HMG-CoA Reductase (HMGCR)

HMG-CoA reductase (HMGCR) is the rate-limiting enzyme in the mevalonate pathway, which is crucial for the synthesis of cholesterol and other isoprenoids. This enzyme catalyzes the conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonic acid, a key early step in the biosynthesis of cholesterol. HMGCR is a target of statins, a class of drugs widely used to lower cholesterol levels in patients at risk of cardiovascular disease. Statins competitively inhibit HMGCR, effectively reducing cholesterol synthesis in the liver and prompting the liver to pull more LDL cholesterol out of the bloodstream. Regulation of HMGCR activity is complex, involving both genetic and post-translational mechanisms, which respond to the body's cholesterol needs.