We found that 3α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3α-HSD) from Pseudomonas sp. B-0831 can catalyze the carbonyl reduction of non-steroid substrates, such as metyrapone and p-nitrobenzaldehyde, in addition to the activity of 3α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. The results of an inhibition study in metyrapone reduction by androsterone and cholic acid indicated that metyrapone bound to the same catalyti...

The hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) family has three distinct members in most vertebrates. All three HIFs consist of a unique and oxygen-labile α-subunit and a common and stable β-subunit. While HIF-1 and HIF-2 function as master regulators of the transcriptional response to hypoxia, much less is known about HIF-3. The HIF-3α gene gives rise to multiple HIF-3α variants due to the utilization of ...

Two new triterpenoids namely, 3α-hydroxyferna-7, 9(11),22-trien-12-one (1) and 3α-acetoxyferna-7, 9(11)-dien-22-ol (2) along with two known compounds 3α,16α-dihydroxyferna-7,9(11)-dien-12-one (3) and 3α,16α-dihydroxyferna-8-en-11-one (4) were isolated from Lonicera quinquelocularis. Their structures were elucidated by chemical and modern spectroscopic techniques. All the compounds showed good a...

A novel factor of interest for growth/plasticity in the brain is pregnane xenobiotic receptor (PXR). PXR is a liver factor known for its role in xenobiotic clearance and cholesterol metabolism. It is expressed in the brain, suggesting a potential role for plasticity, particularly involving cholesterol-based steroids and neurosteroids. Mating induces synthesis of neurosteroids in the midbrain Ve...

Fifteen compounds, which included six chiral lignans and nine phenolic glycosides, were separated from the butanol fraction of Averrhoa carambola L. root and identified. All of the compounds, namely 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenol-1-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, benzyl-1-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, (+)-5'-methoxyisolariciresinol 3α-O-β-D-gluco-pyranoside, (+)-isolariciresinol 3α-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, koaburaside, ...

STUDY QUESTION By investigating a birth cohort with a high ongoing participation rate to derive an unbiased population, what are the parameters and influences upon testicular function for a population not selected with regard to fertility? SUMMARY ANSWER While varicocele, cryptorchidism and obesity may impact on human testicular function, most common drug exposures and the presence of epididy...

The major metabolite of progesterone, 3α-OH-dihydroprogesterone (3α-OH-DHP), is the most potent endogenous positive modulator of central nervous system GABAA receptors. Acute intravenous administration of 3α-OH-DHP to virgin female rats potentiates arterial baroreflex sympathoinhibitory responses. The current experiments tested the possibility that circulating 3α-OH-DHP potentiates central GABA...

The present study sought to characterize the role of macrophage inflammatory protein-3α (MIP-3α) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with early recurrence or metastasis after primary pulmonary resection. Follow-up examinations were conducted for 203 NSCLC patients with primary pulmonary resection for two years post-operatively, and data was also collected for 20 healthy subjects. Ser...