The Ren Lab studies the role of human plasma lipoprotein structure in cholesterol metabolism. High blood cholesterol is one of the major risk factors for atherosclerosis and coronary disease. Lipoproteins, which are carriers of cholesterol, are studied by electron cryo-microscopy (Cryo-EM) at our lab. We focus on how cholesterol transfers between low-density lipoprotein (LDL), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) as well as the lipoprotein structural changes involved in cholesterol metabolism.
