Question 1

What is the Meaning of P450c17 Enzyme?

Accepted Answer

P450c17, formally Cytochrome P450 17A1 (CYP17A1), is a pivotal enzyme in the steroidogenic pathway, responsible for two distinct reactions: 17α-hydroxylase and 17,20-lyase. This enzyme is essential for converting C21 steroids, like pregnenolone and progesterone, into C19 steroids such as DHEA and androstenedione, critical precursors for all sex hormones.

Question 2

What is the Context of P450c17 Enzyme?

Accepted Answer

Operating within the endoplasmic reticulum of steroidogenic cells in the adrenal glands, testes, and ovaries, P450c17 is an integral component of steroid hormone biosynthesis. Its strategic location and dual enzymatic activities position it at a critical branching point, directing steroid intermediates towards mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid synthesis or androgen production.

Question 3

What is the Significance of P450c17 Enzyme?

Accepted Answer

Proper functioning of P450c17 is fundamental for normal pubertal development, fertility, and maintaining adrenal health. Aberrations in its activity, whether genetic deficiency or altered regulation, lead to significant hormonal imbalances, impacting sexual differentiation, reproductive capacity, and metabolic well-being, requiring careful clinical evaluation.

Question 4

What is the Mechanism of P450c17 Enzyme?

Accepted Answer

P450c17 exhibits two distinct enzymatic activities: 17α-hydroxylase, converting pregnenolone and progesterone to their 17α-hydroxy derivatives, and 17,20-lyase, cleaving the side chain of these precursors to yield DHEA and androstenedione. These sequential reactions are crucial, representing rate-limiting steps in androgen synthesis, which are then converted to estrogens.

Question 5

What is the Application of P450c17 Enzyme?

Accepted Answer

Understanding P450c17's role is critical in clinical diagnosis and management of endocrine disorders, including congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) due to CYP17A1 deficiency, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and certain hormone-dependent cancers. Pharmacological inhibitors targeting P450c17 are utilized in therapeutic protocols to reduce androgen synthesis, for instance, in prostate cancer treatment.

Question 6

What is the Metric of P450c17 Enzyme?

Accepted Answer

Assessment of P450c17 activity is typically indirect, relying on the measurement of its steroid substrates and products in serum or urine. Specific biomarkers like 17α-hydroxyprogesterone, DHEA, androstenedione, testosterone, and cortisol levels provide insight into the enzyme's function and potential deficiencies or excesses. Hormonal profiling helps differentiate steroidogenesis disorders.

Question 7

What is the Risk of P450c17 Enzyme?

Accepted Answer

Dysregulation of P450c17 activity, often due to genetic mutations, can lead to severe endocrine disorders. Complete P450c17 deficiency, for example, results in a lack of sex steroids, ambiguous genitalia in males, and an excess of mineralocorticoids causing hypertension and hypokalemia. Conversely, altered regulation or increased activity might contribute to androgen excess, impacting patient health.

P450c17 Enzyme

Meaning

Context

Significance

Mechanism

Application

Metric

Risk

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