PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Damjana Rozman
AU  - Michael R. Waterman
TI  - Lanosterol 14α-Demethylase (CYP51) and Spermatogenesis
DP  - 1998 Dec 01
TA  - Drug Metabolism and Disposition
PG  - 1199--1201
VI  - 26
IP  - 12
4099  - http://dmd.aspetjournals.org/content/26/12/1199.short
4100  - http://dmd.aspetjournals.org/content/26/12/1199.full
SO  - Drug Metab Dispos1998 Dec 01; 26
AB  - CYP51 is the only gene of the cytochrome P450 (P450, or CYP) superfamily that is expressed in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. In animals, the gene product, P45014DM, catalyzes the lanosterol 14α-demethylase reaction, an essential step in cholesterol biosynthesis. P45014DM serves a housekeeping role, and it was surprising to find the highest level of CYP51 expression in the testes. This is a result of very high-level CYP51 expression in postmeiotic, haploid spermatids and results in elevated P45014DM activity in these cells. It is proposed that the elevated level of 14α-demethylase activity leads to production of signaling sterols by haploid germ cells, although the function of such sterols in males is unknown. The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics