Scavenger Receptors

The scavenger receptor (SR) family is a group of membrane receptors that share the common ability to bind and internalize modified forms of low-density lipoproteins (mLDL), a process which is centrally important for the removal of foreign substances and waste materials. SR-A is a type II, trimeric transmembrane glycoprotein. Class A scavenger receptors (SR-A1 and SR-A2) contain a single transmembrane domain, an α-helical coiled-coil domain, a collagen-like domain, and a C-terminal cysteine-rich domain. Class B scavenger receptors (CR-B1, CD36) contain two transmembrane domains, and Class C receptors are separated based on their extracellular N-terminal domain.