Zinc Protoporphyrin–trimethylamine-N-Oxide Complex Involves Cholesterol Oxidation Causing Atherosclerosis

Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) has recently been correlated as biomarker for atherosclerosis. In a model study, we show that the free TMAO when bonded with zincprotoporphyrin IX, [ZnPP], in blood plasma as [TMAOZnPP] is transported to the lipid site is the reacting species to oxidize cholesterol causing atherosclerosis