Cholesterol biosynthesis pathway

The cholesterol biosynthesis pathway is a multistep, enzyme-catalyzed metabolic pathway that converts acetyl-CoA into cholesterol through a series of intermediates, including mevalonate, squalene, lanosterol, and several others. It is partitioned into major arms (mevalonate pathway, Bloch pathway, Kandutsch-Russell pathway) and is critical for cellular membrane formation, steroid hormone production, and general lipid homeostasis. Several enzymes in this pathway, most notably HMG-CoA reductase (the pharmacological target of statins), are important drug targets. Disruption or dysregulation of cholesterol synthesis is implicated in hyperlipidemia, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and certain infectious diseases.

Other names

Cholesterol synthesis pathwayMevalonate pathway (partial)Sterol biosynthesis pathwayBloch pathwayKandutsch-Russell pathway

Inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase (rate-limiting step inhibition); Inhibition of downstream enzymes (squalene synthase, squalene monooxygenase, lanosterol synthase); Inhibition of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2 (SREBP2) to reduce transcription of pathway enzymes