Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Cholesterol Efflux Assay
Published on: March 6, 2012
The intracellular chylomicron highway: novel insights into chylomicron biosynthesis, trafficking, and secretion
Ankia Visser1, M Mahmood Hussain2, Jan Albert Kuivenhoven1
1Department of Pediatrics, University Medical Centre Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Purpose Of Review:
Chylomicron biosynthesis plays a vital role in supplying essential lipids and lipid soluble vitamins to peripheral tissues for various functions. Despite this, the intracellular synthesis, trafficking, and secretion of chylomicrons remains only partly understood. The purpose of this review is to summarize the role of established proteins in this process and bring attention to recently identified proteins to provide an up-to-date model of chylomicron biosynthesis.
Recent Findings:
Recently, several proteins have been shown to play a role in the initial formation and lipidation of chylomicrons at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), which include: TM6SF2, PLA2G12B, PRAP1, and SURF4. In addition, mitochondria have been implicated in chylomicron metabolism, but mechanistic insight is missing. The trafficking of chylomicrons from the ER to the Golgi, and the subsequent trafficking from the Golgi to the basolateral side of enterocytes, however, remains a mystery.
Summary:
Progress in the chylomicron biosynthesis field is largely associated with findings in VLDL biosynthesis. In addition, increased insight in events after prechylomicrons leave the ER is needed. Given the important role of chylomicron biosynthesis in whole-body lipid metabolism, further research into the molecular mechanisms is warranted.
Related Concept Videos
Receptor-mediated Endocytosis
Receptor-mediated Endocytosis
Clathrin-Mediated Endocytosis of LDL
One well-characterized example of receptor-mediated endocytosis is the...
Intralumenal Vesicles and Multivesicular Bodies
Introduction to Membrane Traffic
The transport of soluble and membrane proteins is mediated by transport vesicles that collect cargo from one cellular compartment and deliver it to another by fusing with the target organelle membrane. The Rab...
Synthesis of Phosphatidylcholine in the ER Membrane
The major components of all eukaryotic cell...
Lipid Absorption
These breakdown products bind with bile salts and lecithin to form micelles, which quickly pass between microvilli to come in close contact with the apical...

