HSD17B10 (Hydroxysteroid 17-Beta Dehydrogenase 10) is a multifunctional mitochondrial enzyme involved in several critical biological processes. It functions as:
A key component in fatty acid beta-oxidation, catalyzing the reversible conversion of (S)-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA to 3-ketoacyl-CoA
An essential part of mitochondrial ribonuclease P (RNase P), which cleaves tRNA molecules at their 5'-ends
A catalyst for the beta-oxidation at position 17 of androgens and estrogens
A protein implicated in neurodegenerative disorders, particularly Alzheimer's disease through its interaction with amyloid-beta peptides
The significance of HSD17B10 extends beyond its enzymatic functions, as mutations in the HSD17B10 gene are associated with HSD10 Mitochondrial Disease and Syndromic X-Linked Intellectual Disability Type 10, making it a critical target for research in multiple fields .
HSD17B10 is known by numerous alternative names in the literature, which can sometimes create confusion when searching for relevant research. The most common synonyms include:
17-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 10 (17-beta-HSD 10)
3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase type-2 or type II
3-hydroxy-2-methylbutyryl-CoA dehydrogenase
Amyloid beta peptide binding alcohol dehydrogenase (ABAD)
Endoplasmic reticulum-associated amyloid beta-peptide-binding protein (ERAB)
Mitochondrial ribonuclease P protein 2 (MRPP2)
Short chain dehydrogenase/reductase family 5C member 1 (SDR5C1)
HADH2, HCD2, SCHAD, XH98G2
When designing experiments or searching literature, researchers should be aware of these alternative designations to ensure comprehensive coverage of available information .
Selection of the appropriate HSD17B10 antibody depends on several factors:
Application compatibility: Verify that the antibody has been validated for your specific application (WB, IF, IP, FC, ELISA). For example, the antibody from Abcepta (AP22244a) is validated for IF (1:25), WB (1:8000), and FC (1:25) .
Species reactivity: Ensure the antibody recognizes HSD17B10 in your species of interest. Most commercial antibodies target human HSD17B10, but cross-reactivity with mouse or rat should be confirmed if working with these models .
Epitope location: Consider whether the target region matters for your research. For instance, the Abcepta antibody targets the N-terminal region (amino acids 14-48) of human HSD17B10 .
Clonality: Polyclonal antibodies (like those from ARP, Abcepta, and Nordic Biosite) offer broader epitope recognition but may have batch-to-batch variability, while monoclonal antibodies provide more consistent results but may be less robust to protein modifications .
Validation data: Request and review validation data for your specific application to ensure antibody specificity and sensitivity.
For complex studies examining protein interactions or post-translational modifications, it may be beneficial to validate results using antibodies targeting different epitopes of HSD17B10 .
For optimal Western Blot results with HSD17B10 antibodies:
Sample preparation:
Use RIPA buffer with protease inhibitors for protein extraction
Heat samples at 95°C for 5 minutes in reducing Laemmli buffer
Load 10-30 μg of total protein per lane
Gel electrophoresis and transfer:
Use 12-15% SDS-PAGE gels (HSD17B10 has a calculated MW of ~27 kDa)
Transfer to PVDF membranes at 100V for 1 hour or 30V overnight
Antibody incubation:
Block with 5% non-fat milk in TBST for 1 hour at room temperature
Dilute primary antibody according to manufacturer recommendations:
Incubate overnight at 4°C with gentle rocking
Wash 3x with TBST, 5 minutes each
Incubate with appropriate HRP-conjugated secondary antibody (typically 1:5000-1:10000) for 1 hour at room temperature
Wash 3x with TBST, 5 minutes each
Detection:
Use ECL substrate for visualization
Expected band at approximately 27 kDa
Controls:
Remember that protein lysates should be freshly prepared or properly stored at -80°C to preserve protein integrity .
