Last april, the international consortium led by Drs. Laura Audí, Mónica Fernández-Cancio and Núria Camats, from Growth and Development Research Group at Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), and together with the Drs. Christa E. Flück and Amit V. Pandey of Bern Children's Hospital, has published at the magazine http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/11/2/37 Pharmaceuticals the discover of a mutation in the active center of the CYP17A1 cytochrome with implications in the synthesis of sexual steroids in humans.The importance of the discovery lays on its genetics interest, as well as on its potential as a target for specific treatments against several pathologies: from prostate cancer in men, to polycystic ovary syndrome in women, as it affects the enzymatic activity of the cytochrome that carries out the production of sexual steroids -essential to live, grow and develop.As the researchers explain, "the CYP17A1 cytochrome is a protein with 2 enzymatic functions: the first one, called 17-hidroxilase, directs the corticoids synthesis to the adrenal glands, vitals for the human being, the second enzymatic activity, called 17,20-liase, leads the androgen and estrogen production to the gonads, basic hormones for the sexual differentiation and reproduction". Only when both activities are active, the sexual steroids will be properly synthesized. The genetic study followed a patient born with a Disorder of Sex Development (DSD), which led to the discovery of two mutations linked to the defective function of the cytochrome CYP17A1. One of the mutations, p.Val366Met, inherited from the mother side, implies an amino acid change at the active center of the protein. In association with the Children's Hospital of Bern, it have been proven that this mutation is the one inhibiting the 17,20-liase activity for the sexual steroids production. A new therapeutic targetCurrent therapy against prostate cancer uses inhibitors of the sexual steroid synthesis, as the Abioterone, that block specifically the CYP17A1 Cytochrome, affecting the testosterone and cortisol production.p.Val366Met mutation is the first described in the active center of the human cytochrome that specifically affects the sexual steroid synthesis. This discovery will lead to the design of new drugs for the specific treatment against prostate cancer with the secondary effects of cortisol deficiency.On the other hand, the polycystic ovary syndrome is based on an increased production of androgens, due to the overwork of the 17,20-liase. Therefore, a drug that inhibits specifically this enzymatic activity without affecting any other could become a useful therapy for the patients.