Aromatase

Aromatase
An enzyme (actually an enzyme complex) involved in the production of estrogen that acts by catalyzing the conversion of testosterone (an androgen) to estradiol (an estrogen). Aromatase is located in estrogen-producing cells in the adrenal glands, ovaries, placenta, testicles, adipose (fat) tissue, and brain. The growth of some breast cancers is promoted by estrogens. For example, the drug letrozole (brand name: Femara) is an antiestrogen sometimes used to treat such estrogen-dependent tumors. The drug acts by inhibiting the enzyme aromatase which lowers the level of the estrogen, estradiol.

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aro·ma·tase ə-'rō-mə-.tās, -.tāz n an enzyme or complex of enzymes that promotes the conversion of an androgen (as testosterone) into estrogens (as estradiol)

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aro·ma·tase (ə-roґmə-tās) an enzyme activity occurring in the endoplasmic reticulum and catalyzing the conversion of testosterone to the aromatic compound estradiol, proceeding via three successive hydroxylations, loss of a carbon atom, and rearrangement.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Aromatase — Bändermodell nach PDB  …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • aromatase — aromatase. См. ароматаза. (Источник: «Англо русский толковый словарь генетических терминов». Арефьев В.А., Лисовенко Л.А., Москва: Изд во ВНИРО, 1995 г.) …   Молекулярная биология и генетика. Толковый словарь.

  • Aromatase — Cytochrome P450, family 19, subfamily A, polypeptide 1 Crystallographic structure of the human aromatase cytochrome P450 (rainbow colored cartoon, N terminus = blue, C terminus = red) in complex with the cofactor protoporphyrin IX (top) and the… …   Wikipedia

  • Aromatase — L’aromatase est une enzyme responsable de la biosynthèse des œstrogènes. Les œstrogènes peuvent être la cause de cancers ou d autres maladies, les inhibiteurs de l aromatase sont fréquemment utilisés pour traiter ces pathologies. Aromatase… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Aromatase inhibitor — Aromatase inhibitors (AI) are a class of drugs used in the treatment of breast cancer and ovarian cancer in postmenopausal women that block the aromatase enzyme.Type I and IIAIs are categorized into two types: [cite journal |author=Mokbel K… …   Wikipedia

  • Aromatase inhibitor — A drug that inhibits the enzyme aromatase and thus lowers the level of the estrogen, estradiol. Aromatase inhibitors are a class of antiestrogens. Aromatase catalyzes the conversion of testosterone (an androgen) to estradiol (an estrogen) in… …   Medical dictionary

  • aromatase inhibitor — any one of a class of drugs used in the treatment of early and advanced oestrogen dependent breast cancer in postmenopausal women. These drugs act by inhibiting the action of aromatase, an enzyme that promotes the conversion of testosterone to… …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • aromatase inhibitor — A drug that prevents the formation of estradiol, a female hormone, by interfering with an aromatase enzyme. Aromatase inhibitors are used as a type of hormone therapy for postmenopausal women who have hormone dependent breast cancer …   English dictionary of cancer terms

  • aromatase inhibitors — a class of drugs that inhibit aromatase activity and thus block production of estrogens; used to treat breast cancer and endometriosis …   Medical dictionary

  • aromatase — noun Etymology: aromatic + ase Date: 1984 an enzyme or complex of enzymes that promotes the conversion of an androgen into estrogen …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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