HSD17B10 enzymatic activity can be measured using a spectrophotometric assay that monitors the reduction of acetoacetyl-CoA to L-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA coupled with the oxidation of NADH to NAD+. The protocol involves:
Assay mixture preparation:
0.1 M potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7.0)
0.2 mg/ml bovine serum albumin
0.2 mM NADH
Various concentrations of acetoacetyl-CoA (0-300 μM)
Reaction initiation:
Add 50 nM purified HSD17B10 or tissue/cell lysate to start the reaction
Measurement:
Monitor the decrease in absorbance at 340 nm (indicative of NADH oxidation)
Establish an NADH standard curve to quantify substrate conversion
Data analysis:
Calculate kinetic parameters (Km, Vmax) using non-linear regression analysis
Generate Michaelis-Menten plots using software like GraphPad Prism
This method allows for quantitative assessment of HSD17B10 enzymatic activity and can be used to compare wild-type versus mutant proteins or to evaluate the effects of potential inhibitors .
HSD17B10 undergoes important post-translational modifications, particularly acetylation, which can be studied using the following approaches:
Detection of acetylated HSD17B10:
Immunoprecipitate HSD17B10 using specific antibodies
Immunoblot with anti-acetyl-lysine antibodies to detect acetylation
Alternative approach: Mass spectrometry analysis of immunoprecipitated HSD17B10 to identify acetylation sites
Study of acetyltransferases/deacetylases:
Co-immunoprecipitation assays to detect interactions between HSD17B10 and modifying enzymes (e.g., SIRT3, CBP, p300)
In vitro acetylation assays using purified enzymes
Manipulation of acetyltransferase/deacetylase activity:
Overexpression of CBP/p300 (acetyltransferases)
Treatment with Garcinol (CBP inhibitor)
siRNA knockdown of CBP
Overexpression or knockdown of SIRT3 (deacetylase)
Functional impact assessment:
Compare enzymatic activities of acetylated versus deacetylated HSD17B10
Generate acetylation mimics (lysine to glutamine mutations) or non-acetylatable mutants (lysine to arginine mutations)
Assess impact on protein-protein interactions, subcellular localization, and stability
Research has shown that HSD17B10 acetylation is primarily mediated by CBP, while deacetylation is carried out by SIRT3. These modifications influence HSD17B10 function and may have implications for its role in cellular metabolism and disease pathogenesis .
HSD17B10's contribution to Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology involves several mechanisms:
Direct interaction with amyloid-beta (Aβ):
HSD17B10 (also known as ABAD or ERAB) directly binds to intracellular Aβ
This interaction occurs within mitochondria and disrupts normal HSD17B10 function
The HSD17B10-Aβ complex contributes to mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress
Mitochondrial dysfunction:
Independent of its enzymatic activity, HSD17B10 is essential for maintaining mitochondrial structural and functional integrity
Loss of HSD17B10 function or its sequestration by Aβ leads to mitochondrial disintegration
This results in impaired energy metabolism and increased reactive oxygen species production
Neural cell death:
Impairment of the non-enzymatic function of HSD17B10 in neural cells causes apoptotic cell death
This contributes to neurodegeneration observed in AD
Therapeutic implications:
Disrupting the HSD17B10-Aβ interaction may represent a potential therapeutic approach
Enhancing HSD17B10's mitochondrial protective functions might delay neurodegeneration
Research indicates that the neuronal dysfunction associated with AD may be more related to the disruption of HSD17B10's structural role in mitochondria than to its enzymatic activity, suggesting that therapeutic approaches focused on preserving mitochondrial integrity may be more effective than those targeting metabolic pathways .
HSD17B10 mutations cause a distinct neurodegenerative disorder known as HSD10 Mitochondrial Disease or Syndromic X-Linked Intellectual Disability Type 10. The connection involves:
The severity of clinical symptoms does not correlate with residual enzymatic activity of mutated HSD17B10, which supports the hypothesis that the primary pathogenic mechanism involves disruption of mitochondrial structure and function rather than metabolic dysregulation .
