Skip to main content
Medicine LibreTexts

6: Lipoprotein Metabolism and Cholesterol Synthesis

  • Page ID
    37791
  • \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \) \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)\(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)\(\newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

    Learning objectives

    1. Describe the structure and composition (including associated apoproteins) of the plasma lipoproteins (chylomicrons, VLDL, IDL, LDL, and HDL).
    2. Compare and contrast the functions of the various lipoprotein particles with respect to their composition, synthesis, transport, and uptake.
    3. Describe the regulation of cholesterol biosynthesis by the following factors: energy availability, hormones, food intake, and pharmacological manipulation.
    4. Predict the effect of changes of plasma cholesterol levels on the intracellular synthesis of cholesterol and the transcriptional regulation of genes that are involved in cholesterol homeostasis.
    5. Predict the consequence of defects in the LDL receptor on plasma lipid levels, receptor number, and the activity of enzymes involved in cellular cholesterol metabolism.

    Cholesterol synthesis and lipoprotein metabolism are several of the most clinically relevant metabolic pathways. Dyslipidemias are a common medical concern, and understanding how to interpret and treat these disorders is fundamental to clinical practice. This section will describe the role, metabolism, and regulation of lipoproteins within circulation.

    Thumbnail: Grey, Kindred, Chapter 6. 2021. Chemical structure by Henry Jakubowski. CC BY 4.0.


    This page titled 6: Lipoprotein Metabolism and Cholesterol Synthesis is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Renee J. LeClair (Virginia Tech Libraries' Open Education Initiative) .

    • Was this article helpful?