Open AccessAnabolic utilization of steroid hormones in Helicobacter pylori
Author(s) -
Hosoda Kouichi,
Shimomura Hirofumi,
Hayashi Shunji,
Yokota Kenji,
Oguma Keiji,
Hirai Yoshikazu
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2009.01685.x
Subject(s) - anabolism , anabolic steroid , helicobacter pylori , hormone , steroid , steroid use , chemistry , endocrinology , medicine
In this study, we have demonstrated that Helicobacter pylori absorbs a steroid prehormone (pregnenolone) and two androgens (dehydroepiandrosterone and epiandrosterone), glucosylates these steroids, and utilizes glucosyl‐steroid hormone compounds as the membrane lipid components. The only common structure among the steroid prehormone and the two androgens is a 3β‐OH in the steroid framework. Our results indicate that the 3β‐OH in the steroid hormones is a crucial conformation required for steroid glucosylation by H. pylori . In addition, we found that H. pylori absorbs and holds estrogens possessing 3‐OH (estrone and estradiol) into the membrane. The effective absorption of estrogen into the membrane appeared to be controlled by the number of hydroxyl groups modifying the steroid framework. In contrast, H. pylori induced neither membrane absorption nor glucosylation of the other steroid hormones possessing 3=O (progesterone, androstenedione and testosterone) or 3α‐OH (androsterone). These results indicate that H. pylori selectively absorbs 3β‐OH and 3‐OH steroid hormones, and utilizes only 3β‐OH steroid hormones as the materials for glucosylation.