Apolipoprotein C2 (APOC2)

Apolipoprotein C2 is secreted in plasma where it is a component of very low density lipoprotein. This protein activates the enzyme lipoprotein lipase, which hydrolyzes triglycerides and thus provides free fatty acids for cells. Mutations in this gene cause hyperlipoproteinemia type IB, characterized by hypertriglyceridemia, xanthomas, and increased risk of pancreatitis and early atherosclerosis. Apolipoprotein C-II (apoC-II) is a necessary cofactor for the activation of lipoprotein lipase (LPL), the enzyme that hydrolyzes triglycerides in plasma and transfers the fatty acids to tissues.The APOC2 cDNA sequence encodes a deduced 79-amino acid protein. Using synthetic oligonucleotides as probes, Sakaguchi et al. (1984) isolated APOC2 from a human cDNA library.