Structural basis for androgen specificity and oestrogen synthesis in human aromatase

Ghosh, Debashis; Griswold, Jennifer; Erman, Mary; Pangborn, Walter

doi:10.1038/nature07614

Cited by 662Estrogen and related hormone effectsMetal-Catalyzed Oxygenation MechanismsEnzyme Structure and Function

Structural basis for androgen specificity and oestrogen synthesis in human aromatase

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Ghosh, Debashis, Griswold, Jennifer, Erman, Mary, Pangborn, Walter·2009·Nature

DOI 10.1038/nature07614PMC PMC2820300

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Abstract

Aromatase cytochrome P450 is the only enzyme in vertebrates known to catalyse the biosynthesis of all oestrogens from androgens. Aromatase inhibitors therefore constitute a frontline therapy for oestrogen-dependent breast cancer. In a three-step process, each step requiring 1 mol of O(2), 1 mol of NADPH, and coupling with its redox partner cytochrome P450 reductase, aromatase converts androstenedione, testosterone and 16alpha-hydroxytestosterone to oestrone, 17beta-oestradiol and 17beta,16alpha-oestriol, respectively. The first two steps are C19-methyl hydroxylation steps, and the third involves the aromatization of the steroid A-ring, unique to aromatase. Whereas most P450s are not highly substrate selective, it is the hallmark androgenic specificity that sets aromatase apart. The structure of this enzyme of the endoplasmic reticulum membrane has remained unknown for decades, hindering elucidation of the biochemical mechanism. Here we present the crystal structure of human placental aromatase, the only natural mammalian, full-length P450 and P450 in hormone biosynthetic pathways to be crystallized so far. Unlike the active sites of many microsomal P450s that metabolize drugs and xenobiotics, aromatase has an androgen-specific cleft that binds the androstenedione molecule snugly. Hydrophobic and polar residues exquisitely complement the steroid backbone. The locations of catalytically important residues shed light on the reaction mechanism. The relative juxtaposition of the hydrophobic amino-terminal region and the opening to the catalytic cleft shows why membrane anchoring is necessary for the lipophilic substrates to gain access to the active site. The molecular basis for the enzyme's androgenic specificity and unique catalytic mechanism can be used for developing next-generation aromatase inhibitors.

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Authors: Ghosh, D., Griswold, J., Erman, M., & Pangborn, W.
Affiliations: Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute (US)
Corresponding author: Ghosh, Debashis
ORCID: Ghosh, Debashis
Venue: Nature
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published: 2009-01
Volume: 457
Issue: 7226
Pages: 219-223
ISSN: 0028-0836 (ISSN-L)
1476-4687
DOI: 10.1038/nature07614
PMC: PMC2820300
OpenAlex: W2055131068
Cited by: 618
References: 35
Citations by year: 2026: 36 · 2025: 36 · 2024: 34 · 2023: 36 · 2022: 33 · 2021: 29 · 2020: 38 · 2019: 31 · 2018: 40 · 2017: 24 · 2016: 36 · 2015: 37 · 2014: 36 · 2013: 41 · 2012: 37
FWCI: 26.91
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: green
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Licence: www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
Locations: Nature (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
Funders: National Institute of General Medical Sciences (R01GM086893, GM59450, R21GM059450, R01GM062794, GM62794)
Topics: Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Estrogen and related hormone effects
Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Inorganic Chemistry › Metal-Catalyzed Oxygenation Mechanisms
Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Materials Chemistry › Enzyme Structure and Function
Keywords: aromatase, human placental aromatase, cytochrome P450, estrogen synthesis, aromatase inhibitors, breast cancer, enzyme mechanism, substrate specificity, endoplasmic reticulum membrane, crystal structure, estradiol
MeSH terms: Androgens, Aromatase, Estrogens, Female, Humans, Lipid Bilayers, Models, Molecular, Placenta, Protein Binding, Protein Conformation, Substrate Specificity, Crystallography, X-Ray, Catalytic Domain

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Structural basis for androgen specificity and oestrogen synthesis in human aromatase

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