The deletion of Lats2 or Mst1 may trigger the accumulation of cholesterol by increasing sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP) activity.296,297 Moreover, steatosis triggered by the absence of PTEN can be compensated by the overexpression of MST1.298 Mevalonic acid, a precursor of cholesterol, can be catalyzed by HMG-CoA reductase. The gene discussed is MST1; the disease is steatosis.