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Molecular destruction code found in an enzyme involved in cholesterol synthesis

Could be used to develop more effective drugs to lower cholesterol levels

17-May-2019

Key points from article :

A key enzyme in the cholesterol synthesis pathway can be regulated and destroyed using a particular molecule.

Can be used to develop new drugs to lower cholesterol levels.

Cholesterol is mostly produced inside the human body, contribution from food is small.

The enzyme squalene monooxygenase in the cholesterol synthesis pathway has a destruction code.

Once the destruction code is unlocked a ubiquitin molecule can bind to it and destroy the enzyme.

Needs further research to unlock this code and to initiate enzyme destruction.

Research by University of New South Wales, published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

Mentioned in this article:

Click on resource name for more details.

Andrew Brown

Professor of Biochemistry in the School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences at UNSW.

Journal of Biological Chemistry (JBC)

Scientific Journal providing information about biological chemistry and similar disciplines.

Ngee Kiat (Jake) Chua

PhD Student at UNSW.

University of New South Wales (UNSW)

Public Research university.

Topics mentioned on this page:
Heart Disease