Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme

**Definition:** A mitochondrial cytochrome P450 enzyme that catalyzes the side-chain cleavage of C27 cholesterol to C21 pregnenolone in the presence of molecular oxygen and NADPH-FERRIHEMOPROTEIN REDUCTASE. This enzyme, encoded by CYP11A1 gene, catalyzes the breakage between C20 and C22 which is the initial and rate-limiting step in the biosynthesis of various gonadal and adrenal steroid hormones.

**Tree numbers:** - D08.244.453.484.250 - D08.244.453.915.212 - D08.811.682.690.708.170.425.250 - D08.811.682.690.708.170.915.212 - D12.776.422.220.453.484.250 - D12.776.422.220.453.915.212

**Synonyms:** - Cytochrome P450 11A1 - Cytochrome P-450 CYP11A1 - Cholesterol Monooxygenase (Side-Chain-Cleaving) - CYP11A1 - 20,22-Desmolase - Cholesterol Desmolase - Cytochrome P-450(scc) - CYP 11A1 - Cytochrome P450scc