Ezetimibe [ 163222-33-1 ]

Ezetimibe has been reported to be a cholesterol transport inhibitor. Mechanistic studies show that this compound directly affects Niemann-Pick C1-like 1 (NPC1L1) and prevents it from incorporating into clathrin-coated vesicles. NPC1L1 is a polytopic transmembrane protein that facilitates absorption of cholesterol via clathrin/AP2-mediated endocytosis. By binding to NPC1L1, ezetimibe prevents endocytosis of this protein therefore blocking cholesterol transfer across membranes. Ezetimibe is used clinically to lower plasma cholesterol levels.