Govt. Exams
Entrance Exams
Excessive dietary saturated fat increases liver production of VLDL, which carries triglycerides and cholesterol. VLDL is converted to LDL in circulation, raising LDL levels.
Phospholipids have a glycerol backbone with two fatty acids and a phosphate group, making them amphipathic. This structure is crucial for membrane formation.
HMG-CoA reductase catalyzes the conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonate, the rate-limiting and key regulatory step in cholesterol biosynthesis. It is targeted by statin drugs.
Familial hypercholesterolemia is caused by mutations in the LDL receptor gene, preventing cells from taking up LDL particles, resulting in elevated blood cholesterol levels.
High cholesterol, particularly LDL cholesterol, can accumulate in artery walls forming atherosclerotic plaques, leading to arterial narrowing (atherosclerosis) and increased risk of heart disease.
Beta-oxidation is the catabolic pathway that breaks down fatty acids in the mitochondria, producing acetyl-CoA which enters the Krebs cycle for ATP production.