Question

Which steroid hormone(s) would not be produced if you blocked the activity of p450scc?

Answer 1

P450scc or cholesterol side chain cleavage enzyme is an enzyme that converts cholesterol into pregnenolone (the precursor for steroids). The kinds of steroid hormones are mineralocorticoids (i.e. aldosterone) glucocorticoids (i.e. cortisol), and sex steroids (i.e. testosterone, estrogen). In the event where P450scc is blocked, then there will be no production of mineralocorticoids, glucocorticoids, and sex steroids. There will be no production of aldosterone, cortisol, estradiol, testosterone, and progesterone. This disease is called Lipoid Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia.