A deiodinase enzyme is a selenoprotein that plays a critical role in thyroid hormone metabolism by catalyzing the removal of iodine atoms from iodothyronines. These enzymes are essential gatekeepers, regulating the concentration of active thyroid hormone, triiodothyronine (T3), within specific target tissues. There are three primary forms, D1, D2, and D3, each with a unique role in either the activation or inactivation of the thyroid prohormone, thyroxine (T4). Their activity is a key determinant of an individual’s peripheral thyroid status.
Origin
The term combines the prefix ‘de-‘, meaning removal, with ‘iodine’ and the suffix ‘-ase’, which denotes an enzyme, thus describing its chemical function of removing iodine. This enzymatic system is intrinsic to the peripheral regulation of the endocrine system, ensuring hormonal homeostasis far beyond the thyroid gland itself. Discovery of these specific enzymes provided clarity on how thyroid hormone action is locally controlled in different organs. The identification of selenium as a necessary cofactor highlighted the nutritional dependency of this system.
Mechanism
Deiodinase enzymes, specifically D1, D2, and D3, function through a selenium-dependent mechanism to cleave iodine from the phenolic or tyrosyl rings of T4. D1 and D2 deiodinases remove an iodine from the outer ring of T4 to produce the biologically active T3. Conversely, D3 deiodinase removes an iodine from the inner ring, converting T4 to inactive reverse T3 (rT3) and T3 to T2, effectively terminating hormone action. The precise balance of these three enzymatic activities is crucial for maintaining cellular energy balance and metabolic rate.
The body's hormonal axes, influenced by diet and stress, form an interconnected network where dysfunction in one can trigger autoimmune thyroid conditions.
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