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20-Desmolase

Meaning

The term ’20-Desmolase’ is a historical and functional designation for the enzyme more accurately named Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme, or P450scc. This mitochondrial enzyme executes the initial and rate-limiting step in the entire steroidogenesis pathway, serving as the biological gateway for the production of all steroid hormones. Its action is absolutely essential, as it transforms the cholesterol precursor into the first biologically active steroid intermediate, pregnenolone. Dysfunction of this enzyme leads to profound deficiencies in all classes of steroid hormones.