Bile Acid Assay Kit (Colorimetric)

Supplementary info

This supplementary information is collated from multiple sources and compiled automatically.

Activity summary

Bile acids also known as bile salts are amphipathic molecules synthesized in the liver. These molecules with a mass of around 408 to 465 Daltons depending on their specific form are stored in the gallbladder and released into the small intestine. They play a mechanical role in emulsifying dietary fats which assists in the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins and nutrients. Bile acids are mainly expressed in the liver where their biosynthesis occurs and they can also be reabsorbed in the ileum and returned to the liver via enterohepatic circulation.

Biological function summary

Bile acids facilitate the digestion process by breaking down large fat globules into smaller emulsified micelles. This activity enables lipase to effectively catalyze triglyceride hydrolysis. Bile acids are also part of the lipid transport complex and help maintain cholesterol homeostasis. Aside from their role in lipid absorption bile acids act as signaling molecules influencing metabolic processes by binding to receptors such as the farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and G-protein-coupled bile acid receptor 1 (GPBAR1 or TGR5).

Pathways

Bile acids participate significantly in the digestive and hepatic pathways. They interact with nuclear receptors like FXR to regulate the expression of specific proteins involved in bile acid synthesis and transport such as cytochrome P450s (CYP7A1). Through these pathways bile acids help maintain energy homeostasis and glucose metabolism influencing proteins like fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19) that modulate hepatic bile acid synthesis and fatty acid metabolism.

Associated diseases and disorders

Bile acids have connections with conditions like cholestasis and gallstone formation. Cholestasis results from impaired bile flow leading to an accumulation of bile acids that may cause liver damage. Bile acids are also linked to metabolic syndromes as they affect enterohepatic signaling pathways. The nuclear receptors FXR and TGR5 associated with bile acid action serve as targets for therapeutic interventions in managing these disorders by modulating bile acid metabolism and signaling pathways.