DHCR7: Proteins and Enzymes

The DHCR7 gene encodes delta-7-sterol reductase (EC 1.3.1.21), the penultimate 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 (Moebius et al., 1998 [PubMed 9465114]).[supplied by OMIM]