mévalonate

Mevalonate is a molecule that plays a crucial role in a metabolic pathway known as the mevalonate pathway. This pathway is essential for the synthesis of a variety of important biomolecules in living organisms. The pathway begins with acetyl-CoA, a common intermediate in cellular metabolism, which is converted into mevalonate through a series of enzymatic steps. Mevalonate itself is then further transformed into isoprenoids, a diverse class of organic compounds.

The mevalonate pathway is particularly important for the production of cholesterol, a vital component of cell membranes and a precursor for steroid hormones, bile acids, and vitamin D. In addition to cholesterol, the pathway also synthesizes other isoprenoids like ubiquinone (coenzyme Q), which is essential for cellular respiration, and dolichols, which are involved in protein glycosylation. The pathway is found in eukaryotes, archaea, and some bacteria, highlighting its fundamental biological significance.

Because of its central role in cholesterol synthesis, the mevalonate pathway has become a major target for pharmaceutical intervention. Statins, a widely prescribed class of drugs, work by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme in the mevalonate pathway, thereby lowering cholesterol levels. Understanding the mevalonate pathway is therefore critical for both basic biological research and the development of therapeutic strategies for various diseases.