The mevalonate pathway in <it>C. Elegans</it>
<p>Abstract</p> <p>The mevalonate pathway in human is responsible for the synthesis of cholesterol and other important biomolecules such as coenzyme Q, dolichols and isoprenoids. These molecules are required in the cell for functions ranging from signaling to membrane integrity, pr...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2011-12-01
|
| Series: | Lipids in Health and Disease |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.lipidworld.com/content/10/1/243 |
| _version_ | 1818229504076677120 |
|---|---|
| author | Rauthan Manish Pilon Marc |
| author_facet | Rauthan Manish Pilon Marc |
| author_sort | Rauthan Manish |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>The mevalonate pathway in human is responsible for the synthesis of cholesterol and other important biomolecules such as coenzyme Q, dolichols and isoprenoids. These molecules are required in the cell for functions ranging from signaling to membrane integrity, protein prenylation and glycosylation, and energy homeostasis. The pathway consists of a main trunk followed by sub-branches that synthesize the different biomolecules. The majority of our knowledge about the mevalonate pathway is currently focused on the cholesterol synthesis branch, which is the target of the cholesterol-lowering statins; less is known about the function and regulation of the non-cholesterol-related branches. To study them, we need a biological system where it is possible to specifically modulate these metabolic branches individually or in groups. The nematode <it>Caenorhabditis elegans </it>(<it>C. elegans</it>) is a promising model to study these non-cholesterol branches since its mevalonate pathway seems very well conserved with that in human except that it has no cholesterol synthesis branch. The simple genetic makeup and tractability of <it>C. elegans </it>makes it relatively easy to identify and manipulate key genetic components of the mevalonate pathway, and to evaluate the consequences of tampering with their activity. This general experimental approach should lead to new insights into the physiological roles of the non-cholesterol part of the mevalonate pathway. This review will focus on the current knowledge related to the mevalonate pathway in <it>C. elegans </it>and its possible applications as a model organism to study the non-cholesterol functions of this pathway.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T10:19:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0ecb5fc20abe42149cc0d3023f653d9d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1476-511X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T10:19:39Z |
| publishDate | 2011-12-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Lipids in Health and Disease |
| spelling | doaj.art-0ecb5fc20abe42149cc0d3023f653d9d2022-12-22T00:27:34ZengBMCLipids in Health and Disease1476-511X2011-12-0110124310.1186/1476-511X-10-243The mevalonate pathway in <it>C. Elegans</it>Rauthan ManishPilon Marc<p>Abstract</p> <p>The mevalonate pathway in human is responsible for the synthesis of cholesterol and other important biomolecules such as coenzyme Q, dolichols and isoprenoids. These molecules are required in the cell for functions ranging from signaling to membrane integrity, protein prenylation and glycosylation, and energy homeostasis. The pathway consists of a main trunk followed by sub-branches that synthesize the different biomolecules. The majority of our knowledge about the mevalonate pathway is currently focused on the cholesterol synthesis branch, which is the target of the cholesterol-lowering statins; less is known about the function and regulation of the non-cholesterol-related branches. To study them, we need a biological system where it is possible to specifically modulate these metabolic branches individually or in groups. The nematode <it>Caenorhabditis elegans </it>(<it>C. elegans</it>) is a promising model to study these non-cholesterol branches since its mevalonate pathway seems very well conserved with that in human except that it has no cholesterol synthesis branch. The simple genetic makeup and tractability of <it>C. elegans </it>makes it relatively easy to identify and manipulate key genetic components of the mevalonate pathway, and to evaluate the consequences of tampering with their activity. This general experimental approach should lead to new insights into the physiological roles of the non-cholesterol part of the mevalonate pathway. This review will focus on the current knowledge related to the mevalonate pathway in <it>C. elegans </it>and its possible applications as a model organism to study the non-cholesterol functions of this pathway.</p>http://www.lipidworld.com/content/10/1/243<it>C. elegans</it>mevalonate pathwaystatincoenzyme Qdolicholcholesterolprotein prenylation |
| spellingShingle | Rauthan Manish Pilon Marc The mevalonate pathway in <it>C. Elegans</it> Lipids in Health and Disease <it>C. elegans</it> mevalonate pathway statin coenzyme Q dolichol cholesterol protein prenylation |
| title | The mevalonate pathway in <it>C. Elegans</it> |
| title_full | The mevalonate pathway in <it>C. Elegans</it> |
| title_fullStr | The mevalonate pathway in <it>C. Elegans</it> |
| title_full_unstemmed | The mevalonate pathway in <it>C. Elegans</it> |
| title_short | The mevalonate pathway in <it>C. Elegans</it> |
| title_sort | mevalonate pathway in it c elegans it |
| topic | <it>C. elegans</it> mevalonate pathway statin coenzyme Q dolichol cholesterol protein prenylation |
| url | http://www.lipidworld.com/content/10/1/243 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT rauthanmanish themevalonatepathwayinitcelegansit AT pilonmarc themevalonatepathwayinitcelegansit AT rauthanmanish mevalonatepathwayinitcelegansit AT pilonmarc mevalonatepathwayinitcelegansit |