Bioelectrochemistry as a tool for the study of aromatization of steroids by human aromatase

Bioelectrochemical conversion of androgens into estrogens was achieved using human aromatase immobilized on glassy carbon electrodes. According to substrate concentration used in the electrochemical cell, it was possible to accumulate the intermediates or to proceed toward the formation of the final estrogen product confirming the distributive nature of catalytic reaction. Furthermore, the catalytic rates showed that the first step of reaction is the limiting one. The results demonstrate that bioelectrochemistry can be employed for understanding complex enzymatic reactions, such as aromatization of steroids. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.