Sex hormone synthesis

Sex hormone synthesis is a biological process and a metabolic pathway, not a discrete molecular therapeutic target. It involves multiple enzymatic steps and numerous molecular players in a complex cascade. The process catalyzes the sequential conversions of cholesterol through intermediates such as pregnenolone, DHEA, androstenedione, testosterone, and estradiol. Key regulatory proteins, like steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), facilitate cholesterol transport. Control of this pathway occurs at the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis through hormones including gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Individual enzymes and receptors within this pathway, such as Aromatase (CYP19A1), 5-alpha reductase (SRD5A), 17-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD17B), estrogen receptors (ESR1, ESR2), androgen receptor, and progesterone receptor, are considered actual therapeutic targets.

Other names

metabolic pathway of sex hormonessex steroid synthesis