Bile Acids – Small Molecules with Great Possibilities

Authors

  • M. Vecka Charles University, 1ˢᵗ Medical Faculty, IVᵗʰ Department of Medicine, Prague
  • A. Žák Charles University, 1ˢᵗ Medical Faculty, IVᵗʰ Department of Medicine, Prague
  • B. Staňková Charles University, 1ˢᵗ Medical Faculty, IVᵗʰ Department of Medicine, Prague
  • Š. Fojtíková Charles University, 1ˢᵗ Medical Faculty, IVᵗʰ Department of Medicine, Prague
  • P. Tomášová Charles University, 1ˢᵗ Medical Faculty, IVᵗʰ Department of Medicine, Prague | Institute of Microbiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague
  • S. Kutová Charles University, 1ˢᵗ Medical Faculty, IVᵗʰ Department of Medicine, Prague

Keywords:

bile acids, receptors, supramolecular structures

Abstract

Bile acids are compounds with many functions in liver and other parts of gastrointestinal tract. Apart from long-known ability of bile acids to form micelles and help with both intestinal digestion and absorption of lipids, other (but not less important) properties of these molecules are still neglected. Among pleitropic effects of bile acids belong regulation of cholesterol homeostasis, antimicrobial properties and novel functions discovered in last decades. It seems that the notion of bile acids as compounds important mainly for their physico-chemical properties should be reevaluated and we have to put stress on the importance of bile acids as structures with hormonal functions. Moreover, the molecules of bile acids have unusual properties, which predetermine them for attractive drug designs, as vectors for delivery of active substances, production of chiral compounds, dendrons, or even photoresistant molecules for microcircuits.

Published

2019-02-15

How to Cite

Vecka, M., Žák, A., Staňková, B., Fojtíková, Š., Tomášová, P., & Kutová, S. (2019). Bile Acids – Small Molecules with Great Possibilities. Chemické Listy, 113(2), 82–89. Retrieved from http://ww.w.chemicke-listy.cz/ojs3/index.php/chemicke-listy/article/view/3285

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Articles