27.16 Bile salts are highly effective biological detergents that solubilize dietary lipids in the small intestine. Bile salts are derived from cholesterol. One way to treat high serum cholesterol is to remove bile salts using oral dose resins. The decrease in intestinal bile salts stimulates the conversion of cholesterol to bile salts in the liver. CoA Reductase plays a key role in setting the rate of cholesterol synthesis in the liver.
Cholesterol is derived from the diet and from de novo synthesis in the liver.
Normally, when dietary sources of cholesterol are high, the enzyme is inhibited. The rate of translation of HMG CoA reductase mRNA is regulated. The HMG CoA reductase protein level is controlled by degradation. Metabolism of dietary fats and cholesterol Cholesterol and triglycerides are carried in the blood by lipoprotein particles. These macromolecular aggregates solubilize hydrophobic lipids and provide cell targeting signals.