kolesteroliesteröityä
Kolesteroliesteröityä, or cholesterol esterification, is a crucial metabolic process in which cholesterol is converted into a cholesterol ester. This transformation involves the enzymatic addition of a fatty acid to the hydroxyl group of cholesterol. The primary enzyme responsible for this reaction is acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT), also known as sterol O-acyltransferase (SOAT). Cholesterol esters are more hydrophobic than free cholesterol, meaning they are less soluble in water. This property makes them ideal for storage within cells, particularly in lipid droplets, and for packaging into lipoproteins for transport in the bloodstream.
The esterification of cholesterol plays a vital role in various physiological functions. In the liver, it facilitates