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Analysis of Bile Acids
Steroid Analysis,
Swansea University Author: William Griffiths
Abstract
Bile acids constitute a large family of steroids in vertebrates, normally formed from cholesterol and carrying a carboxyl group in a side-chain of variable length. Bile alcohols, also formed from cholesterol, have similar structures as bile acids, except for the absence of a carboxyl group in the st...
Published in: | Steroid Analysis, |
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Published: |
2010
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URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa10943 |
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Abstract: |
Bile acids constitute a large family of steroids in vertebrates, normally formed from cholesterol and carrying a carboxyl group in a side-chain of variable length. Bile alcohols, also formed from cholesterol, have similar structures as bile acids, except for the absence of a carboxyl group in the steroid skeleton. The conversion of cholesterol to bile acids and/or bile alcohols is of major importance for maintenance of cholesterol homeostasis, both from quantitative and regulatory points of view. Appropriately conjugated bile acids and bile alcohols (also referred to as bile salts) are secreted in bile and serve vital functions in the absorption of lipids and lipid-soluble compounds. Reliable analytical methods are required for studies of the functions and pathophysiological importance of the variety of bile acids and bile alcohols present in living organisms. When combined with genetic and proteomic studies, analysis of these small molecules (in today’s terminology: metabolomics, steroidomics, sterolomics, cholanoidomics, etc.) will lead to deeper understandingof the integrated metabolic processes in lipid metabolism. |
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College: |
Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences |