title: Caveolins and cellular cholesterol balance.
abstract: Caveolins are major integral membrane components of caveolae. Over the last few years, evidence has accumulated for a close link between caveolin, caveolae, and the regulation of cellular cholesterol levels. However, the exact role of caveolin in this process, the intracellular trafficking routes followed by caveolin/cholesterol complexes, and the relationship of caveolin-cholesterol to other caveolin-mediated processes such as signal transduction have remained unclear. Recent findings from a number of systems suggest that specific signaling pathways require precise regulation of cellular cholesterol. Here we review evidence for caveolin regulation of cholesterol transport and consider how this may relate to signal transduction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, National Public Health Institute, Mannerheimintie 166, 00300 Helsinki, Finland. elina.ikonen@ktl.fi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ikonen
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Parton
mesh_terms: D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport; D016466:CHO Cells; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D021941:Caveolae / Q000378:metabolism*; D051242:Caveolin 1; D022461:Caveolins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism*; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000378:metabolism; D005246:Feedback; D005544:Forecasting; D017261:Glycosylphosphatidylinositols / Q000378:metabolism; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000378:metabolism*; D021962:Membrane Microdomains / Q000378:metabolism; D000077296:Niemann-Pick C1 Protein; D009542:Niemann-Pick Diseases / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D022161:Transport Vesicles / Q000378:metabolism; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; C495540:CAV1 protein, human; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D051242:Caveolin 1; D022461:Caveolins; D017261:Glycosylphosphatidylinositols; D015801:Helminth Proteins; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D008563:Membrane Lipids; C106881:NPC1 protein, human; D000077296:Niemann-Pick C1 Protein; D002784:Cholesterol; D018631:ras Proteins