Acyl-CoA: Cholesterol Acyltransferase (ACAT)

ACAT is an intracellular enzyme that catalyzes synthesis of cholesterol esters from cholesterol and long chain fatty acyl-CoA:

Cholesterol + Acyl-CoA <=> Cholesterol-Acyl Ester + CoASH

ACAT is activated by cholesterol internalized by a cell during receptor-mediated endocytosis. The esterified form of cholesterol is for storage.

See also: Receptor Mediated Endocytosis, Lipoprotein Complexes in Fat Transport