Cholesterol Degradation: From Molecule To Metabolic Products

Cholesterol Degradation: From Molecule To Metabolic Products

Degradation of cholesterol.
Answer:

• Cholesterol is converted to bile acids, excreted in feces.
• Serves as a precursor for the synthesis of.

1. Steroid hormones.
2. Vitamin D
3. Fecal sterols – coprostanol and cholestanol.

1. Synthesis of bile acids:

• It takes place in the liver
• First cholesterol is dehydrogenase to 7-hydroxy-choIesterd by 7 a-hydroxylase.
• Following it, primary bile acids – cholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid are formed.
• Cholic acid gets conjugated with glycine and taurine to form conjugated bile acids glycocholic acid and taurocholic acid.
• In the intestine, primary bile acids undergo deconjugation and dehydroxylation to form secondary bile acids namely deoxycholic aid and lithocholic acid.

Enterohepatic circulation:

Bile salts synthesize in the liver.

• This is called enterohepatic circulation.

2. Synthesis of steroid hormones.

3. Synthesis of vitamin D.

7-Dehydrocholesterol, intermediate in cholesterol synthesis.
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Cholecalciferol by ultraviolet rays.