THE VERY-LOW-DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN RECEPTOR - A 2ND LIPOPROTEIN RECEPTOR THAT MAY MEDIATE UPTAKE OF FATTY-ACIDS INTO MUSCLE AND FAT-CELLS

The isolation of a cDNA highly homologous to that of the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor revealed the presence of a lipoprotein receptor that specifically binds apolipoprotein-E-containing lipoproteins, including very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), intermediate-density lipoprotein, and beta-migrating VLDL. This new receptor, designated VLDL receptor, consists of five domains that resemble those of the LDL receptor. The VLDL receptor mRNA is abundant in tissues performing active fatty acid metabolism, suggesting that the receptor,may be responsible for the uptake of fatty acids in triglyceride-rich lipoproteins into muscle and fat cells.