Which of the following is a key regulatory step in the biosynthesis of cholesterol?

A Hydrolysis of acetyl-CoA to form acetoacetyl-CoA
B Condensation of acetyl-CoA and acetoacetyl-CoA to form HMG-CoA
C Reduction of HMG-CoA to form mevalonate ✓
D Conversion of squalene to lanosterol

Explanation

The reduction of HMG-CoA to form mevalonate is a key regulatory step in the biosynthesis of cholesterol, as it is the committed step in the pathway and is tightly regulated by feedback inhibition.

Mnemonic

_MEV_ = Mevalonate = '_key_' regulatory step

Source

Biochemistry by Stryer
Lipid Metabolism Biochemistry Cholesterol Biosynthesis Hard NURSING Confidence: medium