Characterization of multiple forms of carbonyl reductase from chicken liver.

Three enzyme forms (CR1, CR2 and CR3) of carbonyl reductase were purified from chicken liver with using 4-benzoylpyridine as a substrate. CR1 was a dimeric enzyme composed of two identical 25-kD subunits. CR2 and CR3 were monomeric enzymes whose molecular weights were both 32 kD. CR1 exhibited 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity as well as carbonyl reductase activity in the presence of both NADP(H) and NAD(H). CR2 and CR3 had similar properties with regard to substrate specificity and inhibitor sensitivity. They could exhibit the activity only with NADPH and had no hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity. CR2 and CR3 cross-reacted with anti-chicken kidney carbonyl reductase antibody, though CR1 did not. The results suggest that CR1 is a hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, and CR2 and CR3 are similar to each other and to the kidney enzymes.