The LDL receptor gene family, apolipoprotein B and cholesterol in embryonic development

In recent years, a number of genes that are involved in cholesterol synthes is, its systemic or intercellular transport or lipid metabolism in general have been found to play important roles during embryonic development, In th is article, we present a brief overview of these genes, their molecular fun ctions as we understand them to date and our current interpretation of poss ible mechanisms by which genetic deficiency states might affect the develop ment of the embryo, in particular the formation of the central nervous syst em.