Journal
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
Volume 66, Issue 4, Pages 559-564Publisher
SPRINGER BASEL AG
DOI: 10.1007/s00018-009-8764-8
Keywords
HDL; LDL; VLDL; cholesterol; apolipoprotein; apoA-1; apoM; lipocalin; signal peptide; megalin; HNF-1 alpha; LRH-1; Foxa2
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Apolipoprotein M (apoM) is a novel apolipoprotein found mainly in high-density lipoproteins (HDL). Its function is yet to be defined. ApoM (25 kDa) has a typical lipocalin A-barrel fold and a hydrophobic pocket. Retinoids bind apoM but with low affinity and may not be the natural ligands. ApoM retains its signal peptide, which serves as a hydrophobic anchor to the lipoproteins. This prevents apoM from being lost in the urine. Approximately 5% of HDL carries an apoM molecule. ApoM in plasma (1 mu M) correlates strongly with both low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and HDL cholesterol, suggesting a link to cholesterol metabolism. However, in casecontrol studies, apoM levels in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and controls were similar, suggesting apoM levels not to affect the risk for CHD in humans. Experiments in transgenic mice suggested apoM to have antiatherogenic properties; possible mechanisms include increased formation of pre-A HDL, enhanced cholesterol mobilization from foam cells, and increased antioxidant properties.
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