Cholesterol biosynthesis, transport, and genetics 1 Flashcards
Cholesterol is required as a precursor for the biosynthesis what?
Vit D
Steroids
Bile salts(acids)
What is cholesterol necessary for?
membrane stability
What is a major structural component of myelin sheaths?
cholesterol
What synthesizes the myelin sheath in the CNS?
oligodendrocytes
What synthesizes the myelin sheath in the PNS?
Schwann cells
What types of cells are the oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells?
glial cells
Where is the myelin sheath located?
surrounds axons in vertebrates
What is the function of the myelin sheath?
myelination increases the speed of action potentials down an axon (broken into segments)
Are action potentials multi-directional or unidirectional?
unidirectional (cannot go back)
What are the non-myelinated parts of the axon between the myelin sheath segments?
Nodes of Ranvier
What acts as an insulator on axons?
myelin sheath
Is the myelin sheath continuous or broken up?
broken into segments
Why is an action potential unidirectional?
When Na+ channels close, they cannot depolarize until they are reactivated.
What is the major component of myelin sheath?
CHOLESTEROL
30%
What is the basic structure of steroids?
four hydrocarbon rings
Is the major portion of cholesterol hydro(philic/phobic)
hydrophobic
What is the function of cholesterol’s hydrophobic portion?
imbed in lipid bilayer
What are the major synthesizing organs of cholesterol?
liver (70-80%)
small intestine (10%)
(also adrenal glands and gonads)
Cholesterol is either synthesizes from _____ sources or _______.
dietary
de novo
Function of cholesterol in cell membranes?
membrane fluidity
intracellular transport
cell signaling
nerve conduction
What is a desirable total cholesterol?
under 200
What is the most desirable LDL?
under 100
Which cholesterol is considered “bad cholesterol”?
LDL
Why is LDL considered “bad cholesterol”?
can lead to formation of plaques in vascular system
What is a desirable and undesirable HDL?
over 60 = good
under 40 = bad
What is the first stage of Do Novo biosynthesis of cholesterol?
synthesis of ISOPENTENYL PYROPHOSPHATE
What is the second stage of Do Novo biosynthesis of cholesterol?
condensation of 6 molecules of isopentenyl pyrophosphate to form SQUALENE
What is the third stage of Do Novo biosynthesis of cholesterol?
cyclization of squalene to form Lanosterol which is converted to CHOLESTEROL
What does stage 1 of De Novo begin with?
condensation of acetyl-CoA to acetoacetyl-CoA
Where does the condensation of acetyl-CoA and acetoacetyl-CoA take place?
cytoplasm
What does the condensation of acetyl-CoA to acetoacetyl-CoA form?
3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA (HMG-CoA)
3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA (HMG-CoA) is reduced to form what?
mevalonate
What reduces 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA (HMG-CoA) to mevalonate?
enzyme HMG-CoA reductase
What is the first committed step of cholesterol biosynthesis?
reduction of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA (HMG-CoA) to mevalonate
What is the key regulatory step in biosynthesis of cholesterol?
HMG-CoA reductase
What is mevalonate converted into?
isopentyl pyrophosphate