
Cholesterol is essential to human health, and its levels are tightly regulated by a balance of synthesis, uptake, and efflux. Cholesterol synthesis requires the actions of more than twenty enzymes to reach the final product, through two alternate pathways. Here we describe a physical and functional interaction between the two terminal enzymes. 24-Dehydrocholesterol reductase (DHCR24) and 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase (DHCR7) coimmunoprecipitate, and when the DHCR24 gene is knocked down by siRNA, DHCR7 activity is also ablated. Conversely, overexpression of DHCR24 enhances DHCR7 activity, but only when a functional form of DHCR24 is used. DHCR7 is important for both cholesterol and vitamin D synthesis, and we have identified a novel layer of regulation, whereby its activity is controlled by DHCR24. This suggests the existence of a cholesterol "metabolon", where enzymes from the same metabolic pathway interact with each other to provide a substrate channeling benefit. We predict that other enzymes in cholesterol synthesis may similarly interact, and this should be explored in future studies.
Proteomics, Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors, 24-dehydrocholesterol reductase, Nerve Tissue Proteins, QD415-436, CHO Cells, 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase, Biochemistry, desmosterol, Cholesterol, Cricetulus, Cricetinae, Gene Knockdown Techniques, 7-dehydrocholesterol, Animals, Humans, Immunoprecipitation, Gene Silencing, RNA, Small Interfering, Protein Binding
Proteomics, Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors, 24-dehydrocholesterol reductase, Nerve Tissue Proteins, QD415-436, CHO Cells, 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase, Biochemistry, desmosterol, Cholesterol, Cricetulus, Cricetinae, Gene Knockdown Techniques, 7-dehydrocholesterol, Animals, Humans, Immunoprecipitation, Gene Silencing, RNA, Small Interfering, Protein Binding
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