steroidogene

Steroidogene is not a term widely used in modern molecular biology. In many sources, steroidogene would be interpreted as a gene involved in steroidogenesis—the biosynthetic pathway by which cholesterol is converted into steroid hormones such as glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, and androgens. Because no canonical gene is named “steroidogene” in major databases, the expression is sometimes used informally to refer to any gene essential for steroid production or regulation within steroidogenic tissues (adrenal cortex, gonads, placenta, and certain brain regions).

Steroidogenesis starts with cholesterol uptake and transport into mitochondria, mediated by StAR, followed by conversion to pregnenolone by CYP11A1 (cholesterol side-chain cleavage). Downstream steps involve a suite of enzymes: 3β-HSD (HSD3B2) for pregnenolone to progesterone, 17α-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase (CYP17A1) for androgens and glucocorticoids, 21-hydroxylase (CYP21A2) for mineralocorticoids, and CYP11B1 for cortisol, and 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase for final processing; later steps include 17β-HSD enzymes converting weak to active steroids, and steroidogenic tissue-specific expression. Regulatory transcription factors such as SF-1 (NR5A1) and DAX-1 (NR0B1) coordinate expression.

Clinical relevance: Defects in these genes cause congenital adrenal hyperplasia, adrenal insufficiency, precocious puberty, and disorders of sexual development. Because “steroidogene” is not a standard gene name, most literature would address the specific gene (e.g., STAR, CYP11A1, CYP21A2) rather than a single “steroidogene.”