Cholesterol Synthesis and Transport Flashcards
Summary of cholesterol synthesis and transport
acetyl-CoA is converted to mevalonate using HMG CoA reductase. Mevalonate is converted to 3-isopentyl pyrophosphate to cholesterol, which inhibits the synthesis of HMG CoA reductase, to vitamin D, bile salts, or steroid hormones through transport by VLDL, LDL, or HDL
Structure of cholesterol
4 rings, 27 carbons (all derived from actyl-CoA)
Cholesterol synthesis stages
Stage 1 - Synthesis of isopentyl pyrophosphate
Stage 2 - 6 isopentyl pyrophosphate to squalene
Stage 3 - Squalene cyclizes and converts to cholesterol
What is the rate limiting step of cholesterol synthesis?
3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA converted to mevalonate by HMG-CoA reductase
What does HMG CoA synthase do?
It converts acetoacetyl CoA to beta-hydroxy-beta-methyl-glutaryl CoA or HMG-CoA using acetyl CoA.
What are the two types of HMG-CoA synthase?
mitochondrial and cytoplasmic
In the mitochondrion, HMG CoA synthase makes ___, but in cytosplasmic HMG CoA synthase produces ____.
ketone bodies,
cholesterol
Statins inhibit ____.
HMG-CoA reductase
____ and ___ are potential side effects of statins.
Rhabdomyolysis and myopathy
What are some statins?
Compactin, Simvastatin (Zocor), Pravastatin (Pravachol) and Lovastatin (Mevacor)
Statins are ___ inhibitors that resemble ____.
competitive, mevalonate
Statins lower ____.
Plasma cholesterol levels (>50%)
What molecules are downstream of mevalonate?
Cholesterol, ubiquinone/CoQ, Vitamin D, Bile salts, and steroid hormones
What are the enzymes involved in the reactions that occur after mevalonate is produces?
Mevalonate 5’ phosphokinase, phosphomevalonate kinase, and pyrophosphomevalonate decarboxylase
What are the steps between isopentenyl pyrophosphate and squalene?
isopentenyl pyrophosphate and dimethylallyl pyrophosphate combine to form geranyl pyrophosphate (a 10C) which forms farnesyl pyrophosphate (15 C polyisoprene), which combine to form a squalene (30C polyisoprene)
Steps of squalene cyclization
Squalene to squalene epoxide to ianosterol to cholesterol
How is the synthesis of cholesterol regulated?
insulin activates HMG-CoA reductase. Glucagon and high levels of intracellular cholesterol inhibit HMG-CoA reductase (as well as mevalonate). Cholesterol stimulates proteolysis of HMG-CoA reductase.
HMG-CoA reductase is active when dephosphorylated.
Cholesterol activates ACAT, which creates cholesteryl esters.
high levels of cholesterol also inhibit receptor-mediated endocytosis of LDL-cholesterol (extracellular)
HMG-CoA reductase is transcribed by ___.
SREBP (Sterol regulatory element-binding protein)
What are major sites of cholesterol synthesis?
The liver and intestine
Explain the regulation of HMG-CoA reductase
Sterol binding prevents transport (of SCAP?) to golgi
Proteolysis occurs in the golgi, which releases SREBP DNA binding domain.
Transcription of the reductase gene in nucleus
SREBP
Sterol regulatory element-binding protein
SCAP
SREBP cleavage-activating protein; binds cholesterol and other sterols - moves to golgi in the absence of cholesterol binding