Question

What does the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase do? How does it do it? Why is it important? What are statins and how do they work?

Answer 1

Enzyme HMG-CoA reductase is the rate limiting enzyme which is working in mevalonate pathway. In human body, mevalonate pathway results in cholesterole biosynthesis. This enzyme mainly convert the important step of cholesterole biolosynthesis which is to convert HMG-CoA to mevalonic acid.They are important target for pharmaceutical industry as they are the main target to control the cholesterol production.

Statins are drugs which is used for lowering cholesterole level. Statin group of drugs generally inhibit the conversion pathway of HMG-CoA to mevalonic acid.