Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:2.3.1.28 (chloramphenicol acetyltransferase)
 5,100 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The biosynthesis in Leydig cells of the C19 steroid testosterone from the C21 precursor progesterone requires the activities of the enzyme cytochrome P450 17 alpha-hydroxylase/C17-20 lyase (P450(17 alpha)). Previous studies from this laboratory demonstrated that the de novo synthesis of the P450(17 alpha) protein and the accumulation of P450(17 alpha) mRNA in mouse Leydig cell cultures is absolutely dependent on cAMP stimulation. To investigate further the cAMP regulation of P450(17 alpha) expression in Leydig cells, the structural gene encoding P450(17 alpha) (Cyp17) was isolated from a mouse genomic library using a full-length mouse P450(17 alpha) cDNA. Two overlapping genomic clones were isolated and characterized by restriction mapping and partial sequencing. The two clones together contain the entire coding region and approximately 10 kilobases of 5'-flanking sequences of Cyp17. To identify regions necessary for cAMP-induced transcription, 5'-flanking regions of Cyp17 were fused with the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter gene and transiently transfected into MA-10 tumor Leydig cells. Studies localized the cAMP-responsive region of the gene to a region between -346 and -245 basepairs relative to the transcription initiation site. Transient transfections of MA-10 cells with a construct consisting of the -346/-245 sequences fused to a heterologous promoter, thymidine kinase, and the CAT reporter gene demonstrated a marked increase in cAMP stimulation of CAT expression, providing additional evidence that the -346/-245 sequences of the Cyp17 5'-flanking region confer cAMP-induced expression of Cyp17. This cAMP-responsive region of mouse Cyp17 bears no apparent homology to the cAMP-responsive regions identified in the human and bovine Cyp17 genes.
 ...
PMID:Isolation and characterization of the mouse P450 17 alpha-hydroxylase/C17-20-lyase gene (Cyp17): transcriptional regulation of the gene by cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate in MA-10 Leydig cells. 132 57

GnRH peptide analogs are widely used to treat diverse clinical conditions. However, they have poor oral activity and exhibit rapid metabolic clearance, thus requiring injection and depot formulation. Because steroid hormones are bound to plasma proteins, we explored the possibility of conjugating hydroxylated progesterones to GnRH analogs to reduce metabolic clearance of the peptides. Conjugation of [D-Lys6]GnRH agonist to the alpha11-hydroxyl of alpha11-hydroxyl progesterone via a hemi-succinate bridge increased the plasma half-life after iv injection in rabbits by 3.6-fold while retaining high binding affinity, thus providing proof of concept. Five GnRH antagonists were then synthesized with 21-hydroxyprogesterone conjugated via C21-hydroxyl to positions six (conjugates A and B) and position seven (conjugates C and D) of GnRH antagonists. In the fifth compound the NH2 terminus of a GnRH antagonist lacking the first two amino acids was conjugated via the C21-hydroxyl to 21-hydroxyprogesterone (conjugate E). All five analogs bound to guinea pig progesterone binding globulin with relatively high affinities (264-1020 nM). Moreover, all five conjugates retained high progestogenic activity in stimulating a progesterone-response-element-driven chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene in the T47D breast cancer cell line. Conjugation via the epsilon-amino function of D-Lys6 (conjugates A and B) produced compounds with high binding affinity for the human GnRH receptor (15 and 7 nM) comparable to that of the unconjugated GnRH antagonists (4 and 26 nM). Conjugation via the epsilon-amino function of Lys7 (conjugates C and D) or the NH2 terminus of an N-terminally truncated antagonist (conjugate E) produced compounds of low binding affinity. Conjugates A and B also exhibited high functional antagonism of GnRH stimulation of inositol phosphate production in COS-7 cells expressing the human GnRH receptor (2.6 and 16 nM) compared with the unconjugated antagonists (1.3 and 122 nM). In accordance with their poor receptor binding affinity, conjugates C, D, and E had poor functional antagonism. Preliminary dose-finding studies in female marmosets showed transitory progesterone inhibition by 0.25 mg and prolonged suppression of 12 and 17 d by 0.5- and 1.0-mg doses. Injection of conjugate A in adult male marmosets (0.5 mg sc) rapidly suppressed plasma testosterone levels, which remained suppressed for at least 3 d. In contrast, the unconjugated parent antagonist alone or with progesterone suppressed testosterone for only 8 h to 1 d. The findings demonstrate that conjugation of progesterone to GnRH antagonists conveys plasma binding and progestogenic properties and increases their efficacy and duration of action in vivo. These new GnRH antagonists show promise as therapeutic agents for hormone-dependent diseases and as contraceptives.
 ...
PMID:Bifunctional gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist-progesterone analogs with increased efficacy and duration of action. 1622 68