A desmolase is any of various enzymes that catalyze the formation or destruction of carbon-carbon bonds within a molecule. These enzymes play a significant role in cellular respiration and in fermentation. Desmolases are involved in steroidogenesis.
Examples of desmolases are:
Cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme, also called 20,22-desmolase; converts cholesterol to pregnenolone.
17,20-Desmolase, also called CYP17A1 or 17α-hydroxylase; converts pregnenolone to 17α-hydroxypregnenolone, progesterone to 17α-hydroxyprogesterone, and corticosterone to aldosterone.
Diacetyl desmolase is added to beer late in the brewing process to remove diacetyl flavor that may have accumulated during processing.
