Open AccessRoles of steroid sulfatase in brain and other tissues
Author(s) -
Lubomír Kříž,
Marie Bičı́ková,
Richard Hampl
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
physiological research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.647
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1802-9973
pISSN - 0862-8408
DOI - 10.33549/physiolres.931207
Subject(s) - steroid sulfatase , steroid , hormone , sulfatase , steroid hormone , enzyme , endocrinology , medicine , chemistry , biology , biochemistry
Steroid sulfatase (EC 3.1.6.2) is an important enzyme involved insteroid hormone metabolism. It catalyzes the hydrolysis ofsteroid sulfates into their unconjugated forms. This action rapidlychanges their physiological and biochemical properties, especiallyin brain and neural tissue. As a result, any imbalance in steroidsulfatase activity may remarkably influence physiological levels ofactive steroid hormones with serious consequences. Despite thatthe structure of the enzyme has been completely resolved thereis still not enough information about the regulation of itsexpression and action in various tissues. In the past few yearsresearch into the enzyme properties and regulations has beenstrongly driven by the discovery of its putative role in the indirectstimulation of the growth of hormone-dependent tumors of thebreast and prostate.