title: Abnormal cholesterol biosynthesis in the Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome.
abstract: The Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome is caused by an inherited defect in 7-dehydrocholesterol-delta7-reductase, the enzyme that catalyzes the last reaction in cholesterol biosynthesis, the conversion of 7-dehydrocholesterol to cholesterol. As a result, deficient cholesterol is produced and the precursor 7-dehydrocholesterol and derivatives (8-dehydrocholesterol and 19-nor-5,7,9(10)-cholestatrien-3 beta-ol) accumulate. Tissues (especially brain) deprived of cholesterol, or because of the deposited sterol precursors and derivatives, develop abnormally and function poorly. Replacement with dietary cholesterol may help correct the biochemical defects and improve symptoms.
authors.affiliation: VA Medical Center, East Orange, NJ 07019, USA.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Salen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shefer
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Batta
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Tint
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Honda
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Irons
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Elias
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism*; D003684:Dehydrocholesterols / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics*; D044925:Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors; D019082:Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D003684:Dehydrocholesterols; D002784:Cholesterol; C016705:7-dehydrocholesterol; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D044925:Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors; C019995:7-dehydrocholesterol reductase