Sterol O-acyltransferase

In enzymology, a sterol O-acyltransferase is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction


 * acyl-CoA + cholesterol $$\rightleftharpoons$$ CoA + cholesterol ester

Thus, the two substrates of this enzyme are acyl-CoA and cholesterol, whereas its two products are CoA and cholesterol ester.

This enzyme belongs to the family of transferases, specifically those acyltransferases transferring groups other than aminoacyl groups. The systematic name of this enzyme class is acyl-CoA:cholesterol O-acyltransferase. Other names in common use include cholesterol acyltransferase, sterol-ester synthase, sterol-ester synthetase, sterol-ester synthase, acyl coenzyme A-cholesterol-O-acyltransferase, acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase, ACAT, acylcoenzyme A:cholesterol O-acyltransferase, cholesterol ester synthase, cholesterol ester synthetase, and cholesteryl ester synthetase. This enzyme participates in bile acid biosynthesis.