Cholesterols biosynthetic pathways

Fig. 1. Biosynthetic pathways for formation of cortisol from cholesterol.

The search for inhibitors of this pathway began with the first key regulatory enzyme, HMG CoA reductase. Several clinically useful inhibitors of HMG CoA reductase are now known. One of the most successful, Mevacor, produced by Merck, is one of the pharmaceutical industry s best selling products. However, the problem with inhibiting a branched biosynthetic pathway at an early point is that the biosynthesis of other crucial biomolecules may also be inhibited. Indeed, there is some evidence that levels of ubiquinone and the dolichols are affected by some HMG CoA reductase inhibitors. Consequently, efforts have recently been directed towards finding inhibitors of squalene synthase, the enzyme controlling the first step on the route to cholesterol after the FPP branch point. 

Isoprenoids are intermediates and products of the biosynthetic pathway that starts with mevalonate and ends with cholesterol and other sterols. 

In addition, three types of lipophilic conjugates have been found in pyrethroid metabolism studies (Fig. 4). They are cholesterol ester (fenvalerate) [15], glyceride (3-PBacid, a common metabolite of several pyrethroids) [16], and bile acid conjugates (fluvalinate) [17]. It is noteworthy that one isomer out of the four chiral isomers of fenvalerate yields a cholesterol ester conjugate from its acid moiety [15]. This chiral-specific formation of the cholesterol ester has been demonstrated to be mediated by transesterification reactions of carboxylesterase(s) in microsomes, not by any of the three known biosynthetic pathways of endogenous cholesterol esters... 

Because HMG CoA reductase occurs before a branch point in the biosynthetic pathway, complete inhibition of the enzyme by cholesterol would necessarily deprive the cell of many other intermediates, some of which are important in cell growth and division. A group of drugs known as statins are widely used to reduce plasma cholesterol concentration by inhibiting HMG CoA reductase. Interest is now rising in the possible use of statins as anticancer drugs due to their impact on reducing the production of mediators of cell proliferation. 

Fluvastatin is an inhibitor of the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway and may be used to reduce the risk of coronary conditions, e.g. strokes and heart attacks, in susceptible patients. It has the structure shown, though drag material is supplied as the racemic form. A partial numbering system is given, and the rest of the molecule may be abbreviated to aryl in answers. 

Formation of mevalonate. The conversion of acetyl CoA to acetoacetyl CoA and then to 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA (3-HMG CoA) corresponds to the biosynthetic pathway for ketone bodies (details on p. 312). In this case, however, the synthesis occurs not in the mitochondria as in ketone body synthesis, but in the smooth endoplasmic reticulum. In the next step, the 3-HMG group is cleaved from the CoA and at the same time reduced to mevalonate with the help of NADPH+H 3-HMG CoA reductase is the key enzyme in cholesterol biosynthesis. It is regulated by repression of transcription (effectors oxysterols such as cholesterol) and by interconversion... 

The endergonic biosynthetic pathway described above is located entirely in the smooth endoplasmic reticulum. The energy needed comes from the CoA derivatives used and from ATP. The reducing agent in the formation of mevalonate and squalene, as well as in the final steps of cholesterol biosynthesis, is NADPH+H ... 

This substance undergoes degradation, oxidation, and cyclization reactions to form the first steroid "lanosterol", which is transformed into cholesterol after several steps. Schematic outlines of these biosynthetic pathways are well illustrated in the literature [56-59]. 

In the past decade, eight inherited disorders have been linked to specific enzyme defects in the isoprenoid/cholesterol biosynthetic pathway after the finding of abnormally increased levels of intermediate metabolites in tissues and/or body fluids of patients (Table 5.1.1) [7, 9, 10]. Two of these disorders are due to a defect of the enzyme mevalonate kinase, and in principle affect the synthesis of all isoprenoids (Fig. 5.1.1) [5]. The hallmark of these two disorders is the accumulation of mevalonic acid in body fluids and tissues, which can be detected by organic acid analysis, or preferably, by stable-isotope dilution gas chromatography (GC)-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) [2]. Confirmative diagnostic possibilities include direct measurement of mevalonate kinase activities in white blood cells or primary skin fibroblasts [3] from patients, and/or molecular analysis of the MVK gene [8]. 

