Tissue and Intracellular Localization
The highest level of the cholesterol side chain cleavage system is found in the adrenal cortex and the corpus luteum. The system is also expressed at high levels in steroidogenic granulosa cells in the ovary, and Leydig cells in the testis. During pregnancy the placenta also expresses significant levels of this enzyme system. P450scc is also present at much lower levels in several other tissue types, including the brain. In the adrenal cortex the concentration of adrenodoxin is similar to that of P450scc, but adrenodoxin reductase is expressed at lower levels.
Immunofluorescence studies using specific antibodies against P40scc system enzymes have demonstrated that proteins are exclusively located within the mitochondria. P450scc is associated with the inner mitochondrial membrane, facing the interior (matrix). Adrenodoxin and adrenodoxin reductase are soluble peripheral membrane proteins located inside the mitochondrial matrix that appear to associate primarily with each other through electrostatic interactions.
Read more about this topic: Cholesterol Side-chain Cleavage Enzyme
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