Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a polymer of fatty acids that are present in bio membranes and other parts which is
important to our body in many ways.

But increase in cholesterols levels in body leads to atherosclerosis leading to myocardial infarction

Functions of cholesterol

 Cholesterol is present in cell membranes which increases the flexibility of the membranes
paving the reason for fluid mosaic model
 Cholesterol is needed in the preparation of bile salts
Cholesterol = 27
Bile = 25
 Cholesterol are present in lipoproteins which mobilizes fat from liver to perpipheral tissue
And vice versa
 Cholesterol helps in the formation of phospholipids formation that indded leads to the
formation of lung surfactants

Cholesterol bio synthesis

Cholesterol ester taken through diet is broken down and absorbed with help of the enzyme
cholesterol esterase and absorbed into the lacteals. Then it goes to the liver where it is made into
different products

Step 1 condensation

Two units of acetyl coa condenses together to form acetoacetyl coa under the action of the enzyme
acetoacetic coa synthase

Step 2 the commited step

In this step hmg coa is synthesised by acetoacetic coa under the action of the enzyme hmg coa
synthase

Step 3 reduction

In this step the obtained HMG Coa (hydroxy methyl gamma butyryl coa) under the action of the
enzyme HMG CoA reductase will get converted into mavalonate

Step 3 phosphorylation

In the step 3 the mavelonate is then undergo cyclisation to form phosphor, pyrophospho, phosphor
pyro phoshp

Step 4 decarboxylation

Enzyme=decarboxylase

Product obtained=isopentyl pyrophosphate

Step 5 condensation of 5 c compunds

Step 6 cyclisation

Levoserol
Step 7 cutting into size

Zymoserol

Step 8 isomerase

Desmosterol

Cholesterol