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. 1988 Dec;85(23):8948–8952. doi: 10.1073/pnas.85.23.8948

Isolation of a full-length cDNA insert encoding human aromatase system cytochrome P-450 and its expression in nonsteroidogenic cells.

C J Corbin 1, S Graham-Lorence 1, M McPhaul 1, J I Mason 1, C R Mendelson 1, E R Simpson 1
PMCID: PMC282624  PMID: 2848247

Abstract

The isolation and cloning of a full-length cDNA insert complementary to mRNA encoding human aromatase system cytochrome P-450 is reported. The insert contains an open reading frame encoding a protein of 503 amino acids. This gene is clearly a member of the cytochrome P-450 gene superfamily, because the sequence contains regions of marked homology to those of other members, notably a putative membrane-spanning region, I helix, Ozols, and heme-binding regions. The cDNA was inserted into a modified pCMV vector and expressed in COS-1 monkey kidney tumor cells. The expressed protein was similar in size to human placental aromatase system cytochrome P-450, as detected by immunoblot analysis, and catalyzed the aromatization of androstenedione, testosterone, and 16 alpha-hydroxyandrostenedione. This activity was inhibited by the known aromatase inhibitors, 4-hydroxyandrostenedione and econazole. Thus the several steps involved in the aromatization reaction appear to be catalyzed by a single polypeptide chain, which can metabolize the three major physiological substrates.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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