Lipase family. The gene encoding this protein is expressed mainly in brain, liver and testes,followed by secreting into plasma and cerebral spinal fluid. The esterification of cholesterol is required for cholesterol transport. LCAT is a central enzyme in the extracellular metabolism of plasma lipoproteins. Defects in LCAT are the cause of lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase deficiency (LCATD) and a cause of fish-eye disease (FED).