enzymology Enzymes () are proteins that act as biological catalysts by accelerating chemical reactions. The molecules upon which enzymes may act are called substrates, and the enzyme converts the substrates into different molecules known as products. A ...

, a phosphatidylcholine---sterol O-acyltransferase () is an enzyme that

catalyzes Catalysis () is the process of increasing the rate of a chemical reaction by adding a substance known as a catalyst (). Catalysts are not consumed in the reaction and remain unchanged after it. If the reaction is rapid and the catalyst recyc ...

the chemical reaction :phosphatidylcholine + a sterol

\rightleftharpoons

1-acylglycerophosphocholine + a sterol ester Thus, the two substrates of this enzyme are phosphatidylcholine and

sterol Sterol is an organic compound with formula , whose molecule is derived from that of gonane by replacement of a hydrogen atom in position 3 by a hydroxyl group. It is therefore an alcohol of gonane. More generally, any compounds that contain the go ...

, whereas its two products are 1-acylglycerophosphocholine and sterol ester. This enzyme belongs to the family of transferases, specifically those

acyltransferase Acyltransferase is a type of transferase enzyme that acts upon acyl groups. Examples include: * Glyceronephosphate O-acyltransferase * Lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase *Long-chain-alcohol O-fatty-acyltransferase In enzymology, a long-chain- ...

s transferring groups other than aminoacyl groups. The systematic name of this enzyme class is phosphatidylcholine:sterol O-acyltransferase. Other names in common use include lecithin---cholesterol acyltransferase, phospholipid---cholesterol acyltransferase, LCAT (lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase), lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase, and lysolecithin acyltransferase. This enzyme participates in glycerophospholipid metabolism.

References

* * * * EC 2.3.1 Enzymes of unknown structure {{2.3-enzyme-stub it:Fosfatidilcolina-sterolo O-aciltransferasi