Indirect assay of beta hydroxy beta methyl glutaryl CoA reductase in the sera of leprosy patients--a further probe into cholesterol metabolism.
With an aim to study the cholesterol biosynthetic capacity of the leprosy patients, the enzyme Beta hydroxy methyl glutaryl CoA reductase (HMG CoA) has been indirectly determined in the sera of leprosy patients and their family members by assaying the circulating levels of HMG CoA and mevalonate and finding out the ratio between two. The ratio was around 1 in leprosy patients indicating a normal HMG CoA reductase activity and approximately the same values were obtained in cases of healthy controls. The results suggest that cholesterol biosynthetic capacity of leprosy patients is normal. Whether cholesterol, the final product or intermediates like mevalonate are utilised by the invading M. leprae, thereby causing a lowered cholesterol level remains to be seen.
D002784:Cholesterol / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006903:Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases / Q000097:blood*; D007918:Leprosy / Q000201:enzymology*; D008798:Mevalonic Acid / Q000097:blood; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000378:metabolism
D002784:Cholesterol; D006903:Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases; D008798:Mevalonic Acid