Which is the first intermediate in the conversion of cholesterol to bile acids?
High-Yield Explanation
The first intermediate in the synthesis of bile acids is 7a-hydroxycholesterol. It is catalyzed by the enzyme 7a-hydroxylase, a microsomal CYP450 enzyme, which requires NADPH, oxygen, and vitamin C as cofactors. It is the rate-limiting step in the synthesis of bile acids.