Mutations that affect membrane receptor for LDL are useful for studying normal receptor function.

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the major plasma cholesterol transport protein, is taken up by cells through a receptor-mediated process. After internalization through specialized segments of the cell surface called coated pits, the LDL is degraded in the lysosome and the released cholesterol is used by cells to meet various metabolic needs. The discovery of the LDL receptor and the studies of its function have provided new insights into both the biochemical aspects of cholesterol metabolism and the cell biology of receptor-mediated endocytosis. Of paramount importance in all of these studies has been the availability of human cells that express one or more allelic mutations that affect the function of the LDL receptor. These mutations have been valuable for assessing normal receptor function. Just as important, these mutations have been used as a reference point in the development of various cytochemical and biochemical techniques for studying receptor activity.