Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme definition

Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme
20,22-Desmolase; CYP 11A1; Cytochrome P450 11A1; Cytochrome P450scc; 20,22 Desmolase; Cholesterol Side Chain Cleavage Enzyme; Cytochrome P 450 CYP11A1
A mitochondrial cytochrome P450 enzyme that catalyzes the side-chain cleavage of C27 cholesterol to C21 pregnenolone in the presence of molecular oxygen and NADPH-FERRIHEMOPROTEIN REDUCTASE. This enzyme, encoded by CYP11A1 gene, catalyzes the breakage between C20 and C22 which is the initial and rate-limiting step in the biosynthesis of various gonadal and adrenal steroid hormones.