title: Mitochondrial cholesterol: a connection between caveolin, metabolism, and disease.
abstract: Caveolin (CAV) is an essential component of caveolae, cholesterol-enriched invaginations of the plasma membrane of most mammalian cells. However, CAV is not restricted to plasma membrane caveolae, and pools of CAV are present in myriad intracellular membranes. CAV proteins tightly bind cholesterol and contribute to regulation of cholesterol fluxes and distributions within cells. In this context, we recently showed that CAV1 regulates the poorly understood process controlling mitochondrial cholesterol levels. Cholesterol accumulates in mitochondrial membranes in the absence of CAV1, promoting the organelle's dysfunction with important metabolic consequences for cells and animals. In this article, we suggest a working hypothesis that addresses the role of CAV1 within the homeostatic network that regulates the influx/efflux of mitochondrial cholesterol.
authors.affiliation: Equip de Proliferació i Senyalització Cel·lular, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, 08036 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bosch
authors.forename: Montserrat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marí
authors.forename: Steven P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Gross
authors.forename: José C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Fernández-Checa
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pol
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D021941:Caveolae / Q000378:metabolism; D051242:Caveolin 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism*; D006706:Homeostasis; D051379:Mice; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism*; D051336:Mitochondrial Membranes / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D051242:Caveolin 1; D002784:Cholesterol