What's lipitor's effect on synthesizing proteins?

Lipitor does not directly affect protein synthesis. The statin reduces cholesterol levels by inhibiting the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase in the liver, which lowers the production of mevalonate and subsequently cholesterol. This pathway sits upstream from isoprenoids that are needed for protein prenylation, a modification that enables some proteins to attach to cell membranes.

What happens to protein prenylation when cholesterol synthesis is blocked?

Lipitor’s effect on prenylation remains modest in clinical doses. At typical patient doses, the statin reduces geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate and farensyl pyrophosphate pools modestly, thereby limitedly slowing the attachment of these lipid anchors to proteins such as Ras and Rho family GTPases. The process does not alter core ribosomal protein synthesis itself.