Cholesterol 24-hydroxylase, CP46, CYP46, CP46A_HUMAN, cytochrome P450 family 46.
The Cyp46 gene encodes a member of the cytochrome P450 superfamily of enzymes. The cytochrome P450 proteins are monooxygenases which catalyze many reactions involved in drug metabolism and synthesis of cholesterol, steroids and other lipids. This endoplasmic reticulum protein is expressed exclusively in the brain, where it converts cholesterol to 24S-hydroxycholesterol by adding a hydroxyl group to cholesterol, producing a product that is more soluble than cholesterol and able to be exported from the brain.Cyp46 is also known as 24S-cholesterol hydroxylase.
