Previous Research T.Y. Chang's laboratory has been interested in the molecular actions of cholesterol in mammalian cells.
Cholesterol is an essential ingredient for maintaining the integrity of all mammalian cells.
Lacking cholesterol invariably leads to cell death. Cells acquire cholesterol by uptaking it from the external medium, and by endogenous synthesis from simple precursors. Within the cell, the distribution of cholesterol is highly compartmentalized, with most of the cellular cholesterol concentrated in the plasma membranes. The excess cholesterol is then stored as cholesteryl esters in the form of cytoplasmic lipid droplets. To maintain optimal content of cholesterol within the cells, the LDL uptake process, the endogenous sterol synthesis process, and the sterol esterification process are coordinately regulated.