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Cited by 414Cholesterol and Lipid MetabolismCancer, Lipids, and MetabolismLipid metabolism and biosynthesis

Cholesterol, the central lipid of mammalian cells

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Maxfield, Frederick R, van Meer, Gerrit·2010·Current Opinion in Cell Biology
DOI 10.1016/j.ceb.2010.05.004PMC PMC2910236
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Abstract

Despite its importance for mammalian cell biology and human health, there are many basic aspects of cholesterol homeostasis that are not well understood. Even for the well-characterized delivery of cholesterol to cells via lipoproteins, a novel regulatory mechanism has been discovered recently, involving a serum protein called PCSK9, which profoundly affects lipoproteins and their receptors. Cells can export cholesterol by processes that require the activity of ABC transporters, but the molecular mechanisms for cholesterol transport remain unclear. Cholesterol levels in different organelles vary by 5-10-fold, and the mechanisms for maintaining these differences are now partially understood. Several proteins have been proposed to play a role in the inter-organelle movement of cholesterol, but many aspects of the mechanisms for regulating intracellular transport and distribution of cholesterol remain to be worked out. The endoplasmic reticulum is the main organelle responsible for regulation of cholesterol synthesis, and careful measurements have shown that the proteins responsible for sterol sensing respond over a very narrow range of cholesterol concentrations to provide very precise, switch-like control over cholesterol synthesis.

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Authors
Maxfield, F. R., & van Meer, G.
Affiliations
Weill Cornell Medicine (US)
Corresponding author
Maxfield, Frederick R
ORCID
Maxfield, Frederick R
Venue
Current Opinion in Cell Biology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2010-08
Volume
22
Issue
4
Pages
422-429
ISSN
0955-0674 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.ceb.2010.05.004
PMC
PMC2910236
OpenAlex
W2037132483
Cited by
414
References
0
Citations by year
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FWCI
2.84
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Current Opinion in Cell Biology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • Utrecht University Repository (Utrecht University) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (R01HL093324)
  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (R37DK027083)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Cholesterol and Lipid Metabolism
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cancer Research › Cancer, Lipids, and Metabolism
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Biochemistry › Lipid metabolism and biosynthesis
Keywords
cholesterol homeostasis, PCSK9, ABC transporters, cholesterol export, sterol sensing, endoplasmic reticulum, lipoprotein receptors
MeSH terms
Animals, Cell Membrane, Cells, Cholesterol, Homeostasis, Humans, Mammals

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