Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor Related Protein 3 (LRP3)

LRP3, a member of the low density lipoprotein (LDL) family, from a human HepG2 cDNA library using a rat LRP3 cDNA as a probe. The gene encodes a 770-amino acid polypeptide that has 93% sequence identity to the rat homolog. LRP3 contains a signal sequence, 5 ligand-binding repeats, a transmembrane domain, and an intracellular domain.

LRP is expressed as major 3.0- and minor 4.4-kb mRNAs in a variety of human tissues. Functional expression failed to detect any binding of LRP3 to very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) or to the LDL receptor-associated protein (LRPAP1), suggesting that it may have a role other than lipoprotein metabolism. Widely expressed. Highly expressed in skeletal muscle and ovary. Expressed at intermediate level in heart, brain, liver, pancreas, prostate and small intestine. Weakly expressed in testis, colon and leukocyte.