Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a molecule that is found in animal cells and body fluids. Cholesterol is not found in plant sources. It is a type of lipid which is a fat or fat-like molecule. Cholesterol is a soft waxy substance. Cholesterol is a special type of lipid that is called a steroid. Steroids are lipids that have a special chemical structure. This structure is made of four rings of carbon atoms. Cholesterol is found especially in animal fats.
Cholesterol is the main steroid synthesized by animals. Other steroids include hormone steroids like cortisol, estrogen, and testosterone. These and other steroid hormones are made by changing the basic chemical structure of cholesterol. This is an example of chemical synthesis.
Hypercholesterolemia means that cholesterol level is too high in the blood. High cholesterol levels show that heart disease may develop.
Cholesterol Media
Substrate presentation; PLD (blue oval) is sequestered into cholesterol-dependent lipid domains (green lipids) by palmitoylation. PLD also binds PIP2(red hexagon) domains (grey shading) located in the disordered region of the cell with phosphatidylcholine (PC).
Condensation of Acetyl-CoA to HMG-CoA
HMG-CoA mechanism to Melavonic Acid - Cholesterol Synthesis
Melavonate to IPP mechanism
Cation formation from DMAPP
Farnesylpyrophosphate synthase (FPPS) reaction
Mechanistic formation of Squalene
Mechanistic formation of Squalene continued
NADH reducing FAD to FADH2 for squalene monooxygenase
Squalene Epoxigenase Mechanism
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