LCAT Protein, Mouse (HEK293, His)

The LCAT protein is a central enzyme involved in the extracellular metabolism of plasma lipoproteins. It is primarily synthesized in the liver and secreted into the bloodstream, where it converts cholesterol and phosphatidylcholines to cholesteryl esters and lysophosphatidylcholines on the surface of high and low density lipoproteins (HDLs and LDLs). This process facilitates the transport of cholesterol esters back to the liver. In addition to its hepatic production, LCAT is also produced in the brain by primary astrocytes. In the brain, it esterifies free cholesterol on nascent APOE-containing lipoproteins secreted from glia, influencing cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) APOE- and APOA1 levels. Together with APOE and the cholesterol transporter ABCA1, LCAT plays a crucial role in the maturation of glial-derived, nascent lipoproteins. Furthermore, LCAT is responsible for remodeling high-density lipoprotein particles into their spherical forms. It exhibits a preference for specific phosphatidylcholines in the plasma and can also catalyze the hydrolysis of platelet-activating factor (PAF) and transfer of the acetate group from PAF to another molecule. Additionally, LCAT catalyzes the esterification of (24S)-hydroxycholesterol to produce 24(S)OH-C monoesters.