Cholesterol is essential for life - it's a required for the regulation of membrane fluidity. Cholesterol also serves as a precursor for many other biochemical pathways.
Cholesterol is synthesized throughout the body but mainly in liver, intestines, adrenal glands and reproductive organs. Synthesis starts with the combination of Acetyl-CoA and Acetoacetyl-CoA. An important intemediary in the synthesis of cholesterol is mevalonate.
Synthesis of cholesterol is regulated by a homeostatic mechanism.bf4e11cholesterol metabolic pathwayPW:0001304Pathway Ontologyarterial occlusive disease pathwayPW:0000517Pathway Ontology12677213PubMedImprovement of Endothelial Function by HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors.Drug News Perspect2002Wassmann SNickenig G9405354PubMedInduction of the cholesterol metabolic pathway regulates the farnesylation of RAS in embryonic chick heart cells: a new role for ras in regulating the expression of muscarinic receptors and G proteins.EMBO J1997Gadbut APWu LTang DPapageorge AWatson JAGalper JB