DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.108.179564 ISSN:
The LDL Receptor
Joseph L. Goldstein, Michael S. Brown- Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
In this article, the history of the LDL receptor is recounted by its codiscoverers. Their early work on the LDL receptor explained a genetic cause of heart attacks and led to new ways of thinking about cholesterol metabolism. The LDL receptor discovery also introduced three general concepts to cell biology: receptor-mediated endocytosis, receptor recycling, and feedback regulation of receptors. The latter concept provides the mechanism by which statins selectively lower plasma LDL, reducing heart attacks and prolonging life.