Living up to a name: the role of the VLDL receptor in lipid metabolism

The VLDL receptor (VLDLR) is a member of the LDL receptor family. The VLDLR was hypothesized to mediate fatty acid entry into peripheral tissues, on t he basis of its expression in tissues that are active in fatty acid metabol ism and its capacity to bind apolipoprotein-E-rich VLDL in vitro. This hypo thesis initially proved difficult to confirm, because VLDLR-knockout mice w ere reported to display normal plasma lipid levels. Moreover, studies in VL DLR-knockout mice that were also deficient in a second LDL receptor family member, the apolipoprotein E receptor 2, indicated a role for the VLDLR in neuronal migration during brain development. However, in accordance with wh at the term VLDLR suggests, recent studies using VLDLR-deficient and transg enic mice have provided compelling evidence that the VLDLR does indeed play a role in VLDL-triglyceride metabolism, and that it is important for trigl yceride Storage in the adipocyte. Curr Opin Lipidol 12:275-279. (C) 2001 Li ppincott Williams & Wilkins.