I think this is all wrong. Here is what it’s really doing:
In biochemistry enzyme substrate is the material upon which an enzymeacts
“In the presence of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), steroid 5 alpha-reductase converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT)”
“Knowing that finasteride is a mechanism-based inactivator of 5α-reductase type 2 and that the mechanism of inactivation has an obligatory requirement for NADPH”
“Finasteride was originally thought to act as a competitive inhibitor with nanomolar affinity for 5α-reductase type 2 (12). More recently, it was found that finasteride acts as a mechanism-based inactivator of this enzyme (13). Subsequent to inhibitor binding, there is hydride transfer from the NADPH cofactor to the Δ1-2-ene double bond of finasteride.”
“The intermediate enolate tautomerizes at the enzyme active site to form a bisubstrate analogue in which dihydrofinasteride is covalently bound to NADP+”
Here is my understanding of what this means.
NADPH is the substrate required for 5AR to convert T-DHT (material upon which enzyme acts) Fin is fucking with the substrate. More specifically “forms an analogue of itself called dihydrofinasteride which is covalently bound to NADP+”
It’s forming dihydrofinasteride and than “covalently bonding” with the substrate that the enzyme needs to convert T-DHT. In other words it’s creating a permanent alteration of the substrate so that it can’t interact with the enzyme like it normally would.
Source:
If you look up what the strongest bond in bio chemistry is you get this definition:
The strongest bondsthat are present in biochemicals are covalent bonds, such as the bondsthat hold the atoms together within the individual bases shown in Figure 1.3. A covalent bondis formed by the sharing of a pair of electrons between adjacent atoms.
In my opinion what this means is dihydrofinasteride has been covalently bonded to 5AR’s substrate. But we still produce enough DHT and I don’t think our symptoms are due to lack of DHT. I’m sure it does not help but probable is not the cause.
I think we need to look harder at 3B-HSD. I have evidence that 3B-HSD is not working right in me. I also think when you fuck with that substrate you are making 3B-HSD not work as good.
I think that T-DHT conversation occurs in such a large systematic level in our bodies that just because some substrate gets “dihydrofinasterided” haha we are still ok because enough DHT is still getting made.
If you look at the functions of 3B-HSD it’s more specific in scope. For example the 3B-HSD enzyme makes 3b-adiol a very specific steroid metabolite that you are less likely to see getting made up in different places. I’m low in 3b-a diol. At least according to some old labs from 2014. I wonder if messing with the substrate NADPH is responsible for possible issues with the 3B-HSD enzyme