Description
Caveolin 1 and 2 are usually both expressed and assembled into hetero-oligomers in the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus. Caveolin 1 also interacts with lipids and lipid anchors, and may therefore function in both membrane traffic and lipid traffic. In vitro assays confirm that Caveolin 1 interacts with cholesterol, suggesting that Caveolin 1 may organize membrane cholesterol in caveolae. Caveolin 1 has high affinity to long chain unsaturated fatty acids. Additionally, Caveolin 1 may play a role in the export and import of cellular cholesterol by caveolae