The adventures of LDL and friends
~Lyrics~
Apo-B-100 has a special gene
Not spliced but modified with cytidine
Deaminase can add stop codons where it likes
And proteins made are only part of what was transcribed
Nascent chylomicrons leave the gut
Lacteals to the thoracic duct
With MTP and apo-48
To mature they must meet HDL face to face
HDL lends them some useful receptors
Apo-C-2 activating the lipase
The remnants, depleted, their journey completed
Use Apo-E to have the liver eat them
Hepatocytes release VLDL to the blood
With some cholesterol but mostly triglycerides
HDL's receptors borrowed again
They help tissues take what they want from them
When stripped of fatty acids they become IDL
Hepatic lipase can cleave lipids as well
So entering the liver; Apo-E is the key
And half stays inside, while LDLs leave
Cholesterol delivered to many cells
Dropped off by the traveling LDL
Apo-B-100 helps it return
If it can't... oxidized ones will form
HDL needed for so many reasons
Lending receptors to those who might need them
It picks up cholesterol to take it back and
Its Apo A1 activates the LCAT
ABCA1 can take cholesterol in
But first the LCAT must make esters of them
HDL can bind receptor SR-B1
The esters dropped off, and more still to come
It also trades using the CETP
Finds lipoproteins and can take TAG
In turn it gives them some cholesterol back
Transported away, and back to the liver
Instrumental: [ Ссылка ].
