Cellular Cholesterol
Cellular Cholesterol - Related Videos
11:07
Macrophage Cholesterol Depletion and Its Effect on the Phagocytosis of Cryptococcus neoformans
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Cited by 22 •
2014
In this article, a protocol for infection of macrophages with Cryptococcus neoformans is described. Also, a method for sterol depletion from the macrophages is explained. These protocols provide a guide to study fungal infections in vitro and examine the role of sterols in such infections.
01:29
Cholesterol: Significance and Regulation
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2024
Although not a source of energy, cholesterol plays a significant role as a foundational structure for bile salts, steroid hormones, and vitamin D, as well as being a crucial component of plasma membranes. Approximately 15% of blood cholesterol is derived from our diet, with the remainder synthesized from acetyl CoA by the liver and intestines. Cholesterol is eliminated from the body through its conversion into bile salts, which are eventually discarded in the feces. Considering cholesterol and...
07:54
Cholesterol Efflux Assay
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Cited by 74 •
2012
The cholesterol assay is designed to quantitate the rate of cholesterol efflux from cultured cells and the capacity of plasma acceptors to accept cholesterol released from cells. The assay consists of labelling cells with cholesterol, equilibration of cholesterol among intracellular pools and release of cholesterol to an extracellular acceptor.
10:12
Enrichment of Mammalian Tissues and Xenopus Oocytes with Cholesterol
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Cited by 12 •
2020
Two methods of cholesterol enrichment are presented: the application of cyclodextrin saturated with cholesterol to enrich mammalian tissues and cells, and the use of cholesterol-enriched phospholipid-based dispersions (liposomes) to enrich Xenopus oocytes. These methods are instrumental for determining the impact of elevated cholesterol levels in molecular, cellular, and organ function.
05:00
Cellular Respiration - Concepts
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2019
Autotrophs and Heterotrophs Living organisms require a continuous input of energy to maintain cellular and organismal functions such as growth, repair, movement, defense, and reproduction. Cells can only use chemical energy to fuel their functions, therefore they need to harvest energy from chemical bonds of biomolecules, such as sugars and lipids. Autotrophic organisms, namely plants, algae, and photosynthetic and chemosynthetic bacteria, convert inorganic materials into such biomolecules by...
FAQs
Cells regulate cholesterol availability through two complementary inputs: internal production via the mevalonate pathway and uptake from low-density lipoprotein particles. They also move cholesterol between organelles and convert excess amounts into storage esters. Together, these processes help match cellular supply with membrane, signaling, and biosynthetic demands while limiting harmful accumulation.
Cholesterol adjusts membrane fluidity and permeability, allowing membranes to maintain suitable physical properties as cellular conditions change. Its placement within the membrane also influences how molecules and signaling components are organized. These effects connect cholesterol balance directly to membrane stability and to the efficiency of membrane-associated cellular processes.
Cellular cholesterol must be transported between organelles and maintained in appropriate membrane locations. Excess or misplaced cholesterol can disrupt cellular function even when the central issue is not simply total abundance. Studying its distribution therefore provides information about trafficking, membrane organization, and the consequences of impaired lipid regulation.
Cholesterol supplies material for the production of steroid hormones and bile acids, linking cellular lipid handling to broader physiological functions. It also helps organize specialized signaling domains within membranes. Consequently, changes in cholesterol synthesis, transport, storage, or distribution may influence both intracellular signaling and the production of important biological molecules.
A complete analysis can consider mevalonate-pathway synthesis, uptake from low-density lipoprotein particles, movement between organelles, and conversion of excess cholesterol into storage esters. Examining these processes together shows how cells acquire, distribute, use, and buffer cholesterol rather than treating membrane content as an isolated measurement.
Cholesterol homeostasis connects membrane organization, lipid transport, and cellular metabolism, making it relevant to multiple disease areas. Research can examine how altered acquisition, synthesis, trafficking, or storage affects cell function in cardiovascular disease and neurodegeneration. The same framework also helps investigate disorders caused by impaired lipid transport or regulation.