Abstract
Summary
Isolated, ACTH-stimulated calf adrenals, perfused anaerobically (N2) with TTC as a hydrogen acceptor, failed to elaborate Compounds F, E, B or a C21O2 steroidal intermediate despite an active oxidative metabolism. Specific enzymatic conversion studies with added steroid substrates demonstrated their inability to perform 11β-, 17α-, and 21-hydroxylations under anaerobic conditions although they were able to transform the Δ5-3β-hydroxyl group to the Δ4-3-ketone. It would appear that the hydroxylases, which selectively introduce hydroxyl groups in the side chain or nucleus, require molecular oxygen (or a reactive derivative) in contrast to the 3β-dehydrogenase system, which catalyzes the oxidation of an existing oxygen function.
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