Highlights
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- Mammalian sex hormones are present in plants and influence plant development.
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- Progesterone biosynthesis follows same steps as in mammalian steroidogenesis.
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- Progesterone has a signaling function in adaption to cold and drought stress.
Abstract
In
plants androstanes, estranes, pregnanes and corticoids have been
described. Sometimes 17β-estradiol, androsterone, testosterone or
progesterone were summarized as sex hormones. These steroids influence
plant development: cell divisions, root and shoot growth, embryo growth,
flowering, pollen tube growth and callus proliferation. First reports
on the effect of applicated substances and of their endogenous
occurrence date from the early twenties of the last century. This caused
later on doubts on the identity of the compounds. Best investigated is
the effect of progesterone. Main steps of the progesterone biosynthetic
pathway have been analyzed in Digitalis.
Cholesterol-side-chain-cleavage, pregnenolone and progesterone formation
as well as the stereospecific reduction of progesterone are described
and the corresponding enzymes are presented. Biosynthesis of
androstanes, estranes and corticoids is discussed. Possible progesterone
receptors and physiological reactions on progesterone application are
reviewed.
Abbreviations
- 3βHSD, 3β-hydroxysteroiddehydrogenase;
- 3KSI, 3-ketosteroidisomerase;
- MSBP1, membrane steroid binding protein 1;
- P5βR, progesterone-5β-reductase;
- PGRMC1, progesterone receptor membrane component 1;
- Ro-4864, 7-chloro-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-methyl-3H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one;
- SCCE, side-chain cleaving enzyme;
- SRD5α, steroidreductase5α;
- TSPO, translocator protein
Keywords
- Side-chain-cleavage;
- 3-Beta-dehydrogenase;
- Ketosteroidisomerase;
- Progesterone-5-alpha-reductase;
- Progesterone-5-beta-reductase;
- MSBP1
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