Cholestane tetrol synthesis

Hvdroxvlation pathway An alternative explanation for the bile acid synthetic defect in CTX has been proposed by Oftebro and colleagues which starts via 26-hydroxylation of 5P-cholestane-3a,7a,12a-triol (IX, Fig. lOa and 10b). In this pathway the mitochondrial fraction of both human and rat liver contains a 26-hydroxylase enzyme (63) which can convert 5P-cholestane-3a,7a,12a-triol (IX ) to 5P-cholestane-3a,7a,12a,26-tetrol (XI) (Fig. 10a and 10b ). This tetrol is oxidized to 3a,7a,12a-trihydroxy-5P-cholestan-26-oic acid (THCA, XII) by liver cytosol (2,64). Further hydroxylation at C-24 forms varanic acid (XIV) and its side chain is shortened with oxidation at C-24 to yield cholic acid (X,Fig. 10 a). These investigators demonstrated diminished mitochondrial 26-hydroxylation of 5p-cholestane-3a,7a,12a-triol and 5P-cholestane-3a,7a-diol, possible precursors for cholic acid and chenodeoxycholec acid in CTX liver. As a consequence, neither 26-hydroxylated intermediates can be formed so that total primary bile acid synthesis would be diminished. Accordingly, the accumulation of 5P-cholestane-3a,7a,12a,25-tetrol arises from 25-hydroxylation of 5P-cholestane-3a,7a,12a-triol by the alternative microsomal 25-hydroxylation mechanism. 

In summary, these studies demonstrated that in CTX the impaired synthesis of bile acids is due to a defect in the biosynthetic pathway involving the oxidation of the cholesterol side-chain. As a consequence of the inefficient side-chain oxidation, increased 23, 24 and 25-hydroxylation of bile acid precursors occurs with the consequent marked increase in bile alcohol glucuronides secretions in bile, urine, plasma and feces (free bile alcohols). These compounds were isolated, synthesized and fully characterized by various spectroscopic methods. In addition, their absolute stereochemistiy determined by Lanthanide-Induced Circular Dichroism (CD) and Sharpless Asymmetric Dihydroxylation studies. Further studies demonstrated that (CTX) patients transform cholesterol into bile acids predominantly via the 25-hydroxylation pathway. This pathway involves the 25-hydroxylation of 5P-cholestane-3a,7a, 12a-triol to give 5P-cholestane-5P-cholestane-3a,7a,12a,25- tetrol followed by stereospecific 24S-hydroxylation to yield 5P-cholestane-3a,7a,12a,24S,25-pentol which in turn was converted to cholic acid. 

Other clinical signs consist of progressive neurologic dysfunction, cataracts, and premature atherosclerosis (SI). The disease is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait, but is usually only detected in adults when cholesterol and cholestanol have accumulated over many years (S2). Biochemical features of the disease include striking elevations in tissue levels of cholesterol and cholestanol and the presence of unusual bile acids, termed bile alcohols, in bile. These bile alcohols are mainly 5 -cholestane-3a,7a,12a,24S, 25-pentol, Sp-diolestane-3a,7a,12a,23 ,25-pentol and 5P-du)lestane-3a,7a,12a,25-tetrol (S2). As chenodeoxycholic acid is deficient in the bile of patients with CTX, it was postulated that early bile salt precursors are diverted into the cholic acid pathway and 12a-hydroxy bile alcohols with an intact side chain accumulate because of impaired cleavage of the cholesterol side chain and decreased bile acid production (S2). HMG-CoA reductase and cholesterol 7a-hydroxylase activity are elevated in subjects with CTX (N4, N5), so that sufficient 7a-hydroxycholesterol should be available for bile acid synthesis. 

Cholestane-3a,7a,12a-triol is efficiently 25-hydroxylated in the microsomal fraction of hver from both rat and man [40,41]. Shefer et al. [184] and Salen et al. [185] have shown that 5/8-cholestane-3a,7a,12a,25-tetrol is converted to S S-choles-tane-3a,7a,12a,24a,25-pentol, 5i8-cholestane-3a,7a,12a,24j8,25-pentol, 5j8-choles-tane-3 ,7a,12a,23,25-pentol and 5j8-cholestane-3 ,7a,12a,25,26-pentol in the presence of microsomes fortified with NADPH. In the presence of NAD", 5j8-choles-tane-3a,7a,12a,24, 25-pentol, but not the other 5j8-cholestanepentols formed, is efficiently converted to chohc add by soluble enzymes (Fig. 13). The latter conversion must be assumed to involve formation of acetone. These experiments demonstrate the existence of a new pathway for side-chain degradation in chohc acid synthesis which does not involve hydroxylation at C-26 or the participation of mitochondria. The relative importance of this pathway is a matter of controversy. Salen et al. suggested that this may be the major pathway for biosynthesis of chohc acid in man [185]. The finding that 5i8-cholestane-3a,7a,12a,25-tetrol is converted into chohc add in vivo in rat and man considerably less efficiently than 5j8-choles-tane-3a,7a,12a,26-tetrol does not support this contention [40,186]. 

This rare inherited hpid storage disease is characterized by xanthomas, progressive neurological dysfunction, cataracts and the development of xanthomatous lesions in the brain and lung. In contrast to other diseases with tendon xanthomatosis, plasma cholesterol levels are remarkably low. Large deposits of cholesterol and cholestanol are present in most tissues, and the concentration of cholestanol is 10-100 times higher than normal. Salen and collaborators have made extensive and elegant studies on the various metabolic aspects of this disease [184,185,187-192]. They have conclusively shown that there is a subnormal synthesis of bile acids and that the metabolic defect is an impaired oxidation of the cholesterol side chain. The synthesis of chenodeoxycholic acid is reduced more than that of cholic acid. These patients excrete considerable amounts of bile alcohol in bile and faeces. The bile alcohols have been identified as 5)S-cholestane-3a,7a,12a,25-tetrol, 5 8-cholestane-3a,7a,12a,24,25-pentol and 5/8-cholestane-3 ,7a,12a,23,25-pentol. Two different explanations for the accumulation of these bile alcohols have been presented. 

Fig. 32.1. The classical ( neutral ) pathway for the synthesis of bile acids from cholesterol, where the modification of the steroid nucleus occurs prior to side-chain modification. Also illustrated are the inborn errors of bile acid synthesis and the resulting abnormal metabolites. 32.1, 3) -hydroxy-A -C27-steroid dehydrogenase (3) -HSDH) deficiency 32.2, A -3-oxosteroid 5 -reductase deficiency 32.3, sterol 27-hydroxylase deficiency (cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis, CTX) PD, peroxisomal disorders (defects of peroxisome biogenesis and peroxisomal j -oxidation). The abnormal metabolites that are readily detected by analysis of urine by LSI-MS are shown in boxes. Cholic acid can also be synthesised from 5 -cholestane-3a,7a,12a,25-tetrol this is the so-called microsomal or 25-hydroxylase pathway of cholic acid synthesis, which provides an alternative route for side-chain modification other than peroxisomal j -oxidation...

Kobayashi, M., T. Hayashi, K. Hayashi, M. Tanabe, T. Nakagawa, and H. Mit-SUHASHi Marine Sterols. XI. Polyhydroxysterols of the Soft Coral Sarcophyton glau-cum Isolation and Synthesis of 5a-Cholestane-lP,3P,5,6P-tetrol. Chem. Pharm. Bull. (Japan) 31,1848 (1983). 

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