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Hormonal Substrate Specificity

Meaning

Hormonal Substrate Specificity describes the precise biochemical preference of a particular enzyme or receptor for a specific steroid hormone precursor or metabolite over others, which dictates the flow and ultimate outcome of the endocrine cascade. This specificity ensures that each step in the steroidogenesis pathway produces the correct hormone and that target tissues respond exclusively to the intended hormonal signal. Disruptions in this specificity can lead to aberrant hormone production or inappropriate tissue response, causing clinical symptoms.