What is the primary outcome of hydrolyzing fatty acids bound to cholesterol using cholesterol esterase in assays?

The primary outcome of hydrolyzing fatty acids bound to cholesterol using cholesterol esterase is to convert cholesterol esters to free cholesterol. Cholesterol esters are storage forms of cholesterol, where a fatty acid is esterified to the hydroxyl group of cholesterol. The action of cholesterol esterase breaks these ester bonds, releasing free cholesterol and fatty acids.

This free cholesterol is necessary for various biological processes, including membrane synthesis and the production of steroid hormones. The conversion to free cholesterol is a crucial step in lipid metabolism and is particularly important in the context of lipid assays, as it allows for accurate measurement of cholesterol levels in the bloodstream.

The other options do not directly result from this enzymatic action. Generating new cholesterol is not the outcome of this specific hydrolysis reaction, nor does it directly influence HDL or LDL levels. While cholesterol metabolism can affect lipoprotein levels over time, the primary outcome of the hydrolysis of cholesterol esters specifically focuses on the conversion to free cholesterol.