Steroids are abundant growth substrates for bacteria in natural, engineered, and host-associated environments. This study analyzed the distribution of the aerobic 9,10-seco steroid degradation pathway in 346 publically available metagenomes from diverse environments. Our results show that steroid-degrading bacteria are globally distributed and prevalent in particular environments, such as waste...

PATIENTS with treated adrenogenital syndrome are rare and those who become pregnant are rarer still. The syndrome results from abnormal steroid synthesis in the adrenal glands caused by increased ACITH secretion following a lack of cirulating cortisol. The abnormal adrenal steroids give rise to many masculinising features including the suppression of ovulation. Since 1950 when Wilkins first rec...

The presence and location of specific binding sites for progesterone and 17beta-estradiol in cells of wheat were estimated using radioligand binding assay. Membrane and cytosolic fractions of non-vernalized and vernalized plants were tested using tritium-labelled ligands. Specific binding of [(3)H]progesterone and [(3)H]17beta-estradiol occurs in wheat cells. The binding sites are located in me...

Closely related transcription factors (TFs) can bind to the same response elements (REs) with similar affinities and activate transcription. However, it is unknown whether transcription is similarly orchestrated by different TFs bound at the same RE. Here we have compared the recovery half time (t1/2), binding site occupancy and the resulting temporal changes in transcription upon binding of tw...

In women and men, an important proportion of estrogens and androgens are synthesized locally at their site of action in peripheral target tissues. This new field of endocrinology has been called intracrinology. In postmenopausal women, 100% of active sex steroids are synthesized in peripheral target tissues from inactive steroid precursors while, in adult men, approximately 50% of androgens are...

1. An analytical procedure has been developed for the determination of urinary 17-oxosteroid sulphates and 11-deoxy-17-oxosteroid glucosiduronates. 2. By submitting urine to the following operations: (a) extraction of the 17-oxosteroid conjugates into chloroform (in the presence of pyridinium sulphate), (b) solvolysis (in the absence of acid) of the steroid sulphates, (c) separation of the ster...

The steroid hormones in addition to their function in sex physiology have important roles in the regulation of carbohydrate, protein, and electrolyte metabolisms. Although abnormalities involving the steroids are known to be present in certain diseases, the exact role of these disturbances in the etiology and manifestations of these diseases has not been established, because, hitherto, the meth...

Rapid effects of steroid hormones result from the actions of specific receptors localized most often to the plasma membrane. Fast-acting membrane-initiated steroid signaling (MISS) leads to the modification of existing proteins and cell behaviors. Rapid steroid-triggered signaling through calcium, amine release, and kinase activation also impacts the regulation of gene expression by steroids, s...