HSD17B6
hydroxysteroid 17-beta dehydrogenase 6
Pathway candidate — not linked to PFS or PSSD by any record here
Gene summary
A protein-coding gene on chromosome 12 (steroid hormone synthesis). The protein encoded by this gene has both oxidoreductase and epimerase activities and is involved in androgen catabolism. The oxidoreductase activity can convert 3 alpha-adiol to dihydrotestosterone, while the epimerase activity can convert androsterone to epi-androsterone.
Source: NCBI Gene, accessed 2026-10-07.
Protein reference (UniProt)
- Protein
17-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 6
- Function
NAD-dependent oxidoreductase with broad substrate specificity that shows both oxidative and reductive activity (in vitro). Has 17-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity towards various steroids (in vitro). Converts 5-alpha-androstan-3-alpha,17-beta-diol to androsterone and estradiol to estrone (in vitro). Has 3-alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity towards androsterone (in vitro). Has retinol dehydrogenase activity towards all-trans-retinol (in vitro). Can convert androsterone to epi-androsterone. Androsterone is first oxidized to 5-alpha-androstane-3,17-dione and then reduced to epi-andosterone. Can act on both C-19 and C-21 3-alpha-hydroxysteroids.
- Subcellular location
Microsome membrane; Early endosome membrane.
- Tissue specificity
Detected in liver and prostate (at protein level). Detected in adult liver, lung, brain, placenta, prostate, adrenal gland, testis, mammary gland, spleen, spinal cord and uterus. Detected in caudate nucleus, and at lower levels in amygdala, corpus callosum, hippocampus, substantia nigra and thalamus. Detected in fetal lung, liver and brain.
Source: UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot O14756, release 2026_03, licensed CC BY 4.0. This is the protein’s normal biology, not evidence about post-drug syndromes; associated conditions are inherited disorders of the gene, not PFS, PSSD or PRSD.
Why its pathway is in the library
Steroid-synthesis enzymes sit directly on the pathways perturbed by 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors and SSRIs; inherited variation here is a candidate susceptibility factor for persistent post-drug phenotypes.
Written for the whole steroid synthesis / retinoid signaling family, not for HSD17B6 specifically.
Mentioned in 0 corpus records
No corpus record names HSD17B6 directly yet. It is in the library because it sits in a pathway the corpus tracks (Steroid synthesis, retinoid signaling).
Also in steroid hormone synthesis
All 38 genes- SRD5A2
steroid 5 alpha-reductase 2
chr 2· Steroid synthesis· 19 records - SRD5A1Powers
steroid 5 alpha-reductase 1
chr 5· Steroid synthesis· 17 records - AKR1C2Powers
aldo-keto reductase family 1 member C2
chr 10· Steroid synthesis· 12 records - AKR1C3Powers
aldo-keto reductase family 1 member C3
chr 10· Steroid synthesis· 9 records - CYP17A1
cytochrome P450 family 17 subfamily A member 1
chr 10· Steroid synthesis· 9 records - AKR1C4Powers
aldo-keto reductase family 1 member C4
chr 10· Steroid synthesis· 8 records - AKR1C1Powers
aldo-keto reductase family 1 member C1
chr 10· Steroid synthesis· 7 records - HSD3B2
hydroxy-delta-5-steroid dehydrogenase, 3 beta- and steroid delta-isomerase 2
chr 1· Steroid synthesis· 7 records
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