九游体育

Journal News

Scavenger protein receptor aids the transport of lipoproteins

Oluwadamilola 鈥淒ami鈥 Oke
April 11, 2025

Lipoproteins are spherical molecules made up of fat and proteins that play a crucial role in transporting lipids, such as cholesterol and triglycerides, from the liver to other tissues in the body. Anton Potapenko of the University of Zurich, and a team in Switzerland recently published a in the Journal of Lipid Research detailing structural characteristics of the scavenger receptor B1, or SCARB1, a protein that mediates lipid exchange between many cell types and facilitates uptake of high density lipoproteins, or HDL, and low density lipoproteins, or LDL, in some cell types. The gene encoding SCARB1 produces two major splice variants that share structural similarities but differ in their carboxy-terminal domains. Researchers wanted to understand if these splice variants play different roles in the cellular uptake of LDL and HDL by endothelial cells.

Illustration of a low density lipoprotein particle.
Illustration of a low density lipoprotein particle.

The researchers examined cultured endothelial cells to understand how expression of the two SCARB1 variants affected the binding, uptake and trafficking of lipoproteins. They found that variants 1 and 2 localized to the cell surface, and endosomes and lysosomes, respectively. Overexpression of variant 1 increased both HDL and LDL binding and uptake. However, overexpression of variant 2 also increased the uptake of either lipoprotein, but not via surface binding. Therefore, the researchers concluded that variant 2 facilitates lipoprotein uptake indirectly by regulatory and indirect mechanisms.

The study suggests that the two major splice variants of SCARB1 facilitate transendothelial transport of HDL and LDL by different mechanisms, either dependent or independent of the adapter proteins. Because of the limitations of overexpression, it will be important to examine how eliminating each SCARB1 splice variant affects cellular lipid metabolism and lipoprotein trafficking.

Enjoy reading ASBMB Today?

Become a member to receive the print edition four times a year and the digital edition monthly.

Learn more
Oluwadamilola 鈥淒ami鈥 Oke

Oluwadamilola “Dami” Oke is a Ph.D. candidate of biomedical engineering at the George Washington University with an interest in communication and outreach for science advancement. She is an ASBMB Today contributing writer.

Get the latest from ASBMB Today

Enter your email address, and we鈥檒l send you a weekly email with recent articles, interviews and more.

Latest in Science

Science highlights or most popular articles

Using DNA barcodes to capture local biodiversity
ASBMB Annual Meeting

Using DNA barcodes to capture local biodiversity

April 15, 2025

Undergraduate at the University of California, Santa Barbara, leads citizen science initiative to engage the public in DNA barcoding to catalog local biodiversity, fostering community involvement in science.

Targeting Toxoplasma parasites and their protein accomplices
Journal News

Targeting Toxoplasma parasites and their protein accomplices

April 11, 2025

Researchers identify that a Toxoplasma gondii enzyme drives parasite's survival. Read more about this recent study from the Journal of Lipid Research.

Fat cells are a culprit in osteoporosis
Journal News

Fat cells are a culprit in osteoporosis

April 11, 2025

Scientists reveal that lipid transfer from bone marrow adipocytes to osteoblasts impairs bone formation by downregulating osteogenic proteins and inducing ferroptosis. Read more about this recent study from the Journal of Lipid Research.

Unraveling oncogenesis: What makes cancer tick?
ASBMB Annual Meeting

Unraveling oncogenesis: What makes cancer tick?

April 7, 2025

Learn about the ASBMB 2025 symposium on oncogenic hubs: chromatin regulatory and transcriptional complexes in cancer.

Exploring lipid metabolism: A journey through time and innovation
ASBMB Annual Meeting

Exploring lipid metabolism: A journey through time and innovation

April 4, 2025

Recent lipid metabolism research has unveiled critical insights into lipid鈥損rotein interactions, offering potential therapeutic targets for metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases. Check out the latest in lipid science at the ASBMB annual meeting.

Melissa Moore to speak at ASBMB 2025
ASBMB Annual Meeting

Melissa Moore to speak at ASBMB 2025

April 2, 2025

Richard Silverman and Melissa Moore are the featured speakers at the ASBMB annual meeting to be held April 12-15 in Chicago.