[Aromatase--key enzyme of estrogen biosynthesis]

Estrogens control a large range pivotal life functions as reproductive development and fertility, bone growth and sexual behavior. Aromatase is a key enzyme of estrogen biosynthesis. The property, structure and reaction mechanism of aromatase as well as detailed structure of human aromatase cytochrome P450 gene (CYP19) was discussed in this article. It was pointed that unique human CYP19 gene expression results from presence of many tissue specific promoters and alternative splicing. The molecular mechanism of control aromatase cytochrome P450 gene expression in various species ovaries, testes and human adipose tissue and placenta was discussed in details. Because of a very important role of estrogen in breast cancer a molecular base of aberrant expression CYP19 gene in breast tumor and adipose tissue proximal to breast tumor and potential possibility of pharmacological silencing of this gene expression was discussed in the article.