Fig. 1. Schematic diagram of the steps in the steroidogenesis of progesterone.
Cholesterol is synthesized from low density lipoprotein (LDL) by lysosomal acid lipase (LAL) or from acetyl CoA molecules. Steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) transfers cholesterol from cytoplasm into the mitochondria across the outer and inner mitochondrial membranes. Cholesterol is converted to pregnenolone by cytochrome P450side chain cleavage (P450scc), and pregnenolone is metabolized to progesterone by 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD).
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