The primary function of the corpus luteum is secretion of the hormone progesterone, which is required for maintenance of normal pregnancy in mammals. The corpus luteum develops from residual follic...

https://www.physiology.org/doi/pdf/10.1152/physrev.2000.80.1.1

Mechanisms Controlling the Function and Life Span of the Corpus Luteum

Cholesterol autoxidation 1981-1986.

Publisher Summary This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge of the research with particular emphasis on evolving concepts of fatty acid binding proteins (FABP) structure, regulation, and function. Long-chain fatty acids provide the main energy source of most mammalian tissues and also comprise essential components of the structural lipids of cell membranes. The purification of the specific proteins responsible for the low-molecular-weight fatty-acid binding protein activity in different tissues leads to the characterization of three structurally distinct FABP of similar size, each the product of a separate gene. The three cytosolic FABP are generally named according to their tissues of greatest abundance, and comprise liver FABP, intestinal FABP, and heart muscle FABP. A role for the 40-kDa LPM-FABP as a specific cell membrane carrier in the transport of long chain fatty acids into the cells of the liver and possibly other tissues as well is available. The 14- to 15-kDa cytosolic FABPs may function as intracellular acceptors and carriers of long-chain fatty acids and their coenzyme A (CoA) esters, maintaining the ability of the tissues, particularly liver, intestine, heart, and skeletal muscle to utilize fatty acids over wide and acutely varying ranges of flux.

The cellular fatty acid binding proteins: aspects of structure, regulation, and function.

Nonreceptor mediated cholesterol uptake and reverse cholesterol transport in cells occur through cellular membranes. Thus, elucidation of cholesterol dynamics in membranes is essential to understanding cellular cholesterol accumulation and loss. To this end, it has become increasingly evident that cholesterol is not randomly distributed in either model or biologic membranes. Instead, membrane cholesterol appears to be organized into structural and kinetic domains or pools. Cholesterol-rich and poor domains can even be observed histochemically and physically isolated from epithelial cell surface membranes. The physiologic importance of these domains is 2-fold: (i) Select membrane proteins (receptors, transporters, etc.) are localized in either cholesterol-rich or cholesterol-poor domains. Consequently, the structure and properties of the domains rather than of the bulk lipid may selectively affect the function of proteins residing therein. (ii) Kinetic evidence suggests that cholesterol transport through and between membranes may occur through specific domains or pools. Regulation of the size and properties of such domains may be controlling factors of cholesterol transport or accumulation in cells. Recent technologic advances in the use of fluorescent sterols have allowed examination of cholesterol domain structure in model and biologic membranes. These techniques have been applied to examine the role of high-density lipoprotein, cholesterol lowering drugs, and intracellular lipid transfer proteins in membrane sterol domain structure and sterol movement between membranes.

Membrane cholesterol dynamics: cholesterol domains and kinetic pools.

Lipids are components of our diet and luminal secretions, with physicochemical characteristics that determine their digestion and absorption in the gastrointestinal tract Lipids include triglycerides, phospholipids, and cholesterol Dietary lipids contain approximately 97% triglycerides, with small amounts of phospholipids and cholesterol These components are important in cell membrane composition, fluidity, peroxidation, prostaglandin and leukotriene synthesis, and cellular metabolic processes Lipids are implicated in the mechanisms of brain development, inflammatory processes, atherosclerosis, carcinogenesis, aging, and cell renewal Duodenal hydrolysis of dietary lipids and biliary phospholipids and cholesterol is carried out by pancreatic lipase, colipase, phospholipase A2, and cholesterol esterase Bile acid solubilization results in mixed micelles and liposomes, in gel and liquid crystal phases Lipid digestion products pass across the intestinal unstirred water layer For long-chain fatty acids 

Roland Chanderbhan

Papers

Sterol carrier and lipid transfer proteins.