ACTIVE-SITE-DIRECTED IRREVERSIBLE INHIBITOR OF DELTA-5-3-KETOSTEROID ISOMERASE

The α and β isomers of spiro-3-oxiranyl-5α-androstan-17β-ol were tested as possible inhibitors of Δ5-3-ketosteroid isomerase of Pseudomonas testosteroni. The β-oxirane causes a first-order irreversible inactivation of the enzyme and shows saturation kinetics (KI, 17 μM). Protection against inactivation is exhibited by 19-nortestosterone, a competitive inhibitor of the isomerase. Although the α-oxirane was found to be a good reversible inhibitor (Ki, 21 μM), prolonged incubation with it failed to produce any inactivation of the isomerase. The results obtained are consistent with the presence of a nucleophilic group situated near the 3-keto group of the substrate in the enzyme-steroid complex. © 1979.