Bile acids have been shown to control their own metabolism and transport via the enterohepatic circulation, regulate lipid metabolism, regulate glucose metabolism, and regulate overall energy expenditure. These effects of the bile acids are exerted via the binding to and activation of which of the following?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Bile acids exert their effects by binding to and activating the farnesoid X receptor (FXR), which plays a crucial role in regulating bile acid metabolism, lipid metabolism, glucose metabolism, and energy expenditure.  Bile acids, in particular chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) and cholic acid (CA), can regulate the expression of genes involved in their synthesis, thereby creating a feedback loop. The elucidation of this regulatory pathway came about as a consequence of the isolation of a class of receptors called the farnesoid X receptors (FXRs), which were shown to bind to bile acids.

Bile Acids Have Been Shown to Control Their Own Metabolism