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Reference.org
Squalene monooxygenase
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<p>Squalene monooxygenase (also called squalene epoxidase) is a eukaryotic <a href="/facts/Enzyme/DSI1Fh7y">enzyme</a> that uses <a href="/facts/NADPH/XMgmPQ5t">NADPH</a> and diatomic <a href="/facts/Oxygen/acyn6o8r">oxygen</a> to oxidize <a href="/facts/Squalene/Ua31mYv4">squalene</a> to <a href="/facts/2,3-oxidosqualene/jjedS8cV">2,3-oxidosqualene</a> (squalene epoxide). Squalene epoxidase catalyzes the first oxygenation step in <a href="/facts/Sterol/QrVlPnWn">sterol</a> biosynthesis and is thought to be one of the rate-limiting enzymes in this pathway. In humans, squalene epoxidase is encoded by the <i>SQLE</i> <a href="/facts/Gene/e1swwPY6">gene</a>. Several <a href="/facts/Eukaryote/SkwyPLMA">eukaryote</a> genomes lack a squalene monooxygenase encoding gene, but instead encode an alternative squalene epoxidase that performs the same task. </p>