AKR1C3

Aldo-keto reductase family 1 member C3 is a key steroidogenic is_associated_with::enzyme that in humans is encoded by the AKR1C3 is_associated_with::gene.

Function
This gene encodes a member of the aldo/keto reductase superfamily, which consists of more than 40 known enzymes and proteins. These enzymes catalyze the conversion of aldehydes and ketones to their corresponding alcohols by utilizing NADH and/or NADPH as cofactors. The enzymes display overlapping but distinct substrate specificity. This enzyme catalyzes the reduction of prostaglandin (PG) D2, PGH2 and phenanthrenequinone (PQ), and the oxidation of 9alpha,11beta-PGF2 to PGD2. It may play an important role in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases such as asthma, and may also have a role in controlling cell growth and/or differentiation. This gene shares high sequence identity with three other gene members and is clustered with those three genes at chromosome 10p15-p14.

Pathology
AKR1C3 is overexpressed in is_associated_with::prostate cancer (PCa) and is associated with the development of is_associated_with::castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). In addition, AKR1C3 overexpression may serve as a promising is_associated_with::biomarker for prostate cancer progression.