Acyl coenzyme A-cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) catalyzes the formation of intracellular
cholesterol esters. It is present in a variety of tissues and is believed to play significant roles
in cholesterol homeostasis. Under pathologic conditions, accumulation of the ACAT reaction
product as cytoplasmic cholesterol ester lipid droplets within macrophages and smooth
muscle cells is a characteristic feature of early lesions of human atherosclerotic plaques.
ACAT is a membrane protein located in the endoplasmic reticulum. Its activity is susceptible …