Mammalian acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyltransferases

Cholesterol, the chief sterol found in vertebrates, exists both as a free sterol and as a component of cholesterol esters, which are-synthesized by acyl-CoA :cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) enzymes. Considerable knowledge concerning cholesterol ester metabolism has accumulated during the past century, However, rapid advances have occurred in the past 7 years since the cloning of an ACAT gene, including the discovery that two ACATs function in mammalian biology. A clearer picture of the functions of ACAT enzymes in cellular cholesterol metabolism and physiologic processes is now emerging. These insights may have-relevance for the development of ACAT inhibitors for treating hypercholesterolemia or atherosclerosis in humans. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.