Abstract
Lipoprotein receptors used to be viewed simply as the means by which cells were supplied with lipids for energy production and membrane synthesis. This perception has now changed dramatically. Megalin, a member of the low density lipoprotein receptor gene family, turns out to mediate the endocytic uptake of retinoids and steroids, thus helping to regulate their biological function. Other members of this receptor family interact with cytosolic signalling proteins, giving this evolutionarily ancient family of receptors an entirely unexpected new role as transducers of extracellular signals.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
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Review
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Heymann Nephritis Antigenic Complex
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Humans
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LDL-Receptor Related Proteins
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Membrane Glycoproteins / genetics
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Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism
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Membrane Glycoproteins / physiology
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Receptors, LDL / genetics
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Receptors, LDL / metabolism
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Receptors, LDL / physiology
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Receptors, Lipoprotein / genetics
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Receptors, Lipoprotein / metabolism
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Receptors, Lipoprotein / physiology*
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Retinoids / metabolism
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Signal Transduction / physiology*
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Steroids / metabolism
Substances
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Heymann Nephritis Antigenic Complex
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LDL-Receptor Related Proteins
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Membrane Glycoproteins
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Receptors, LDL
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Receptors, Lipoprotein
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Retinoids
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Steroids
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low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 8