Intracellular Trafficking of Sterols

Abstract
Sterols are almost universally found as major membrane components of eukaryotic cells but are absent among prokaryotes. Whereas prokaryotic cells contain only a plasma membrane, eukaryotes have evolved an elaborate network of membrane-bounded organelles, or “membranelles,” in addition to the plasma membrane. Interestingly, the majority of cellular free cholesterol resides in the plasma membrane, with cholesterol-to-phospholipid (C/P) ratios several-fold higher than those of intracellular membranes. Thus, the lipid aspect of intracellular membranes of eukaryotes biochemically resembles the prokaryotic plasma membrane.

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