CHARACTERIZATION AND SOLUBILIZATION OF TESTOSTERONE 17-BETA-HYDROXYSTEROID DEHYDROGENASE IN HUMAN HYPERPLASTIC PROSTATE

17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase is a membrane-bound enzyme in huma n prostate. Solubilization of this enzyme can only be obtained in the presence of detergents. The optimal solubilization mixture contained 5 0 mM Tris-HCl buffer pH 9.0, 20% glycerol, 0.1 M KCl and 5 mg/ml of th e non-ionic detergent N-octyl glucoside. In these conditions, the solu ble fraction contained more than 90% of the enzymatic activity. A 2.5- fold increase of specific activity was obtained during solubilization under optimal conditions.