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[Biochemistry](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/) · Protein

# CETP (cholesteryl ester transfer protein)

CETP moves cholesteryl esters from HDL to ApoB lipoproteins and brings triglycerides back.

Updated 2026-11-01

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## Key facts

- Swaps HDL cholesteryl esters for VLDL and LDL triglycerides, without using energy.
- Liver and adipose tissue make it; it circulates bound to HDL.
- With high triglycerides the exchange rises: HDL fills with triglyceride, hepatic lipase shrinks it and it is cleared sooner (low HDL).
- Genetic CETP deficiency, common in Japan, gives very high HDL.

**Also called**
CETP

**Genes**
CETP

**Structure (PDB)**
[2OBD](https://www.rcsb.org/structure/2OBD)

## Structure

- An elongated, banana-shaped protein about 12 nm long with an inner hydrophobic tunnel.
- Structure 2OBD shows two cholesteryl oleate molecules in the tunnel with phospholipids plugging its ends.

## Regulation

- It rises with cholesterol-rich diets (via LXR).

## Inhibitors and toxins

- Torcetrapib, dalcetrapib, evacetrapib and anacetrapib raise HDL; torcetrapib increased deaths and only anacetrapib modestly cut events.

## Clinical notes

- Raising HDL with CETP inhibitors did not guarantee fewer heart attacks: the HDL number is not HDL function.
- The low HDL of hypertriglyceridaemia is explained by CETP and hepatic lipase.

## Related conditions

- [Atherosclerosis and dyslipidaemia](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/atherosclerosis-and-dyslipidaemia/)
- [Metabolic syndrome](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/metabolic-syndrome/)

## Related

- [HDL (high-density lipoprotein)](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/topics/hdl/)
- [LDL (low-density lipoprotein)](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/topics/ldl/)
- [VLDL (very-low-density lipoprotein)](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/topics/vldl/)
- [LCAT (lecithin–cholesterol acyltransferase)](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/enzymes/lcat/)
- [Lipoprotein metabolism](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/topics/lipoprotein-metabolism/)

## Test yourself

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## What does CETP exchange?

HDL cholesteryl esters for VLDL and LDL triglycerides.

## Why do high triglycerides lower HDL?

CETP loads HDL with triglyceride, hepatic lipase shrinks it and more ApoA-I is cleared by the kidney.

## What did the CETP inhibitor trials teach?

That raising the HDL number is not enough to reduce cardiovascular events.

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Educational information, not medical advice. For any symptom, see a health professional.

Sources: [CETP: Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (human)](https://rest.uniprot.org/uniprotkb/P11597.txt) (UniProt, 2026); [2OBD: Crystal Structure of Cholesteryl Ester Transfer Protein](https://www.rcsb.org/structure/2OBD) (RCSB Protein Data Bank, 2026); [Plasma lipoprotein remodeling (R-HSA-8963899)](https://reactome.org/PathwayBrowser/#/R-HSA-8963899) (Reactome, 2026); [HDL: The "Good" Cholesterol: MedlinePlus](https://medlineplus.gov/hdlthegoodcholesterol.html) (MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine, 2026).

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Representative model, for educational purposes only.

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Source: https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/enzymes/cetp/
License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/enzymes/cetp/