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Description

Phosphatidylcholine-sterol acyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.43, UniProt P16301, also known as Lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase, Phospholipid-cholesterol acyltransferase, LCAT) is encoded by the Lcat (also known as AI046659, D8Wsu61e) gene (Gene ID 16816) in murine species. LCAT catalyzes the esterification of cholesterol and phosphatidylcholines (PCs) to cholesteryl esters and lysoPCs on the surface of high and low density lipoproteins (HDLs and LDLs). LCAT reaction is essential for the maturation of nascent HDL particles in plasma, and a genetic deficiency of LCAT results in the near absence of normal HDL particles and the presence of plasma very low density and low density lipoprotein particles of abnormal size and shape. LCAT is initially produced with a 24-aa N-terminal signal peptide, which is later cleaved to form the mature enzyme. LCAT is synthesized in the liver before it is secreted into the plasma.