Studies of the human testis. VII. Conversion of pregnenolone to progesterone.

Delta5-3beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (EC.1.1.1.145) and steroid delta-isomerase (EC.5.3.3.1) were extracted from frozen human testicular tissue and co-precipitated by addition of ammonium sulfate. The activities of both enzymes were localized in the 0-40% (NH4)2SO4 fraction. The enzyme preparation catalyzed conversion of pregnenolone, 17alpha-hydroxypregnenolone, dehydroepiandrosterone, and androstenediol to the corresponding delta4-3-oxosteroid. Since isomerization appeared not to be the rate-limiting step of the overall reaction, measurement of activity of delta5-3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase was related to the amount of delta4-3-oxosteroid produced from the corresponding delta5-3beta-hydroxysteroid. Delta5-3beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase required NAD for maximal activity. The Michaelis constants (Km) for NAD were 50 muM, 33 muM and 14 muM, respectively for the dehydrogenation of pregnenolone, 17alpha-hydroxypregnenolone, androstenediol and dehydroepiandrosterone. Km values for each substrate were: pregnenolone 10 muM, 17alpha-hydroxypregnenolone and dehydroepiandrosterone 2.5 muM and androstenediol 3.0 muM. Human testicular delta5-3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase was inhibited by most of the steroids procued by the testis. The following steroids acted as competitive inhibitors with pregnenolone: 17alpha-hydroxypregenolone (Ki = 1.3 muM), androstenediol (Ki = 2.4 muM), dehydroepiandrosterone (Ki = 0.74 muM), 20alpha-dihydroprogesterone (Ki = 1.1 muM) estrone (Ki = 0.33 muM) and estradiol-17beta (Ki = 0.87 muM). 17alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone, testosterone and androstenedione showed mixed-type inhibition of the enzyme for pregnenolone. Progesterone and NADH were noncompetitive inhibitors of the enzyme for pregnenolone. Ki values, with respect to prenenolone, were 7.4 muM for progesterone and 150 muM for NADH. NADH, however, acted competitively with NAD and Ki value was 30 muM.