Crustacean intestinal detergent promotes sterol solubilization.
Although crustacean tissue cholesterol content is high, Crustacea, like other arthropods; are incapable of cholesterol synthesis, and presumably are dependent for maintaining tissue cholesterol stores on the intestinal absorption of ingested sterol. A detergent, N-(N-dodecanoylsarcosyl)taurine, representative of a set of detergents synthesized by the crustacean hepatopancreas and secreted into the intestine, is capable of efficient cholesterol solubilization, and thus of promoting sterol absorption.
D000818:Animals; D003386:Brachyura / Q000378:metabolism*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D003902:Detergents / Q000378:metabolism*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D007848:Laurates / Q000378:metabolism; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000378:metabolism; D012995:Solubility; D013261:Sterols / Q000378:metabolism*
D003902:Detergents; D007848:Laurates; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D013261:Sterols; D002784:Cholesterol