This gene encodes a member of the aldo/keto reductase superfamily, which consists of more than 40 known enzymes and proteins. These enzymes catalyze the conversion of aldehydes and ketones to their corresponding alcohols using NADH and/or NADPH as cofactors. The enzymes display overlapping but distinct substrate specificity. This enzyme binds bile acid with high affinity, and shows minimal 3-alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity. This gene shares high sequence identity with three other gene members and is clustered with those three genes at chromosome 10p15-p14. Three transcript variants encoding two different isoforms have been found for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Dec 2011]
Forensic Context
A study in healthy young women using a monozygotic twin design demonstrated that mRNA expression of the AKR1C2 gene in isolated adipocytes was significantly higher in heavier co-twins compared to their leaner sisters [Vihma et al. DOI:10.1016/j.steroids.2018.08.006]. In a separate human intervention study, the AKR1C2 gene was found to be downregulated in subcutaneous adipose tissue during short-term weight loss [Bollepalli et al. DOI:10.1038/ijo.2017.245].