Calcium cages, acid baths and recycling receptors

Abstract

The low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) removes cholesterol-carrying lipoproteins from the blood, and mutations in this protein lead to familial hypercholesterolaemia -- a condition that leads to high cholesterol levels and heart attacks at an early age. We're now a step closer to knowing why these mutations are so damaging thanks to a study of one region of the receptor, mutations in which destabilize the whole protein.