Evolution, Classification, Structure, and Functional Diversification of Steroid 5α-Reductase Family in Eukaryotes

July 2024 in “ Heliyon ”

Khawar Ali, Wenjuan Li, Guang Wu

steroid 5α-reductase SRD5A dihydrotestosterone DHT testosterone

TLDR Steroid 5α-reductase evolved from protists and diversified in eukaryotes, with specific roles in mammals and plants.

The study explores the evolution, classification, structure, and functional diversification of the steroid 5α-reductase (SRD5A) family in eukaryotes, highlighting its role in converting testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in mammals and campesterol to campestanol in plants. It traces the phylogenetic origins of SRD5A to protists, although not all protists retain these genes, indicating possible gene loss. The research identifies lineage-specific duplications, such as in *Caenorhabditis elegans*, which has three SRD5A genes, unlike *Drosophila melanogaster*, which has none. A new subclass, DET2-like (DET2L), was found in plants, but its expression in *Arabidopsis* mutants did not enhance phenotypes, suggesting a role in reducing polyprenol or other substrates.

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