5α-Pregnane-3α,11β-diol-20-one, abbreviated as 3,11diOH-DHP4, also known as 3α,11β-dihydroxy-5α-pregnan-20-one, is an endogenous steroid.
The steroid 5α-pregnan-3α,11β-diol-20-one (3,11diOH-DHP4) plays a role in the 11-oxygenated steroid backdoor pathway to androgens as a metabolic intermediate. This pathway involves the metabolism of C21 steroids (pregnanes) via enzymes such as steroid 11β-hydroxylase (CYP11B1), steroid 5α-reductase (SRD5A1), 17α-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase (CYP17A1), resulting in the production of androgen precursors. Docking studies have shown that the C11-oxy group of 3,11diOH-DHP4 and alfaxalone does not significantly affect their binding to CYP17A1. Furthermore, it has been observed that the lyase activity of CYP17A1 is impaired by the C11-hydroxyl (-OH) and keto- (=O) moieties present in these steroids. The lyase activity of CYP17A1 converts intermediates like 3,11diOH-DHP4 to potent androgens such as 5α-pregnan-3α,11β,17α-triol-20-one (11OH-Pdiol). These findings indicate that CYP17A1 plays a role in the metabolism of this steroid through both hydroxylation and lyase reactions in the 11-oxygenated steroid backdoor pathway to androgens. This pathway is important for regulating adrenal and gonadal steroid hormone biosynthesis and can contribute to elevated levels of androgens in certain conditions.
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