as well as the structure of its binary complex with NAD(+) have been solved at 1.68-A and 1.95-A resolution, respectively. The enzyme is a member of the short chain dehydrogenase/reductase (SDR) family. Accordingly, the active center and the conformation of the bound nucleotide cofactor closely resemble those of other SDRs. The crystal structure reveals one homodimer per asymmetric unit representing the physiologically active unity. Dimerization takes place via an interface essentially built-up by helix alphaG and strand betaG of each subunit. So far this type of intermolecular contact has exclusively been observed in homotetrameric SDRs but never in the structure of a homodimeric SDR. The formation of a tetramer is blocked in 3alpha-HSDH by the presence of a predominantly alpha-helical subdomain which is missing in all other SDRs of known structure.

Functional expression, purification, and characterization of 3alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/carbonyl reductase from Comamonas testosteroni.

3alpha-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3alpha-HSD) catalyzes the oxidoreduction at carbon 3 of steroid hormones and is postulated to initiate the complete mineralization of the steroid nucleus to CO(2) and H(2)O in Comamonas testosteroni. By this activity, 3alpha-HSD provides the basis for C. testosteroni to grow on steroids as sole carbon and energy source. 3alpha-HSD was cloned and overexpressed in E. coli and purified to homogeneity by an affinity chromatography system as His-tagged protein. The recombinant enzyme was found to be functional as oxidoreductase toward a variety of steroid substrates, including androstanedione, 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone, androsterone, cholic acid, and the steroid antibiotic fusidic acid. The enzyme also catalyzes the carbonyl reduction of nonsteroidal aldehydes and ketones such as metyrapone, p-nitrobenzaldehyde and a novel insecticide (NKI 42255), and, based on this pluripotent substrate specificity, was named 3alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/carbonyl reductase (3alpha-HSD/CR). It is suggested that 3alpha-HSD/CR contributes to important defense strategies of C. testosteroni against natural and synthetic toxicants. Antibodies were generated in rabbits against the entire 3alpha-HSD/CR protein, and may now be used for evaluating the pattern of steroid induction in C. testosteroni on the protein level. Upon gel permeation chromatography the purified enzyme elutes as a 49.4 kDa protein revealing for the first time the dimeric nature of 3alpha-HSD/CR of C. testosteroni.

Heterogeneity of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1/microsomal carbonyl reductase (11beta-HSD/CR) in guinea pig tissues. Purification of the liver form suggests modification in the cosubstrate binding site.

11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11beta-HSD) and xenobiotic carbonyl reductase activities were determined in guinea pig tissue microsomes. The data indicate the presence of a NADP(H) dependent form, distinct from the known type I isozyme. Purification of 11beta-HSD-1 from liver microsomes resulted in two distinct peaks, resolved by dye-ligand chromatography, indicating differences in the cosubstrate binding site. Immunoblot analysis using anti 11beta-HSD-1 antibodies reveals the presence of similar structural determinants between the enzyme forms. Both have an apparent molecular mass of 32 kDa, suggesting protein modifications occurring in the type 1 isozyme which account for the differences in chromatographic behaviour.

Characterization of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activities in the renal cell line LLC-PK1: evidence for a third isoform?

We studied 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activities in the renal cell line LLC-PK1 and the effects of different steroids on them. Cortisol was oxidized in the presence of NAD as well as NADP, reflecting the presence of two different 11beta-HSD forms. Enzyme kinetics for cortisol 11beta-oxidation were: Vmax = 5.9 pmol/(min x mg), Km = 0.2 microM with NAD, and Vmax = 4.5 pmol/(min x mg), Km = 1.0 microM with NADP. Interestingly, no reverse reaction was observed when using cortisone and NADPH as substrate and cosubstrate, respectively. Exposure of cells to a variety of steroids had different effects on cortisol 11beta-oxidation rates with NADP compared to those with NAD. Dexamethasone initially (3-60 min of exposure) decreased the NAD-dependent 11beta-HSD activity to about 60%, which was no longer evident after 2 h or longer. By contrast, the 11beta-oxidation of cortisol with NADP increased by dexamethasone treatment of the cells, after a lagtime of about 2 h, and this effect was still evident after 32 h. The increase of 11beta-HSD activity with NADP by dexamethasone was concentration dependent (estimated EC50:125 nM). The antiglucocorticoid RU486 did not antagonize dexamethasone induction. Exposure of cells for 19 h to 1 microM cortisol, cortisone, progesterone, and estradiol also increased NADP-dependent cortisol 11beta-oxidation, but had no effect on the NAD-dependent 11beta-HSD activity. Immunoblot and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction experiments failed to detect any 11beta-HSD 1 protein or mRNA in these cells. Our observations suggest that in LLC-PK1 cells, two forms of 11beta-HSD exist, which differ in cosubstrate dependency, kinetics for cortisol, and modulation by steroids. Whereas the NAD-dependent form seems identical to renal 11beta-HSD 2, the NADP-dependent 11beta-HSD possibly resembles an as yet unknown third isoform.

