Apolipoprotein L5 (APOL5)

Apolipoprotein L (APOL) proteins belong to the high density lipoprotein family, which plays a central role in cholesterol transport. The cholesterol content of membranes is important in cellular processes such as modulating gene transcription and signal transduction both in the adult brain and during neurodevelopment. The 6 APOL genes are clustered on chromosome 22q12.3.

The deduced 433-amino acid protein has a calculated molecular mass of 47.1 kD. The authors noted that the APOL proteins share significant sequence identity within the predicted amphipathic alpha helix. Semiquantitative RT-PCR suggested weak expression of APOL5 that was restricted to uterus, testis, skeletal muscle, and stomach. However, overcycling of the PCR reaction revealed ubiquitous low-level expression.