Where are steroids produced in the cell?

[UIUCstudent]

Steroid hormones are produced in the Mitochondria.
The 5 steroid hormones are cholesterol (produced in cytosol) derivatives - glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, androgen, progesterone, and esterdoil(estrogen).


However, according to few study books, and wiki "smooth endoplasmic reticulums synthesize lipids and steroids, metabolize carbohydrates and steroids, and regulate calcium concentration, drug detoxification, and attachment of receptors on cell membrane proteins."


so, where are they synthesized? the SER or Mitochondrian? is there a difference between steroid hormones and steroids?

This was from a DAT thread that didn't seem to get resolved..well for me anyway. When I was reading BR and it said cholesterol was converted to steroids in the mitochondria I was a bit confused.

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[adenine]

It was my understanding that lipids are synthesized in the smooth ER.

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_orga..._synthesis_of_oils_phospholipids_and_steroids

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090925185351AAvcjUR

 

[Morzh]

Primarily in the sER, but they are dependent on mitochondria as well:

"The rate-limiting step of steroid synthesis is the conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone, which occurs inside the mitochondrion." - Wikipedia (Steroid)

 

[Danlee07]

when in doubt, mitochondria

just remember the exceptions

 

[UIUCstudent]

I guess if it's this ambiguous, then they'll provide info in the passage or exclude one of it from the answer choices.