The microsomal triacylglycerol transfer protein (MTP), an alpha beta dimer, is obligatory for the assembly of apoB-containing lipoproteins in liver and intestinal cells. The beta subunit is identical with protein disulphide isomerase, a 58 kDa endoplasmic reticulum luminal protein involved in ensuring correct disulphide bond formation of newly synthesized proteins. We report here the expression of the human MTP subunits in Spodoptera frugiperda cells. When the alpha subunit was expressed alone, the polypeptide formed insoluble aggregates that were devoid of triacylglycerol transfer activity. In contrast, when the alpha and beta subunits were co-expressed, soluble alpha beta dimers were formed with significant triacylglycerol transfer activity. Expression of the alpha subunit with a mutant protein disulphide isomerase polypeptide in which both -CGHC- catalytic sites had been inactivated also yielded alpha beta dimers that had comparable levels of lipid transfer activity relative to wild-type dimers. The results indicate that the role of the beta subunit in MTP seems to be to keep the alpha subunit in a catalytically active, non-aggregated conformation and that disulphide isomerase activity of the beta subunit is not required for this function.