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Estrogen Aromatization

Meaning

Estrogen aromatization is the fundamental biochemical process responsible for the irreversible conversion of androgen steroid hormones, such as testosterone and androstenedione, into the active estrogenic compounds, primarily estradiol and estrone. This critical reaction is catalyzed exclusively by the enzyme aromatase, a member of the cytochrome P450 enzyme superfamily. The pathway represents a vital component of steroidogenesis in both male and female physiology, occurring significantly in adipose tissue, muscle, and the brain.