Skip to main content

CYP17A1

Meaning

CYP17A1 is the clinical abbreviation for Cytochrome P450 17A1, a crucial enzyme found primarily in the adrenal glands and gonads that plays a pivotal role in the steroidogenesis pathway. This enzyme possesses both 17α-hydroxylase and 17,20-lyase activities, making it essential for the conversion of progestins into androgens, including DHEA and androstenedione. Its function is indispensable for the biosynthesis of all sex hormones and cortisol, placing it at a central regulatory point in the endocrine system.