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Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases

Meaning

Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases (HSDs) are a superfamily of enzymes that catalyze the oxidation and reduction of hydroxysteroids, playing a pivotal and rate-limiting role in the biosynthesis and inactivation of virtually all steroid hormones. These enzymes are critical for interconverting biologically active hormones, such as testosterone and estradiol, with their less active precursors or metabolites. Their precise activity is a key determinant of the local concentration and potency of sex steroids and glucocorticoids in various tissues. HSDs are central to the dynamic regulation of the steroidome.