Role of Bile Salts in Activity of Cholesterol Esterase

ConclusionsThe data on the different bile salts suggest that several aspects of the structure of the bile salt molecule are involved in their effects on cholesterol esterase activity. Firstly, taurocholic acid has a distinctly greater effect than either glycocholic or the unconjugated cholic acid (the latter in the esterifying system only). Secondly, conjugation with glycine inhibits the effect of cholic acid. Thirdly, free taurine and glycine have no influence on the effect of cholic acid, i.e. the effects of taurocholic and glycocholic acids are due to the intact molecules. Fourthly, in the series of unconjugated acids the degree of effect was greatest with cholic acid which has 3 hydroxyl groups in the molecule and the effect decreased with the decreasing number of hydroxyl groups until with dehydrocholic, which has no hydroxyl groups, there was no effect. The results clearly demonstrate that both the hydroxyl groups and the carboxyl group, free or conjugated, are involved in the effect of bile salts o...