Abstract
On the trail of steroid aromatase: The work of Kenneth J. Ryan
Highlights
Females and males require both sex hormones in a balance appropriate for each sex
Three papers published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, authored by Kenneth J
Ryan and recognized as Classics here [1,2,3], laid the groundwork for understanding the role of steroid aromatase and other steroid-modifying enzymes in estrogen biosynthesis. Before embarking on his studies of steroid aromatase, Ryan, along with co-author Lewis Engel, discovered that microsomal fractions of adrenal glands from beef contain an enzyme activity that hydroxylates carbon 21 in the hormone progesterone and several of its derivatives [1]. This finding clarified the enzymatic nature of this pivotal step in steroid hormone production in adrenal tissues
Summary
Females and males require both sex hormones in a balance appropriate for each sex. A chief role of steroid aromatase, along with those of other enzymes that modify or metabolize steroid hormones, is to maintain this healthy balance, for example, during development and pregnancy and in reproductive tissues. Before embarking on his studies of steroid aromatase, Ryan, along with co-author Lewis Engel, discovered that microsomal fractions of adrenal glands from beef contain an enzyme activity that hydroxylates carbon 21 in the hormone progesterone and several of its derivatives [1]. This finding clarified the enzymatic nature of this pivotal step in steroid hormone production in adrenal tissues.
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