This enzyme belongs to the family of oxidoreductases, to be specific those acting on the CH-OH group of donor with NAD+ or NADP+ as acceptor. This enzyme participates in biosynthesis of steroids including cholesterol. The statin class of anticholesterol drugs act through inhibiting this enzyme.
Nomenclature
The systematic name of this enzyme class is (R)-mevalonate:NADP+ oxidoreductase (CoA-acylating). Other names in common use include:
hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate)
Bucher NL, Overath P, Lynen F (1960). "β-Hydroxy-β-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, cleavage and condensing enzymes in relation to cholesterol formation in rat liver". Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 40: 491–501. doi:10.1016/0006-3002(60)91390-1. PMID13805544.
Durr IF, Rudney H (1960). "The reduction of β-hydroxy-β-methyl-glutaryl coenzyme A to mevalonic acid". J. Biol. Chem. 235: 2572–8. PMID13818862.
Kawachi T, Rudney H (1970). "Solubilization and purification of β-hydroxy-β-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase from rat liver". Biochemistry. 9 (8): 1700–5. doi:10.1021/bi00810a008. PMID4985697.