Aparicio Jesús F, Martín Juan F
Insitute of Biotechnology INBIOTEC, Scientific Park of León, León, Spain.
Mol Biosyst. 2008 Aug;4(8):804-9. doi: 10.1039/b717500k. Epub 2008 May 13.
Cholesterol oxidases (3beta-hydroxysterol oxidases; EC 1.1.3.6), serve as catalysts for the initial step in the degradation of cholesterol, and probably other natural sterols, that are used as carbon sources for growth of different bacteria. Because of their suitability for attacking cholesterol they have been widely used for the quantification of cholesterol in clinical and food specimens. Cholesterol oxidase has also found application as a probe for membrane structure, as an insecticide, and has been implicated in bacterial pathogenesis. Recently, we have found that a Streptomyces cholesterol oxidase is required for the biosynthesis of the antifungal polyene pimaricin, apparently acting as an antifungal sensor. Here we describe our current understanding of these fascinating enzymes.
胆固醇氧化酶（3β-羟基甾醇氧化酶；EC 1.1.3.6），作为胆固醇降解第一步的催化剂，可能也是其他用作不同细菌生长碳源的天然甾醇降解第一步的催化剂。由于它们适合作用于胆固醇，已被广泛用于临床和食品样本中胆固醇的定量分析。胆固醇氧化酶还被用作膜结构的探针、杀虫剂，并与细菌致病机制有关。最近，我们发现链霉菌胆固醇氧化酶是抗真菌多烯匹马菌素生物合成所必需的，显然起着抗真菌传感器的作用。在此，我们描述了我们目前对这些迷人酶的理解。
