STEROID DESMOLASE IN GONADS OF A MARINE INVERTEBRATE PLACOPECTEN MAGELLANICUS GMELIN

Biotransformation of a C-21 steroid, 17α-hydroxyprogesterone1 1 Nomenclature: 17α-hydroxyprogesterone = 17α-hydroxypregn-4-ene-3, 20-dione; androstene-dione = androst-4-en-3,17-dione; testosterone = 17β-hydroxy-androst-4-en-3-one; dehydroepiandrosterone = 3β-hydroxyandrost-5-en-17-one; pregnenolone = 3β-hydroxypregn-5-ene-20-one; progesterone = pregn-4-ene-3,20-dione; 11β-hydroxyandrostenedione = 11β-hydroxyandrost-4-en-3,17-dione; cortisol = 11β,17α, 21-trihydroxypregn-4-ene-3,20-dione; cortisone = 17α,21-dihydroxy-pregn-4-ene-3,11-20-trione; Reichstein's S = 17α, 21-dihydroxypregn-4-ene-3,20-dione, cholesterol = cholest-5-en-3β-ol., to a C-19 steroid, androstenedione, was effected with scallop gonadal tissue in vitro. This desmolase activity was not demonstrated in parallel studies with hepatopancreas. No testosterone was detected when either tissue was incubated with pregnenolone or 17α-hydroxyprogesterone. Several attempts to convert normal precursors to cortisol or cortisone with both tissues were unsuccessful. © 1969.