HSD17B10 participates in multiple biological processes beyond its role in neurodegeneration:
RNA processing and modification:
Functions as a component of mitochondrial ribonuclease P (RNase P)
Part of a complex with MRPP1/TRMT10C and MRPP3/KIAA0391
Essential for 5' tRNA processing and maturation
Critical for mitochondrial translation and protein synthesis
Steroid metabolism:
Catalyzes the beta-oxidation at position 17 of androgens and estrogens
Exhibits 3-alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity with androsterone
Performs oxidative conversions of bile acids (7-alpha-OH and 7-beta-OH)
Shows 20-beta-OH and 21-OH dehydrogenase activities with C21 steroids
May influence steroid hormone signaling in various tissues
Fatty acid metabolism:
Catalyzes the third step in beta-oxidation of fatty acids
Preferentially acts on straight medium- and short-chain substrates
Contributes to energy production and lipid homeostasis
Immune function and vascular biology:
Conditional knockout in immune cells (using Tie2-Cre) causes defects in spleen and vasculature
These mice survive to about 25 weeks but develop progressive defects
Suggests important roles in immune system development and function
Embryonic development:
Complete knockout of Hsd17b10 in mice results in early embryonic lethality at gastrula stages
Indicates essential functions during early developmental processes
These diverse functions highlight HSD17B10 as a crucial metabolic enzyme with roles extending far beyond neurodegeneration, impacting fundamental cellular processes across multiple organ systems .
Several approaches for generating HSD17B10 knockout or knockdown models have been validated in the literature:
CRISPR-Cas9 knockout in cell lines:
Design sgRNAs targeting HSD17B10 exons (validated sequences from literature):
HSD17B10 1#: 5′-CACCGCCACGGCGGAGCGACTTGT-3′
HSD17B10 5#: 5′-CACCGCATGCCCACTATTCCCCCCT-3′
Clone sgRNAs into LentiCRISPR-V2 vector
Co-transfect with packaging plasmids pSPAX2 and pMD.2G (4:3:1 ratio) into HEK293T cells
Collect viral supernatant after 48 hours
Infect target cells (e.g., U2OS, HCT116)
Select stable cell lines with 1 μg/ml puromycin for 2 weeks
Conditional knockout mouse models:
Generate mice with floxed HSD17B10 allele (exon 1 flanked by loxP sites)
Cross with tissue-specific Cre expression lines:
DBH-Cre for noradrenergic neuron-specific knockout
Tie2-Cre for endothelial and hematopoietic cell knockout
Complete knockout is embryonic lethal, highlighting the need for conditional approaches
siRNA/shRNA knockdown:
Design target sequences complementary to HSD17B10 mRNA
Transfect cells with siRNA or transduce with shRNA-expressing vectors
Typically achieves transient knockdown useful for short-term experiments
Validation methods:
Western blot analysis to confirm protein depletion
qRT-PCR to verify mRNA reduction
Functional assays to assess HSD17B10 enzymatic activity
Microscopic analysis of mitochondrial morphology (critical given HSD17B10's role in mitochondrial integrity)
Phenotypic characterization (cell viability, growth, metabolism)
Rescue experiments:
Reintroduce wild-type or mutant HSD17B10 to knockout/knockdown models
Compare ability to rescue phenotypes between enzymatically active versus inactive mutants
Critical for distinguishing enzymatic from non-enzymatic functions
These approaches have successfully demonstrated that HSD17B10 is essential for mitochondrial integrity independent of its enzymatic activity, providing crucial insights into its role in disease pathogenesis .
Several complementary strategies have proven effective for studying HSD17B10 protein-protein interactions:
Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP):
Overexpression system:
Transfect cells with tagged constructs (e.g., Flag-HSD17B10, HA-SIRT3)
Lyse cells in appropriate buffer (e.g., BC100 buffer)
Immunoprecipitate with anti-Flag/HA beads
Wash extensively (4× with BC100 buffer)
Elute with 0.1 M glycine followed by neutralization with 1 M Tris Base
Analyze by western blot with antibodies against the interaction partner
Endogenous system:
Lyse cells without overexpression
Incubate lysates with specific antibodies (anti-HSD17B10, anti-SIRT3) or control IgG at 4°C overnight
Add Protein A/G agarose beads and incubate at 4°C for 8 hours
Wash and elute as above
This approach confirms physiologically relevant interactions
GST pull-down assays:
Express and purify GST-tagged HSD17B10 or interaction partners
Incubate with potential binding partners
Pull down with glutathione beads
Analyze by western blot
This technique confirms direct protein-protein interactions without cellular cofactors
Proximity ligation assay (PLA):
Allows visualization of protein interactions in situ
Particularly useful for studying subcellular localization of interactions
Can detect endogenous protein interactions without overexpression
Bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC):
Tag HSD17B10 and potential partners with complementary fragments of a fluorescent protein
Interaction brings fragments together, restoring fluorescence
Enables live-cell imaging of interactions
Mass spectrometry-based approaches:
Immunoprecipitate HSD17B10 followed by mass spectrometry analysis
Identifies novel interaction partners and post-translational modifications simultaneously
Can be combined with crosslinking for capturing transient interactions
Using these techniques, researchers have identified several important HSD17B10 interactions, including with SIRT3 (which regulates its acetylation) and amyloid-beta (which contributes to Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis) .
