This gene encodes a very important 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17beta-HSD) that converts estrone into estradiol in ovarian tissue. This enzyme is also involved in fatty acid elongation. [provided by RefSeq, Oct 2011].
Cornel, Kruitwagen, Delvoux, Visconti, Van de Vijver, Day, Van Gorp, Hermans, Dunselman, Romano: "Overexpression of 17?-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 increases the exposure of endometrial cancer to 17?-estradiol." in: The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, Vol. 97, Issue 4, pp. E591-601, (2012) (PubMed).