FATTY ACID INHIBITION OF CHOLESTEROL SYNTHESIS

Abstract

Fatty acids inhibit cholesterol synthesis by rat liver homogenates. Inhibition occurs with acids containing either an even or an odd number of C atoms in the chain, and with saturated andunsatu-rated acids, the inhibition increasing with the degree of unsaturation of the acid. In the case of acids with an even number of C atoms the inhibition increases with chain length to a maximum at 12 carbons after which a rapid decrease occurs. The presence of fatty acid during cholesterol synthesis increases the acetate incorporated into fatty acids to a slight extent. This increase is small compared with the decrease in the amount incorporated into cholesterol. A possible mechanism for the inhibition is discussed.