REVIEW: From Structure and Functions of Steroidogenic Enzymes to New Technologies of Gene Engineering

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L. A. Novikova^1*, Ya. V. Faletrov², I. E. Kovaleva¹, S. Mauersberger³, V. N. Luzikov^1#, and V. M. Shkumatov²

¹Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia; E-mail: novik@genebee.msu.su

²Institute of Physico-Chemical Problems, Belorussian State University, Minsk, Belarus

³Institute of Microbiology, Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed.

^# Deceased.

Received December 25, 2008; Revision received February 10, 2009

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This review summarizes data about structural and functional organization of steroidogenic P450-dependent enzymatic systems. Problems of catalysis of steroid substrate transformation, special features of mitochondrial type P450scc topogenesis, and abilities of some microbial electron transport proteins to support P450 activity in vitro and in vivo are considered. Principal steps in the creation and catalytic properties of transgenic strains of Escherichia coli, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Yarrowia lipolytica expressing both mammalian steroidogenic P450s and the corresponding electron transport proteins are also described. Achievements and prospects of using such transgenic strains for biotechnological synthesis and pharmacological screening are considered.

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KEY WORDS: cytochrome P450, steroid hormone biosynthesis, transgenic microorganisms, topogenesis, electron transport proteins, cytochrome P450 inhibitors

DOI: 10.1134/S0006297909130057

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