Characterization of 11ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activities in the renal cell line LLC-PK(1) : Evidence for a third isoform?

We studied 11ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activities in the renal cell line LLC-PK(1) and the effects of different steroids on them. Cortisol was oxidized in the presence of NAD as well as NADP, reflecting the presence of two different 11ß-HSD forms. Enzyme kinetics for cortisol 11ß-oxidation were: V (max)=5.9 pmol/(min×mg), K (m)=0.2 µM with NAD, and V (max)=4.5 pmol/(min×mg), K (m)=1.0 µM with NADP. Interestingly, no reverse reaction was observed when using cortisone and NADPH as substrate and cosubstrate, respectively. Exposure of cells to a variety of steroids had different effects on cortisol 11ß-oxidation rates with NADP compared to those with NAD. Dexamethasone initially (3-60 min of exposure) decreased the NAD-dependent 11ß-HSD activity to about 60%, which was no longer evident after 2 h or longer. By contrast, the 11ß-oxidation of cortisol with NADP increased by dexamethasone treatment of the cells, after a lagtime of about 2 h, and this effect was still evident after 32 h. The increase of 11ß-HSD activity with NADP by dexamethasone was concentration dependent (estimated EC(50): 125 nM). The antiglucocorticoid RU 486 did not antagonize dexamethasone induction. Exposure of cells for 19 h to 1 µM cortisol, cortisone, progesterone, and estradiol also increased NADP-dependent cortisol 11ß-oxidation, but had no effect on the NAD-dependent 11ß-HSD activity. Immunoblot and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction experiments failed to detect any 11ß-HSD 1 protein or mRNA in these cells. Our observations suggest that in LLC-PK(1) cells, two forms of 11ß-HSD exist, which differ in cosubstrate dependency, kinetics for cortisol, and modulation by steroids. Whereas the NAD-dependent form seems identical to renal 11ß-HSD 2, the NADP-dependent 11ß-HSD possibly resembles an as yet unknown third isoform.

Molecular cloning, overexpression, and characterization of steroid-inducible 3alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/carbonyl reductase from Comamonas testosteroni. A novel member of the short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase superfamily.

3alpha-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/carbonyl reductase (3alpha-HSD/CR) from Comamonas testosteroni, a bacterium that is able to grow on steroids as the sole carbon source, catalyzes the oxidoreduction at position 3 of a variety of C19-27 steroids and the carbonyl reduction of a variety of nonsteroidal aldehydes and ketones. The gene of this steroid-inducible 3alpha-HSD/CR was cloned by screening a C. testosteroni gene bank with a homologous DNA probe that was obtained by polymerase chain reaction with two degenerative primers based on the N-terminal sequence of the purified enzyme. The 3alpha-HSD/CR gene is 774 base pairs long, and the deduced amino acid sequence comprises 258 residues with a calculated molecular mass of 26.4 kDa. A homology search revealed that amino acid sequences highly conserved in the short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase (SDR) superfamily are present in 3alpha-HSD/CR. Two consensus sequences of the SDR superfamily were found, an N-terminal Gly-X-X-X-Gly-X-Gly cofactor-binding motif and a Tyr-X-X-X-Lys segment (residues 155-159 in the 3alpha-HSD/CR sequence) essential for catalytic activity of SDR proteins. 3alpha-HSD/CR was overexpressed and purified to homogeneity, and its activity was determined for steroid and nonsteroidal carbonyl substrates. These results suggest that inducible 3alpha-HSD/CR from C. testosteroni is a novel member of the SDR superfamily.

Testosterone-regulated expression of enzymes involved in steroid and aromatic hydrocarbon catabolism in Comamonas testosteroni.

The effect of testosterone as the sole carbon source on protein expression was analyzed in Comamonas testosteroni. Testosterone simultaneously induced the expression of steroid- and aromatic hydrocarbon-catabolizing enzymes and repressed one amino acid-degrading enzyme. It is suggested that steroids play a regulative role in catabolic enzyme synthesis during adaptive growth of C. testosteroni.