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Structure and function of the peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor in steroidogenic cells
1Department of Cell Biology and Pharmacology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20007, USA. papadopv@gunet.georgetown.edu
Abstract:
Steroidogenesis depends on the rate of cholesterol transport from intracellular stores to the inner mitochondrial membrane cytochrome P-450 side-chain cleavage enzyme. Using steroidogenic cell submitochondrial fractions, mitochondrial preparations, various cell models, and animal models and with the help of pharmacological, biochemical, morphological, and molecular approaches, we provide evidence that the peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor mediates the intramitochondrial cholesterol transport and the subsequent adrenal, gonadal, placental, and brain steroid biosynthesis.