Hepatic synthesis of bile acids. Biochemical steps and mechanisms of rate control

Abstract

Bile acid synthesis in the liver is controlled by a negative feedback mechanism: hepatic bile acid synthesis varies inversely with the hepatic bile acid flux. Two regulatory enzymes appear to be involved in this process, cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase and hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase. It seems likely that the activity of these enzymes varies in response to changes in the magnitude, circulation rate, and composition of the bile acid pool.