5-alpha Reductase - Function

Function

5α-reductases convert testosterone, the male sex hormone, into the more potent dihydrotestosterone:

  • Testosterone.

  • Dihydrotestosterone

Note the major difference — the Δ4,5 double-bond on the A (leftmost) ring. (The other differences between the diagrams are unrelated to chemical structure.)

These enzymes also participate in the creation of such neurosteroids as allopregnanolone and THDOC.

Read more about this topic:  5-alpha Reductase

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