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Lipoprotein lipase: structure, function and mechanism of action

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International Journal of Clinical and Laboratory Research

Summary

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) plays a central role in the hydrolysis of circulating triglycerides present in chylomicrons, and very low density lipoproteins. The active form of the enzyme is a non-covalent homodimer which contains multiple functional domains required for normal hydrolytic activity including a catalytic domain, as well as sites involved in co-factor, heparin and lipid binding. Recent studies involving site-directed mutagenesis, the elucidation of the three dimensional crystallographic structure of different lipases, as well as analysis of the molecular defects that result in the expression of the familial chylomicronemia syndrome have provided new insights into the structure-function relationship of LPL. As a result, our understanding of structural domains involved in catalysis, heparin, lipid binding, and enzyme-cofactor interaction as well as the mechanism of action of LPL as an acylglycerol hydrolase has been greatly enhanced.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Molecular Disease Branch, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institute of Health, 9000 Rockville Pike, Building 10/7N115, 20892, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Silvia Santamarina-Fojo & H. Bryan Brewer Jr.

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  1. Silvia Santamarina-Fojo
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  2. H. Bryan Brewer Jr.
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Santamarina-Fojo, S., Brewer, H.B. Lipoprotein lipase: structure, function and mechanism of action. Int J Clin Lab Res 24, 143–147 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02592444

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02592444

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