ANGPTL3

The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the angiopoietin-like family of secreted factors. It is expressed predominantly in the liver, and has the characteristic structure of angiopoietins, consisting of a signal peptide, N-terminal coiled-coil domain, and the C-terminal fibrinogen (FBN)-like domain. The FBN-like domain in angiopoietin-like 3 protein was shown to bind alpha-5/beta-3 integrins, and this binding induced endothelial cell adhesion and migration. This protein may also play a role in the regulation of angiogenesis.[5]

Angptl3 also acts as dual inhibitor of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and endothelial lipase (EL),[7] thereby increasing plasma triglyceride, LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol in mice and humans.[7]

ANGPTL3 inhibits endothelial lipase hydrolysis of HDL-phospholipid (PL), thereby increasing HDL-PL levels. Circulating PL-rich HDL particles have high cholesterol efflux abilities.

Angptl3 plays a major role in promoting uptake of circulating triglycerides into white adipose tissue in the fed state,[8] likely through activation by Angptl8, a feeding-induced hepatokine,[9][10] to inhibit postprandial LPL activity in cardiac and skeletal muscles,[11] as suggested by the ANGPTL3-4-8 model.[12]

In human, ANGPTL3 is a determinant factor of HDL level and positively correlates with plasma HDL cholesterol.

In humans with genetic loss-of-function variants in one copy of ANGPTL3, the serum LDL-C levels are reduced. In those with loss-of-function variants in both copies of ANGPTL3, low LDL-C, low HDL-C, and low triglycerides are seen ("familial combined hypolipidemia").[13]

• Human ANGPTL3 genome location and ANGPTL3 gene details page in the UCSC Genome Browser.
• Overview of all the structural information available in the PDB for UniProt: Q9Y5C1 (Angiopoietin-related protein 3) at the PDBe-KB.