Cholesterol

Uses of Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a steroid which a plays an important role in meatbolism. It is mainly found in the spinal cord and it makes up 10% of the dry matter in the brain. A quarter of a kilogram of cholesterol is present in the average adult human body!

Cholesterol that has been synthesised by the liver has 2 possible uses.

  1. Bile acids (relatively hydrophilic) which play an important role in the digestive process.
  2. Esterified to cholesteryl esters (relatively hydrophobic) by acyl CoA cholesterol acyl transferase, (or ACAT) and used in the synthesis and repair of cell membranes or stored in the liver.

Cholesterol can be used as a precursor by testis, ovaries or the adrenal gland to make steroid hormones. It is also a precursor to vitamin D.

Steroid Hormones

There are 5 groups of steroid hormones that can be synthesised from cholesterol.

All of these molecules have a 4 ring fused structure and all have very similar structures given the difference in physiological effects.

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Synthesis of Cholesterol

Fate of Cholesterol