title: [The key enzyme of cholesterol synthesis pathway: HMG-CoA reductase and disease].
abstract: In eukaryotes, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase is a key enzyme that catalyses the synthesis of a precusor of cholesterol as well as non-sterol isoprenoids, mevalonate. The regulation of the enzyme activity occurs at the transcription, post-transcription, translation and protein degradation levels. Cholesterol contributes to the generation and development of atherosclerosis while non-sterol isoprenoids play a role in regulation of cell proliferation, signal transduction and generation of cancers. At present, the enzyme is the target of several drugs effective against atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Beijing Medical University, Beijing 100083.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Tong
mesh_terms: D002784:Cholesterol / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000201:enzymology*; D006801:Humans; D006903:Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D002784:Cholesterol; D006903:Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases