Abstract
In this review, recent results concerning the function and potential applications of mammalian steroid hydroxylase s, which catalyze the important tailoring of steroid molecules, are discussed. A better understanding of the mechanism and modulation of these enzymes opens up new perspectives and innovative possibilities for the treatment of diseases caused by misfunction of the steroidogenic enzymes such as overproduction of aldosterone leading to hypertension and congestive heart failure. In this chapter, special attention is given to the role of protein–protein interactions on the activity of mitochondrial steroid hydroxylase systems. In addition, the role of steroids themselves as important drugs is considered. The progress in recombinant protein expression and in genome sequencing (leading to the identification of novel cytochrome P450 systems) as well as the application of engineering of mammalian and bacterial steroid hydroxylase s opens up a tremendous reservoir of possibilities for the application of the corresponding strains and enzymes for the sustainable production of steroidal drugs and products. It can be expected that the extensive use of methods of both enzyme and strain engineering will further promote and increase the application of steroid hydroxylase s in biotechnological processes.
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Acknowledgments
I thank Antje Eiden-Plach for technical support upon finalizing the manuscript, and Martin Litzenburger and Jens Neunzig for help with the figures, as well as Dr. Matthias Bureik, Dr. Frank Hannemann, Simon Janocha, and Dr. Daniela Schmitz for critical reading of the manuscript. The support of the EC INTERREG program to R.B. is acknowledged.
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Bernhardt, R. (2014). Mammalian and Bacterial Cytochromes P450 Involved in Steroid Hydroxylation : Regulation of Catalysis and Selectivity, and Potential Applications. In: Yamazaki, H. (eds) Fifty Years of Cytochrome P450 Research. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-54992-5_8
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