Cholesteryl ester utilization

Fat absorbed from the diet and lipids synthesized by the liver and adipose tissue must be transported between the various tissues and organs for utilization and storage. Since lipids are insoluble in water, the problem of how to transport them in the aqueous blood plasma is solved by associating nonpolar lipids (triacylglycerol and cholesteryl esters) with amphipathic hpids (phospholipids and cholesterol) and proteins to make water-miscible hpoproteins. 

LDL binds specifically to lipoprotein receptors on the cell surface. The resulting complexes become clustered in regions of the plasma membrane called coated pits. Endocytosis follows (see Fig. 13-3). The clathrin coat dissociates from the endocytic vesicles, which may recycle the receptors to the plasma membrane or fuse with lysosomes. The lysosomal proteases and lipases then catalyze the hydrolysis of the LDL-receptor complexes the protein is degraded completely to amino acids, and cholesteryl esters are hydrolyzed to free cholesterol and fatty acid. New LDL receptors are synthesized on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane and are subsequently reintroduced into the plasma membrane. The cholesterol is incorporated in small amounts into the endoplasmic reticulum membrane or may be stored after esterification as cholesteryl ester in the cytosol this occurs if the supply of cholesterol exceeds its utilization in membranes. Normally, only very small amounts of cholesteryl ester reside inside cells, and the majority of the free cholesterol is in the plasma membrane. 

Plasma lipoproteins (LPs) are soluble aggregates of lipids and proteins that deliver hydrophobic, water-insoluble lipids (triglycerides and cholesteryl esters) from the liver and intestine to other tissues in the body for storage or utilization as an energy source [60]. All LP particles have a common structure of a neutral lipid core surrounded by a surface monolayer of amphipathic lipids (phospholipids and unesterified cholesterol) and some specific apoproteins (Fig. 14). The LPs are usually classified according to density, from very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) to high-density lipoprotein (HDL). The size of LPs varies from 5-12 nm for HDL to 30-80 nm for VLDL. 

Vineland, NJ) or over-the-counter cosmetic creams promoted for improved hydration (L Oreal, Paris and Dior, Paris). More recently, parenteral liposome formulations of amphotericin B, doxorubicin, and dau-norubicin have been approved and marketed (ABELCET, Elan, the Liposome Co., Inc, Princeton, NJ AmBisome and DaunoXome, Nexstar/Fujisawa, Deerfield Park, IL Amphotec and Doxil, Sequus/ Alza, Menlo Park, CA), with others on the horizon for applications in photodynamic therapy. Although the vast majority of liposome preparations are constructed from phospholipids, other nonphospholipid materials can be used either alone or in mixtures to form bilayer arrays. One such example is Amphotec, which utilizes sodium cholesteryl sulfate as the primary lipid. Other liposome forming materials may include but are not limited to fatty-acid compositions, ionized fatty acids, or fatty acyl amino acids, longchain fatty alcohols plus surfactants, ionized lysophospholipids or combinations, non-ionic or ionic surfactants and amphiphiles, alkyl maltosides, a-tocopherol esters, cholesterol esters, polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers, sorbitan alkyl esters, and polymerized phospholipid compositions. ° ... 

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