Biology:Lecithin–cholesterol acyltransferase

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Short description: Mammalian protein found in Homo sapiens


A representation of the 3D structure of the protein myoglobin showing turquoise α-helices.
Generic protein structure example


Lecithin–cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT, also called phosphatidylcholine–sterol O-acyltransferase) is an enzyme, in many animals including humans, that converts free cholesterol into cholesteryl ester (a more hydrophobic form of cholesterol), which is then sequestered into the core of a lipoprotein particle, eventually making the newly synthesized HDL spherical and forcing the reaction to become unidirectional since the particles are removed from the surface. The enzyme is bound to high-density lipoproteins (HDLs) (alpha-LCAT) and LDLs (beta-LCAT) in the blood plasma.[1] LCAT deficiency can cause impaired vision due to cholesterol corneal opacities, anemia, and kidney damage.[2] It belongs to the family of phospholipid:diacylglycerol acyltransferases.

Interactive pathway map

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