Niemann-Pick type C mutations cause lipid traffic jam

The Niemann-Pick C protein (NPC1) is required for cholesterol transport fro m late endosomes and lysosomes to other cellular membranes. Mutations in NP C1 cause lysosomal lipid storage and progressive neurological degeneration. Cloning of the NPC1 gene has given us tools with which to investigate the function of this putative cholesterol transporter. Here, we discuss recent studies indicating that NPC1 is not a cholesterol-specific transport molecu le. Instead, NPC1 appears to be required for the vesicular shuttling of bot h lipids and fluid-phase constituents from multivesicular late endosomes to destinations such as the trans-Golgi network.