Lecture 4 Flashcards
what are steroids
one subclass of a broad range of lipids which includes cholesterol known as isprenoids or terpenes
What is cholesterol
- is a major human sterol
- present in the diet and synthesized, especially in the liver
- membrane component
- precursor to bile acids and steroid hormones
- Vitamin D precursor
true or false; cholesterol reduces the fluidity in the membrane stabilizing the extended chain of conformations of hydrocarbon tails of fatty acids due to hydrophobic interactions
true
where is cholesterol present
animal tissues in the diet; as free cholesterol and cholesterol esters
true or false; diets high in animal fats can result into dangerously high levels of blood cholesterol
true
what exacerbates high cholesterol levels in the blood
due to the presence of fatty acids in the diet eg. from butter
true or false; unsaturated fatty acids eg olive oil, help lower blood cholesterol
true
where is cholesterol synthesized in the human body
the liver and contributes to its concentration in the blood
What is a circulatory form of cholesterol
LDLs
true or false; high levels of cholesterol inhibits the synthesis of LDL receptor proteins
true
Why is bad that high levels of cholesterol inhibit the synthesis of LDL receptor proteins
means that LDL levels in the blood tend to increase, in turn enhancing atherosclerosis
true or false; there is a strong correlation between high blood cholesterol and the incidence of atherosclerosis
true
what happens during atherosclerosis
deposition of cholesterol, esters and other materials lead to the narrowing of the arteries and subsequent damage to arterial walls
what is a heart attach or myocardial infection due to
the blocking of coronary artery which part of the heart muscle is damaged by lack of oxygen
Where is cholesterol assembled from
acetyl CoA units
what are the key units to the biosynthesis of steroids and terpenes
isoprene
Stage 1 of isoprenoid synthesis
- ) condensation of 2 acetyl CoA
- ) condensation with another acetyl CoA
- ) formation of mevalonate is completed by the reduction of the thioester that gives primary alcohol
Stage 2 of isoprenoid syntehsis
- ) pyrophosphorylation of mevalonate (2 mol of ATP)
- ) ATP driven decarboxylation and B-elimination of phosphate ion gives IPP
- ) enzyme catalyzed isomeration —> DMAPP
- ) DMAPP coupled to 2X IPP —> H+ loss to give FPP
- ) joining together of two FPP by a two electron oxidation gives SQUALENE
Stage 3 of isoprenoid sythesis
key enzyme oxidosqualene cyclase; forms the multiple ring structure squalene 2,3 epoxide
What is the major regulatory enzyme in cholesterol biosynthesis
HMG-CoA reductase