Function
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The protein encoded by this gene is an enzyme catalyzing the production of cholesterol from 7-Dehydrocholesterol using NADPH.
The DHCR7 gene encodes delta-7-sterol reductase (EC 1.3.1.21), the ultimate enzyme of mammalian sterol biosynthesis that converts 7-dehydrocholesterol (7-DHC) to cholesterol. This enzyme removes the C(7-8) double bond introduced by the sterol delta8-delta7 isomerases. In addition, its role in drug-induced malformations is known: inhibitors of the last step of cholesterol biosynthesis such as AY9944 and BM15766 severely impair brain development.
Read more about this topic: 7-Dehydrocholesterol Reductase
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