zona glomerulosa biosynthesis

Last reviewed 06/2022

The zona glomerulosa of the adrenal cortex is involved in the synthesis of mineralocorticoids by the following steps:

  • from pregnenolone to progesterone, catalysed by 3-beta-hydroxy dehydrogenase
  • to 11-deoxycorticosterone, by 21-beta-hydroxylase
  • to corticosterone, by 11-beta-hydroxylase
  • to aldosterone by aldosterone synthase

The glomerulosa lacks 17-alpha-hydroxylase, which means that all substrate in this region is directed towards aldosterone.