Interaction of caveolin with 7-ketocholesterol.

Caveolin is an integral membrane protein that interacts with cholesterol in glycosphingolipid-rich rafts at the cell surface. We have examined the interaction of recombinant His-tagged caveolin-1 with cholesterol and 7-keto cholesterol, the most abundant non-enzymatically formed oxysterol found in oxidised LDL and atheromatous plaque. Our data show that caveolin-1 is able to interact with both sterols. This might have consequences for sterol transport and the signalling properties of cells during atherosclerosis.