To this day, a significant proportion of the human genome remains devoid of functional characterization. In this study, we present evidence that the previously functionally uncharacterized product of the human DHRS10 gene is endowed with 17beta-HSD (17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase) activity. 17beta-HSD enzymes are primarily involved in the metabolism of steroids at the C-17 position and also of other substrates such as fatty acids, prostaglandins and xenobiotics. In vitro, DHRS10 converts NAD+ into NADH in the presence of oestradiol, testosterone and 5-androstene-3beta,17beta-diol. Furthermore, the product of oestradiol oxidation, oestrone, was identified in intact cells transfected with a construct plasmid encoding the DHRS10 protein. In situ fluorescence hybridization studies have revealed the cytoplasmic localization of DHRS10. Along with tissue expression data, this suggests a role for DHRS10 in the local inactivation of steroids in the central nervous system and placenta. The crystal structure of the DHRS10 apoenzyme exhibits secondary structure of the SDR (short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase) family: a Rossmann-fold with variable loops surrounding the active site. It also reveals a broad and deep active site cleft into which NAD+ and oestradiol can be docked in a catalytically competent orientation.

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In both humans and mice, 17b-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type-7 (HSD17B7) was described as possessing dual enzymatic functionality. The enzyme was first shown to be able to convert estrone to estradiol in vitro. Later involvement of this enzyme in postsqualene cholesterol biosynthesis was postulated (conversion of zymosterone to zymosterol) and could be proven in vitro. In this work, we performed a detailed analysis of the transcriptional regulation of both the human and murine genes. Despite relatively low sequence similarity, both promoters contain similar contexts of transcription factor-binding sites. The participation of these sites in transcriptional regulation of HSD17B7 was proven by electromobility shift assay and site-directed mutagenesis of the corresponding binding sites. We describe novel involvement of vitamin D receptor/retinoid X receptor and provide new information on the regulation of HSD17B7 expression by sterol regulatory element-binding protein and hepatocyte nuclear factor 4, the latter known from other genes of cholesterogenic enzymes. The results of our study provide unequivocal evidence for a role of HSD17B7 in cholesterol biosynthesis.

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