Expression cloning and regulation of steroid 5α-reductase, an enzyme essential for male sexual differentiation

摘要: The conversion of testosterone into the more potent androgen, dihydrotestosterone, catalyzed by enzyme steroid 5α-reductase, is required for differentiation male external genitalia. Here, we report isolation cDNA clones encoding rat 5α-reductase using expression cloning in Xenopus oocytes. DNA sequence analysis demonstrates that liver and ventral prostate forms are identical hydrophobic proteins 29 kDa. amount mRNA increased response to castration, but remained unchanged prostate. Testosterone administration castrates induced had no effect on liver. data suggest gene differentially regulated androgen-responsive versus non-responsive tissues.