SOAT1

Sterol O-acyltransferase (acyl-Coenzyme A: cholesterol acyltransferase) 1, also known as SOAT1, is an is_associated_with::enzyme that in humans is encoded by the SOAT1 is_associated_with::gene.

Function
Acyl-coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase is an intracellular protein located in the is_associated_with::endoplasmic reticulum that forms cholesterol esters from is_associated_with::cholesterol. Accumulation of cholesterol esters as cytoplasmic lipid droplets within macrophages and smooth muscle cells is a characteristic feature of the early stages of atherosclerotic plaques (Cadigan et al., 1988).