Aldo-keto reductase family 1 member C2 (AKR1C2) is a ~36 kDa protein. Cytosolic aldo-keto reductase that catalyzes NADPH-dependent reduction of ketosteroids to hydroxysteroids. Displays broad substrate specificity with distinct positional and stereochemistry, primarily generating 3alpha-hydroxysteroids, but also 3beta-, 17beta- and 20alpha-hydroxysteroids. Required for male sex determination as a component of the 'backdoor' androgen biosynthesis pathway that generates 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone (5alpha-DHT) via pregnanes. Acts together with AKR1C4 to convert 5alpha-dihydroprogesterone (5alpha-DHP) to 3alpha-hydroxy-5alpha-pregnan-20-one (3alpha,5alpha-THP/allopregnanolone), leading to 5alpha-DHT secretion necessary for embryonic gonad differentiation into testis. In androgen catabolism, may predominantly act as a phase I enzyme by introducing a hydroxyl group prior to conjugation. 1. Dufort, I. et al. (1996) Biochemical and biophysical research communications 228, 474-9. PMID: 89209372. Shiraishi, H. et al. (1998) The Biochemical journal 334 ( Pt 2), 399-405. PMID: 97164983. Penning, TM. et al. (2000) The Biochemical journal 351, 67-77. PMID: 109983484. Trauger, JW. et al. (2002) Biochemistry 41, 13451-9. PMID: 124169915. Usami, N. et al. (2002) Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin 25, 441-5. PMID: 119959216. Higaki, Y. et al. (2003) Chemico-biological interactions 143-144, 503-13. PMID: 126042367. Steckelbroeck, S. et al. (2004) The Journal of biological chemistry 279, 10784-95. PMID: 146729428. Jin, Y. et al. (2009) The Journal of biological chemistry 284, 10013-22. PMID: 192182479. Flück, CE. et al. (2011) American journal of human genetics 89, 201-18. PMID: 2180206410. Nahoum, V. et al. (2001) The Journal of biological chemistry 276, 42091-8. PMID: 11514561 | 
