Caveolin-2 is a member of the caveolin gene family with no known function. Although
caveolin-2 is coexpressed and heterooligomerizes with caveolin-1 in many cell types (most
notably adipocytes and endothelial cells), caveolin-2 has traditionally been considered the
dispensable structural partner of the widely studied caveolin-1. We now directly address the
functional significance of caveolin-2 by genetically targeting the caveolin-2 locus (Cav-2) in
mice. In the absence of caveolin-2 protein expression, caveolae still form and caveolin-1�…

Caveolae organelles and caveolin-1 protein expression are most abundant in adipocytes
and endothelial cells. Our initial report on mice lacking caveolin-1 (Cav-1) demonstrated a
loss of caveolae and perturbations in endothelial cell function. More recently, however,
observation of the Cav-1-deficient cohorts into old age revealed significantly lower body
weights, as compared with wild-type controls. These results suggest that Cav-1 null mice
may have problems with lipid metabolism and/or adipocyte functioning. To test this�…