Non-specific binding is a common challenge when working with HSD17B10 antibodies. Here are systematic troubleshooting strategies:
For Western blotting:
Optimize blocking conditions:
Test different blocking agents (5% non-fat milk, 5% BSA, commercial blockers)
Increase blocking time (2-3 hours at room temperature or overnight at 4°C)
Adjust antibody dilutions:
Use manufacturer-recommended dilutions as starting points (e.g., 1:8000 for Abcepta antibody)
Prepare multiple dilution series to determine optimal concentration
Modify washing protocol:
Increase number of washes (5-6 times instead of 3)
Extend washing time (10-15 minutes per wash)
Add 0.1-0.2% SDS to TBST for more stringent washing
Include competing peptides:
Pre-incubate antibody with the immunizing peptide to confirm specificity
Use knockout/knockdown controls:
Include CRISPR HSD17B10 knockout cell lysates as negative controls
For immunofluorescence:
Optimize fixation method:
Compare 4% PFA, methanol, or acetone fixation
Test different fixation times
Enhance permeabilization:
Try different detergents (0.1-0.5% Triton X-100, 0.1% Saponin)
Reduce background:
Pre-adsorb antibody with acetone powder from tissues/cells
Include 0.1-0.3% BSA in antibody dilution buffer
Add 5-10% serum from the secondary antibody host species
Use specific counterstains:
Include mitochondrial markers (MitoTracker, TOM20) to confirm localization
For immunoprecipitation:
Pre-clear lysates:
Incubate with Protein A/G beads and control IgG before adding specific antibody
Use crosslinking:
Crosslink antibody to beads to prevent heavy/light chain interference
Modify washing stringency:
Adjust salt concentration (150-500 mM NaCl)
Add low concentrations of detergents (0.1% NP-40, 0.1% Triton X-100)
General validation approaches:
Peptide competition:
Pre-incubate antibody with immunizing peptide
Multiple antibodies:
Compare results using antibodies targeting different epitopes
Genetic validation:
Verify using knockout/knockdown systems
Antibody validation databases:
Check antibody validation resources (Antibodypedia, CiteAb)
These approaches systematically address non-specific binding issues while maintaining detection sensitivity for HSD17B10 .
Several emerging research areas represent the frontier of HSD17B10 investigation:
Role in mitochondrial RNA processing beyond tRNA maturation:
Exploring HSD17B10's role in processing other mitochondrial RNAs
Investigating its potential involvement in mitochondrial ribosome assembly
Examining links between RNA processing defects and disease phenotypes
Impact on cellular metabolic reprogramming:
Investigating how HSD17B10 influences metabolic shifts in cancer cells
Exploring its role in nutrient stress responses
Examining connections to NAD+ metabolism and mitochondrial redox balance
Sex-specific functions and hormonal regulation:
Given its role in steroid metabolism, exploring sex-specific phenotypes
Investigating estrogen-mediated regulation of mitochondrial gene expression through HSD17B10
Examining potential roles in sex-specific neurodegeneration patterns
Post-translational modification network:
Beyond acetylation, investigating other modifications (phosphorylation, SUMOylation)
Mapping the full post-translational modification landscape
Understanding how these modifications form an integrated regulatory network
Therapeutic targeting approaches:
Developing small molecules to modulate specific HSD17B10 functions
Exploring peptide-based approaches to disrupt pathological interactions
Investigating mitochondrial-targeted interventions to rescue structural defects
Role in immune regulation and inflammation:
Building on observations from Tie2-Cre conditional knockout mice
Investigating HSD17B10's role in immune cell metabolism and function
Exploring connections to inflammatory pathways in neurodegeneration
These emerging areas highlight the need for interdisciplinary approaches combining structural biology, systems biology, and translational research to fully understand HSD17B10's multifaceted functions and therapeutic potential .