Fig. 5.1.2 Cholesterol biosynthesis branch of the isoprenoid biosynthetic pathway. Enzymes are numbered as follows 1 squalene synthase 2 squalene epoxidase 3 2,3-oxidosqua-lene sterol cyclase 4 sterol A24-reductase (desmosterolosis) 5 sterol C-14 demethylase 6 sterol A14-reductase (hydrops-ectopic calcification-moth-eaten, HEM, dysplasia) 7 sterol C-4 demethylase complex (including a 3/ -hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase defective in congenital hemidyspla-sia with ichthyosiform nevus and limb defects, CHILD, syndrome) 8 sterol A8-A7 isomerase (Conradi-Hunermann syndrome CDPX2) 9 sterol A5-desaturase (lathosterolosis) 10 sterol A7-reductase (Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome). Enzyme deficiencies are indicated by solid bars across the arrows...

The structure of this 27-carbon compound suggests a complex biosynthetic pathway, but all of its carbon atoms are provided by a single precursor—acetate (Fig. 21-32). The isoprene units that are the essential intermediates in the pathway from acetate to cholesterol are also precursors to many other natural lipids, and the mechanisms by which isoprene units are polymerized are similar in all these pathways. 

We begin with an account of the main steps in the biosynthesis of cholesterol from acetate, then discuss the transport of cholesterol in the blood, its uptake by cells, the normal regulation of cholesterol synthesis, and its regulation in those with defects in cholesterol uptake or transport. We next consider other cellular components derived from cholesterol, such as bile acids and steroid hormones. Finally, an outline of the biosynthetic pathways to some of the many compounds derived from isoprene units, which share early steps with the pathway to cholesterol, illustrates the extraordinary versatility of isoprenoid condensations in biosynthesis. 

Edwards, P.A. Ericsson, J. (1999) Sterols and isoprenoids signaling molecules derived from the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway. Annu. Rev. Biochem. 68, 157-185. 

Addition of Isoprenyl Groups A number of eukaryotic proteins are modified by the addition of groups derived from isoprene (isoprenyl groups). A thioether bond is formed between the isoprenyl group and a Cys residue of the protein (see Fig. 11-14). The isoprenyl groups are derived from pyrophosphorylated intermediates of the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway (see Fig. 21-33), such as famesyl pyrophosphate (Fig. 27-30). Proteins modified in this way include the Ras proteins, products of the ras oncogenes and proto-oncogenes, and G proteins (both discussed in Chapter 12), and lamins, pro-... 

The l3C content of cholesterol preserved in ancient bones provides information on the diets of people who lived long ago. Approximately 1.1% of natural carbon is l 3C and 98.9% is l2C. Different types of plants and animals have consistent, slightly different ratios of l3C/l2C. which reflect their biosynthetic pathways. 

The rearrangement of this initially created C-20 carbocation to lanosterol (Fig. 22-6, step c) is also a remarkable reaction that requires the shift of a hydride ion and of two methyl groups, as indicated by the arrows in the figure. In addition, a hydrogen at C-9 (sterol numbering) is lost as a proton. Lanosterol is named for its occurrence in lanolin, the waxy fat in wool. Although the principal component of lanolin is cholesterol, lanosterol is its precursor both in sheep and in all other animals. Cholesterol is in turn the precursor to other animal sterols. The cholesterol biosynthetic pathway also provides cells with a variety of important signaling molecules.1603... 

Stereospecific 2,3-epoxidation of squalene. followed by a non-concerted carbocationic cyclization and a seiies of carbocationic rearrangements, forms lanosterol (26) in the first steps dedicated solely toward steroid synthesis. Cholesterol is the principal starting material for steroid hormone biosynthesis ill animals. The cholesterol biosynthetic pathway is composed of at least 30 enzymatic reactions. Lanosterol and squalene appear to he normal constituents, in trace amounis. in tissues that are actively synthesizing cholesterol,... 

The principle underlying the ring-closure reaction and the structure of 47 is reminiscent of the natural biosynthetic pathway for steroids.16 In the latter case 2n3-oxidosqualene cyclizes under enzymatic control to lanosLerof a tetracyclic precursor of cholesterol. 

Apparently, parasitic flatworms have discarded some pathways of de novo lipid synthesis, but have selectively retained several biosynthetic pathways that modify host lipids. Although lipids like fatty acids and cholesterol are obtained from the host, less abundant lipids that are more difficult to acquire because of their low concentration in the host (e.g. specific unsaturated fatty acids, eicosanoids, ecdysteroids and quinones) are synthesized de novo by the parasite, usually by the modification of more abundant substrates. In this way, lipid metabolism of parasitic flatworms is adapted to an opportunistic way of life, just like their energy metabolism. 

The biosynthetic pathway to estradiol and estrone (Figure 5.133) proceeds from cholesterol via pregnenolone and bears a resemblance to the hydrocortisone pathway (Figure 5.114) in the early 17-hydroxylation step. Indeed, the same cytochrome P-450-dependent enzyme catalyses 17-hydroxylation of both pregnenolone and... 

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