A deficiency in which of the following proteins would have the most significant effect on the ability of HDL to deliver nonhepatic cholesterol to LDL?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) facilitates the transfer of cholesteryl esters from HDL to LDL and VLDL. A deficiency in CETP would significantly impair this process, affecting HDL's ability to deliver cholesterol to LDL.  Cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP) is a plasma glycoprotein secreted primarily from the liver and plays a critical role in HDL metabolism by facilitating the exchange of cholesterol esters (CE) from HDL for triglycerides (TG) in apoB-containing lipoproteins, such as LDL and VLDL. The activity of CETP directly lowers the cholesterol levels of HDLs and enhances HDL catabolism by providing HDLs with the TG substrate of hepatic lipase. Thus, CETP plays a critical role in the regulation of circulating levels of HDL, LDL, and apoA-I. It has also been shown that most of the cholesterol in mice, who naturally lack CETP, is found in HDL and these mice are relatively resistant to atherosclerosis.

A Deficiency in Which of the Following Proteins Would Have