Single-cell approaches offer unprecedented opportunities to understand HSD17B10's tissue-specific functions:
Single-cell transcriptomics:
Map HSD17B10 expression across cell types within tissues
Identify cell populations most vulnerable to HSD17B10 dysfunction
Correlate expression with other mitochondrial genes to identify regulatory networks
Track expression changes during development and in disease progression
Single-cell proteomics:
Quantify HSD17B10 protein levels across cell types
Identify cell-specific interaction partners
Measure post-translational modifications in specific cellular contexts
Determine protein abundance correlations within mitochondrial complexes
Spatial transcriptomics/proteomics:
Map HSD17B10 expression within tissue architecture
Identify regional heterogeneity in expression patterns
Correlate with mitochondrial distribution and morphology
Particularly valuable in brain regions affected in neurodegenerative disorders
Single-cell metabolomics:
Measure metabolites processed by HSD17B10 at single-cell resolution
Identify cell-specific metabolic consequences of HSD17B10 dysfunction
Map metabolic heterogeneity within tissues
Integrative multi-omics approaches:
Combine transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic data from the same cells
Build comprehensive models of HSD17B10 function in specific cellular contexts
Identify cell-specific vulnerabilities and compensatory mechanisms
Applications to disease models:
Apply to patient-derived tissues/organoids from HSD10 disease patients
Compare cellular heterogeneity in disease versus control samples
Identify early cellular changes preceding clinical manifestations
Discover potential biomarkers for early disease detection
These single-cell approaches would be particularly valuable for understanding why certain cell populations (e.g., specific neuronal subtypes) are more vulnerable to HSD17B10 dysfunction than others, potentially revealing new therapeutic targets for tissue-specific interventions .
Advanced computational and structural biology approaches offer significant potential for HSD17B10 research:
Structural analysis techniques:
Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM):
Determine high-resolution structures of HSD17B10 within the mitochondrial RNase P complex
Visualize conformational changes during catalysis
Analyze structural perturbations caused by disease-associated mutations
X-ray crystallography:
Obtain atomic-resolution structures of HSD17B10 with various substrates
Analyze binding modes of potential inhibitors
Study co-crystal structures with interaction partners (e.g., amyloid-beta)
Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR):
Characterize dynamic properties and conformational changes
Study weak or transient interactions with partners
Analyze effects of post-translational modifications on protein dynamics
Computational methods:
Molecular dynamics simulations:
Model protein flexibility and conformational changes
Simulate effects of mutations on protein stability and dynamics
Investigate binding mechanisms with various partners and substrates
Network analysis:
Model HSD17B10 in the context of protein-protein interaction networks
Identify hub proteins and potential regulatory nodes
Predict systemic effects of HSD17B10 perturbation
Machine learning approaches:
Develop predictive models for drug response
Identify patterns in multi-omics data related to HSD17B10 function
Predict functional consequences of novel mutations
Drug discovery applications:
Virtual screening:
Screen compound libraries for potential HSD17B10 modulators
Identify molecules that disrupt pathological interactions (e.g., with amyloid-beta)
Design inhibitors with specificity for particular functions
Fragment-based drug design:
Identify chemical fragments that bind to HSD17B10
Optimize these fragments into lead compounds
Develop function-specific modulators
Systems biology integration:
Genome-scale metabolic modeling:
Incorporate HSD17B10 into mitochondrial metabolic models
Predict metabolic consequences of altered HSD17B10 activity
Identify potential compensatory pathways
Multi-scale modeling:
Link molecular events to cellular and tissue-level phenotypes
Model therapeutic interventions across biological scales