In: Biology
What are the roles of the COENZYMES involved in HMG-CoA Reductase catalyzed cholesterol synthesis in humans.
Acetyl-coenzyme A is the starting material for cholesterol biosynthesis by mevalonate pathway. It is transported from the mitochondria to cytoplasm and acted upon by the enzyme Thiolase which forms a two acetyl group molecule called aceto-acetyl-coenzyme A and one molecule if acetyl-coenzyme A and another molecule of aceto acetyl-coenzyme A combine in the presence of hmg coa synthase to form an intermediate compound called 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (hmg co a). Hmg co a gives rise to an important molecule in the pathway of cholesterol biosynthesis called as mevalonate in the presence of hmg reductase. Mevalonate is phosphorylated twice to give rise to Isopentenylpyrophosphate and IPP gives rise to squalene which cyclizes to form lanosterol which undergoes another 19 step reactions to form cholesterol. The coenzymes act as building blocks to the formation of molecules that build the complex structure of cholesterol.