| Gene Symbol | LCAT |
|---|---|
| Entrez Gene | 100008978 |
| Alt Symbol | - |
| Species | Rabbit |
| Gene Type | protein-coding |
| Description | lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase |
| Other Description | phosphatidylcholine-sterol acyltransferase|phospholipid-cholesterol acyltransferase |
| Swissprots | P53761 |
| Accessions | P53761 D13668 BAA02839 NM_001082190 NP_001075659 |
| Function | Central enzyme in the extracellular metabolism of plasma lipoproteins. Synthesized mainly in the liver and secreted into plasma where it converts cholesterol and phosphatidylcholines (lecithins) to cholesteryl esters and lysophosphatidylcholines on the surface of high and low density lipoproteins (HDLs and LDLs). The cholesterol ester is then transported back to the liver. Also produced in the brain by primary astrocytes, and esterifies free cholesterol on nascent APOE-containing lipoproteins secreted from glia and influences cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) APOE- and APOA1 levels. Together with APOE and the cholesterol transporter ABCA1, plays a key role in the maturation of glial-derived, nascent lipoproteins. Required for remodeling high-density lipoprotein particles into their spherical forms (By similarity). Has a preference for plasma 16:0-18:2 or 18:O-18:2 phosphatidylcholines. {ECO:0000250}. |
| Subcellular Location | Secreted. Note=Secreted into blood plasma. Produced in astrocytes and secreted into cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) (By similarity). {ECO:0000250}. |
| Tissue Specificity | Highly expressed in liver. {ECO:0000269|PubMed:8827532}. |
| Top Pathways | Glycerophospholipid metabolism |