Steroid Δ4-Reductases of Pig Liver: Partial Purification of Testosterone 5β-Reductase

Abstract

Intracellular distribution studies of steroid Δ4-reductase activity in female pig liver were done using testosterone as substrate. About 60% of the total enzyme activity was found in the 100 000 × g soluble fraction. Labelled 17β-hydroxy-5β-androstan-3-one but not 17β-hydroxy-5α-androstan-3-one was isolated from the incubation of 1,2-3H-testosterone with the 100 000 × g supernatant fraction, indicating the presence of 5β-reductase activity. 5β-Reduction may play an important role in the inactivation of some Δ4-3-ketosteroids in the pig liver.Evidence that 5β-reductases differing in substrate specificity are present in the soluble fraction includes (a) variation in the ratios of enzyme activities for several Δ4-3-ketosteroids in different (NH4)2SO4 fractions obtained from the 100 000 × g soluble fraction, (b) kinetic data showing that the maximum velocity for an equimolar mixture of testosterone and hydrocortisone is the sum of the maximum velocities for the substrates when used singly, and (c) separation of the enzyme activity specific for testosterone from that specific for hydrocortisone by use of Sephadex G-100 and hydroxylapatite chromatography.Utilizing (NH4)2SO4 precipitation and chromatography on Sephadex G-100 and hydroxylapatite, a 105-fold purification of testosterone Δ4-5β-reductase from the 100 000 × g supernatant fraction has been attained. The presence of 5 mM β-mercaptoethanolamine increased the stability of the enzyme.