Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA (HMG CoA)

Definition

Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA (HMG CoA) is a molecule involved in the synthesis and degradation of ketone bodies and cholesterol within the body. It plays a crucial role in the metabolic pathway that converts acetyl-CoA to mevalonate, which is a precursor for cholesterol synthesis.

Related terms

Mevalonate pathway: A cellular pathway that converts acetyl-CoA to cholesterol and other isoprenoids, initiated by the conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonate.

Ketogenesis: The metabolic process by which organisms produce ketone bodies from acetyl-CoA, involving HMG-CoA as an intermediate step.

Cholesterol synthesis: The multi-step biochemical process where cells create cholesterol, starting with acetyl-CoA and including HMG-CoA as a critical intermediate