Biosynthesis of all androgens from cholesterol first requires cytochrome P450 (CYP) 11A1 for generation of pregnanes and then CYP17A1 for biosynthesis of androgens, but CYP17A1 inhibition cannot completely inhibit androgen biosynthesis in prostate cancer. Here, the authors identify a role for CYP51A1 in the biosynthesis of androgens that completely bypasses the requirement for CYP17A1 and demonstrate that CYP51A1 is essential for the biosynthesis of 13C-testosterone from 13C-cholesterol in prostate cancer cells.
- Ziqi Zhu
- Yoon-Mi Chung
- Nima Sharifi
