The Hormone's Hormone
Dateline: 10/15/98
We usually associate hormones with mood swings, athletic supplements, or body regulators. Earlier this week, researchers announced the first of a particular kind of hormone. While traditional steroid hormones activate genes or amplify the activity of a particular gene, this newly discovered steroid hormone actually halts gene activity. By binding to a particular receptor on a protein molecule, this hormone causes gene activity to come to a screeching halt!
The hormone, called androstanol, binds to a receptor called car-beta. Normally, car-beta stimulates gene activity, but when bound to androstanol, it causes the gene activity to cease.
Androstanol is chemically similar to androgen, the hormone found in human males which stimulates the development of male sex organs as well as secondary sexual characteristics. Interestingly, several studies have linked androstanol to pheromonic action in human males.
Since the metabolic pathways involved are so complicated, scientists are unsure of the specific function of car-beta in relation to commonly understood pathways of gene activity. They speculate that this may be an entirely new metabolic activity regulator. This study supports other studies that suggest that these types of steroids affect human behavior in general as well as human sexual behavior.
Scientists from the Salk Institute and the City of Hope Diabetes Center collaborated on this project. They hope that this mechanism might shed further light on a number of biochemical processes. Since this is the first steroid hormone to exhibit this behavior, they also speculate that a new class of such compounds may be discovered.
It has been nearly thirty years since the last discovery of a steroid hormone. Androstanol is "chemically related" to the hormone that Mark McGwire of the St. Louis Cardinals took during his record-breaking season. Its actual effects on performance are hotly debated within the scientific community. The method of action within the body is largely unknown.
What do you think? What other methods of action of hormones might exist? Could these steroid hormones act as a pheromone of sorts? Come over to the Biology Forum and share your thoughts, opinions, and feelings. 'Til next time...
