Lecithin—cholesterol acyltransferase

Lecithin - cholesterol acyltransferase ( LCAT short ), is the enzyme in terrestrial vertebrates in the formation of cholesterol esters from cholesterol and lecithin. The transported in lipoproteins in human blood cholesterol is 70 percent before and cholesterol esters, so the liver can also degrade it easier. LCAT is therefore essential in fat metabolism. Mutations in the LCAT gene can cause (very rare ) hereditary LCAT deficiency, which is the cause of familial HDL deficiency and fish eye disease.

LCAT is produced in the liver and released into the blood. There it binds to and is on the surface of the HDL particles and decreases cholesterol and phosphatidylcholine from chylomicrons, VLDL residual bodies and dead cells or degraded membranes ( "cholesterol scavengers "). In addition, it enables the HDL particles to accept cholesterol from extrahepatic tissues and thus to reverse cholesterol transport (RCT ).

Catalyzed reaction

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A fatty acid moiety of lecithin is transferred to cholesterol. Radicals palmitoyl, oleoyl and linoleoyl are possible, while also other sterols other than cholesterol can function as a receiver.

Human Genome Organisation Euteleostomi Cholesteryl ester Very Low Density Lipoprotein
493727
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