Squalene monooxygenase (SM) is a vital sterol synthesis enzyme across eukaryotic life. In yeast, it is a therapeutic target for treating certain fungal infections, and in mammals it is a rate-limiting enzyme that represents a key control point in the cholesterol synthesis pathway. SM introduces an oxygen atom to squalene, which becomes the signature oxygen of the hydroxyl group in cholesterol. Our knowledge of SM has advanced tremendously since its initial cloning and characterization. Early research developed mammalian SM inhibitors to target SM for cholesterol-lowering purposes. The substrate squalene has gained considerable interest for its health benefits and in nanomedicine for delivery of drugs. More recently, SM has been implicated as a key dysregulated component in certain cancers. In this review, we summarize our present knowledge of SM, focusing on the regulation of SM and the gene encoding it, SQLE. Furthermore, we offer insights into the role of SM across different organisms and its significance in human health and disease.

角鲨烯单加氧酶（SM）是在真核生物生命中至关重要的固醇合成酶。在酵母中，它是用于治疗某些真菌感染的治疗靶标，在哺乳动物中，它是一种限速酶，代表了胆固醇合成途径中的关键控制点。SM向角鲨烯中引入一个氧原子，该角鲨烯成为胆固醇中羟基的标志性氧。自从最初的克隆和鉴定以来，我们对SM的了解已大大提高。早期研究开发了哺乳动物SM抑制剂，以降低胆固醇为目标靶向SM。角鲨烯底物因其健康益处和用于药物递送的纳米药物而引起了广泛的关注。最近，SM被认为是某些癌症中关键的失调成分。在这篇评论中，我们总结了我们目前对SM的了解，SQLE。此外，我们提供了有关SM在不同生物中的作用及其在人类健康和疾病中的意义的见解。