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Updated: Aug 9, 2026
09:21
Real Time Monitoring of Intracellular Bile Acid Dynamics Using a Genetically Encoded FRET-based Bile Acid Sensor
Published on: January 4, 2016
[Phylogenetic vision of bile acids]
1Departamento de Medicina Experimental y de Medicina, Facultad de Medicina (Campus Oriente), Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile.
Revista Medica De Chile
|August 1, 1994
Summary
Bile acids are vital for cholesterol metabolism and nutrient absorption. Their evolutionary changes across vertebrate species serve as a unique chemical marker for biodiversity.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Evolutionary Biology
- Comparative Physiology
Context:
- Bile acids are critical for cholesterol homeostasis, bile secretion, and lipid absorption.
- Vertebrate bile acid structures exhibit significant evolutionary modifications.
- Intestinal microflora and entero-hepatic circulation further diversify bile acid pools.
Purpose:
- To investigate the evolutionary patterns of bile acid biosynthesis and structure across vertebrate taxa.
- To analyze the bile acid composition of over 600 vertebrate species.
- To determine if bile acid profiles can serve as a chemical marker for vertebrate biodiversity.
Summary:
- Bile acid structures vary significantly from primitive hydroxylation in fish to oxidation and side-chain modification in mammals.
- Evolutionary transformations include changes in the cholestane skeleton and lateral chain, alongside microbial and entero-hepatic modifications.
- A comprehensive study characterized bile acid profiles in over 600 vertebrate species, revealing evolutionary trends.
Impact:
- Demonstrates that bile acid composition reflects a significant evolutionary phenomenon in vertebrates.
- Establishes bile acid profiles as a valuable chemical marker for assessing vertebrate biodiversity.
- Provides insights into the co-evolution of host metabolism and microbial interactions.
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