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5-Alpha Reductase Enzymes

Meaning

5-Alpha Reductase Enzymes constitute a family of steroidogenic enzymes that play a critical role in androgen and neurosteroid metabolism. These enzymes catalyze the irreversible conversion of various steroid precursors into their respective, biologically potent 5-alpha-reduced forms. Three isozymes, SRD5A1, SRD5A2, and SRD5A3, exhibit differential tissue expression and distinct affinities for their steroid substrates. Pharmacological modulation of these enzymes is a common clinical strategy for managing conditions linked to androgen excess.