CHOLESTEROL
This naturally occurring molecule is waxy, fat like substance that is found in all cells. Cholesterol is required for cell function; however, too much can cause serious complications. LDL is the 'bad type' of cholesterol and HDL is the 'good type' of cholesterol. When you have too much cholesterol in your blood, the build up can cause heart disease.
Cholesterol is made in the liver. However, it is also found in fatty, greasy foods and foods from animal sources. In order to continue living a healthy life, we need to stay clear of the LDL's and let our liver give us the essential cholesterol that we need! Happy Halloween!
Source: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/hbc/
I would have never thought that cholesterol would contain so many chiral centers. Almost makes you wonder if that's why it's so for lack of a better word "yucky".
ReplyDeleteI remember using this example in class and thinking that the number of chiral centers in this molecule seems very high. It's pretty amazing how something can be good for us in the right quantities, yet incredibly harmful to us if not. Do you know if the differentiation in LDL and HDL has anything to do with any enantiomers of the molecule or is that unrelated? Just curious!
ReplyDeleteLearned a lot! Many people do not know that there are some good and bad things about cholesterol. We just seem to just know about the negatives of cholesterol. Most people including myself eat way too much foods that are high in cholesterol.
ReplyDeleteThis is interesting post I really didn't think cholesterol had that many chiral center until I look at the picture.
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