Human Aldo-keto Reductase 1C4/AKR1C4 Antibody

AKR1C4 (Aldo-Keto Reductase family 1 member C4; also 3-alpha HSD1/3-alpha HSD type 1, Chlordecone/kepone reductase/CDR and DD4) is a monomeric, 36-38 kDa member of the four gene 3-alpha HSD family, aldo-keto reductase superfamily of enzymes. AKRs catalyse the reduction of aldehydes and ketones into alcohols through a NADPH-dependent process. The resulting alcohols become the target of subsequent conjugation reactions. AKR1C4 in particular is noted for its action on dihydroxytestosterone, converting it to a less active 3 alpha-diol. In addition, it also converts progesterone into 20 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, a molecule that both induces GnRH release, and blocks the generation of (deoxy)cortisol from 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone. Finally, AKR1C4 likely is involved in the tetoxification of xenobiotics and drugs. AKR1C4 expression is essentially limited to hepatocytes and likely breast epithelium. Human AKR1C4 is 323 amino acids (aa) in length. Full-length human AKR1C4 shares 83% and 76% aa sequence identity with human AKR1C1 and mouse AKR1C4, respectively.