Steroid Hormones 93 



edly involved in the transport of steroid hormones from the site of 



synthesis to the target tissues. 



A fourth type of steroid interaction which is now undergoing active 

 exploration involves the steroid hormones directly. It has been found 

 that hormonally active compounds such as testosterone, progesterone, 

 and deoxycorticosterone form complexes with adenine, adenosine, and 

 adenylic acid. Although the complexes have not yet been isolated 

 in the solid state, there can be no question as to their existence. These 

 observations extend the scope of steroid-hormone complexes into the 

 area where they might be considered to have a possible role in the 

 mechanism of action of hormones. Though there is as yet no evidence 

 for the biological significance of such interaction, the possibility exists 

 that by complexing with nucleotides possessing a coenzyme function, 

 rates of enzymatic reactions may be profoundly altered. This sort 

 of phenomenon could be involved in the regulatory function of the 

 steroid hormones. 



This discussion has tended to raise questions rather than to answer 

 them. Its purpose will have been accomplished if this discussion leads 

 to experiments designed to answer the central question: What is there 

 about the steroid nucleus which makes it the carrier of so many and 

 such diverse biological activities? 



This work was supported by grants from The National Cancer Insti- 

 tute, United States Public Health Service (#1393-C3, 1048-C3) ; The 

 American Cancer Society, upon recommendation by the Committee on 

 Growth, National Research Council; and The Jane Coffin Childs Me- 

 morial Fund for Medical Research. This is Publication 855 of the 

 Cancer Commission of Harvard University. 



