The low density lipoprotein receptor gene family code for a class of structurally closely related cell surface receptors that fulfill diverse biological functions in different organs, tissues, and cell types. The role that is most commonly associated with this evolutionarily ancient family is cholesterol homeostasis (maintenance of appropriate concentration of cholesterol). In humans, excess cholesterol in the blood is captured by low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and removed in the liver by the endocytosis of the LDL receptor. Recent evidence indicates that the members of the LDL receptor gene family are active in the cell signalling pathways between specialized cells in many, if not all, multicellular organisms.
There are seven members of the LDLR family in mammals, namely:
- LDLR
- VLDL receptor (VLDLR)
- ApoER2, or LRP8
- Multiple epidermal growth factor (EGF) repeat-containing protein (MEGF7)
- LDLR-related protein 1
- LDLR-related protein 1b
- Megalin.
Read more about Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor Gene Family: Human Proteins Containing This Domain
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