The structure of human ACAT1, which catalyses the transfer of an acyl group from acyl-coenzyme A to cholesterol to form cholesteryl ester, is resolved by cryo-electron microscopy.
As members of the membrane-bound O-acyltransferase (MBOAT) enzyme family, acyl-coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferases (ACATs) catalyse the transfer of an acyl group from acyl-coenzyme A to cholesterol to generate cholesteryl ester, the primary form in which cholesterol is stored in cells and transported in plasma(1). ACATs have gained attention as potential drug targets for the treatment of diseases such as atherosclerosis, Alzheimer'