{
  "id": 12855297,
  "title": "SpiE is a distinct gut microbial 4-cholesten-3-one 5β-reductase that acts with SpiR to convert cholesterol to coprostanol",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/spie-is-a-distinct-gut-microbial-4-cholesten-3-one-5-reductase-that",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-10-08T00:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "bioRxiv",
    "slug": "biorxiv",
    "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.06.757028v1?rss=1"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Gut microbes convert cholesterol into coprostanol, a poorly absorbed sterol that is largely excreted in feces and is linked to lower serum cholesterol levels. However, the enzymes responsible for this process remain poorly characterized. The second step of the pathway, cholestenone reduction into coprostanone, has long been established, yet the enzyme(s) responsible were unknown. Here, we use…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}