Objetivo
Hypercholesterolemia, high levels of plasma LDL-cholesterol, is a major risk factor for atherosclerosis and premature coronary heart disease (CHD), the leading cause of death in developed countries. The clearance of LDL from the circulation occurs via endocytosis with the LDL-receptor (LDLR) mainly by liver cells. This hepatic recruitment of the LDL-LDLR complex to the clathrin-coated pits is dependent on the endocytic adaptor protein, autosomal recessive hypercholesterolemia (ARH). Consequently, naturally occurring mutations in either LDLR or in ARH lead to sever hypercholesterolemia and premature onset of CHD. Therefore, studying the molecular interactions ARH forms at the cell surface is central to our understanding of LDL internalization and cholesterol homeostasis.
Despite large body of structural data on the ecto-domain of LDLR, the structures of either ARH or the LDLR tail are unknown. To gain a detailed mechanistic understanding for the unique function of ARH, this proposal will investigate (1) The molecular basis for receptor recognition by solving crystal structures of ARH with receptor tails; (2) The interaction of ARH with phosphoinositides and with cell membrane via tools from cell biology and biochemistry; (3) The interaction of ARH with clathrin and its major endocytic adaptor AP-2 structurally and biochemically.
The multidisciplinary approach proposed here will significantly extends the molecular knowledge on sorting of LDLR to clathrin-coated pits which is highly significant for cellular physiology and for catabolism of plasma cholesterol and cardiovascular health.
Ámbito científico
Not validated
Not validated
- engineering and technologymaterials engineeringcrystals
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicinecardiologycardiovascular diseasesarteriosclerosis
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteins
- natural sciencesbiological sciencescell biology
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicinephysiologyhomeostasis
Convocatoria de propuestas
FP7-PEOPLE-2012-CIG
Consulte otros proyectos de esta convocatoria
Régimen de financiación
MC-CIG - Support for training and career development of researcher (CIG)Coordinador
32000 Haifa
Israel