FEATURES

FAMILY

DESCRIPTION

Also known as CP51A_HUMAN, CYP51A1, CYP51. A cytochrome P450 monooxygenase involved in sterol biosynthesis. Catalyzes 14-alpha demethylation of lanosterol and 24, 25-dihydrolanosterol likely through sequential oxidative conversion of 14-alpha methyl group to hydroxymethyl, then to carboxylaldehyde, followed by the formation of the delta 14, 15 double bond in the sterol core and concomitant release of formic acid (PubMed:20149798, PubMed:8619637). Mechanistically, uses molecular oxygen inserting one oxygen atom into a substrate, and reducing the second into a water molecule, with two electrons provided by NADPH via cytochrome P450 reductase (CPR; NADPH-ferrihemoprotein reductase) (PubMed:20149798, PubMed:8619637).

EXTERNAL LINKS

CYP51A1

Lanosterol 14-alpha demethylase

CYP51A1

Molecular Synopsis