Lathosterol
Lathosterol is a cholesterol-like molecule found small amounts in humans. The enzyme Δ7-sterol 5(6)-desaturase converts it to 7-dehydrocholesterol. It is accumulated in lathosterolosis.
Biosynthesis
The final step in the biosynthesis of lathosterol is by reduction of the double bond in the sidechain of the sterol 5α-cholesta-7,24-dien-3β-ol when acted on by the enzyme Δ24-sterol reductase, which uses nicotinamide adenine [dinucleotide phosphate] as its cofactor.In cholesterol biosynthesis
In vertebrates, lathosterol is an intermediate in the pathway to cholesterol via 7-dehydrocholesterol. The enzyme Δ7-sterol 5(6)-desaturase catalyses the oxidation reaction:It uses two molecules of the cofactor ferrocytochrome b5 with two protons and one oxygen for each molecule of lathosterol converted.