Molecular mechanisms of estrogen recognition and 17-keto reduction by human 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase

The reduction of inactive estrone (El) to the active estrogen 17 beta -estradiol (E2) is catalyzed by type 1 17 beta -hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17HSD1). Crystallographic studies, modeling and activity measurement of mutants and chimeric enzymes have led to the understanding of its mechanism of action and the molecular basis for the estrogenic specificity. An electrophilic attack on the C17-keto oxygen by the Tyr 155 hydroxyl is proposed for initiation of the transition state. The active site is a hydrophobic pocket with catalytic residues at one end and the recognition machinery on the other. Tyr 155, Lys 159 and Ser 142 are essential for the activity. The presence of certain other amino acids near the substrate recognition end of the active site including His 152 and Pro 187 is critical to the shape complementarity of estrogenic ligands. His 221 and Glu 282 form hydrogen bonds with 3-hydroxyl of the aromatic A-ring of the ligand. This mechanism of recognition of El by 17HSD1 is similar to that of E2 by estrogen receptor a. In a ternary complex with NADP(+) and equilin, an equine estrogen with C7 = C8 double bond, the orientation of C17 = O of equilin relative to the C4-hydride is more acute than the near normal approach of the hydride for the substrate. In the ape-enzyme structure, a substrate-entry loop (residues 186-201) is in an open conformation. The loop is closed in this complex and Phe 192 and Met 193 make contacts with the ligand. Residues of the entry loop could be partially responsible for the estrogenic specificity. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.