Cholesterol is an amphipathic molecule of great importance in biology. It can be measured by enzymic and chemical methods, directly or indirectly following extraction from tissues or membranes. Before determination, cholesterol esters must be hydrolyzed using either chemical methods or cholesterol ester hydrolase (EC 3.11.13) (seeNote 1 ). Enzymic methods for cholesterol determination are more sensitive and convenient and are generally used in preference to chemical methods.
