Lipids fatty acid-binding proteins

There is a second family of small lipid-binding proteins, the P2 family, which include among others cellular retinol- and fatty acid-binding proteins as well as a protein, P2, from myelin in the peripheral nervous system. However, members of this second family have ten antiparallel p strands in their barrels compared with the eight strands found in the barrels of the RBP superfamily. Members of the P2 family show no amino acid sequence homology to members of the RBP superfamily. Nevertheless, their three-dimensional structures have similar architecture and topology, being up-and-down P barrels. 

The remaining major classes of water-soluble lipid transporter proteins (other than the polyproteins of nematodes see below) come from plants and helminths. Plants possess very small (approximately 9 kDa) helix-rich, fatty-acid-binding proteins, the structures of some of which are known (Lerche and Poulsen, 1998). A recently described class comes from cestodes these are also very small (approximately 8 kDa), presumably intracellular, and helix-rich, and bind anthelmintic drugs in addition to fatty acids (Janssen and Barrett, 1995 Barrett et al., 1997). The only helix-rich small (approximately 14 kDa) lipid transporter from vertebrates is the acetyl-CoA-binding protein (Kragelund et al., 1993). 

Schnurr et al. [22] showed that rabbit 15-LOX oxidized beef heart submitochondrial particles to form phospholipid-bound hydroperoxy- and keto-polyenoic fatty acids and induced the oxidative modification of membrane proteins. It was also found that the total oxygen uptake significantly exceeded the formation of oxygenated polyenoic acids supposedly due to the formation of hydroxyl radicals by the reaction of ubiquinone with lipid 15-LOX-derived hydroperoxides. However, it is impossible to agree with this proposal because it is known for a long time [23] that quinones cannot catalyze the formation of hydroxyl radicals by the Fenton reaction. Oxidation of intracellular unsaturated acids (for example, linoleic and arachidonic acids) by lipoxygenases can be suppressed by fatty acid binding proteins [24]. 

Fatty acid utilized by muscle may arise from storage triglycerides from either adipose tissue depot or from lipid stores within the muscle itself. Lipolysis of adipose triglyceride in response to hormonal stimulation liberates free fatty acids (see Section 9.6.2) which are transported through the bloodstream to the muscle bound to albumin. Because the enzymes of fatty acid oxidation are located within subcellular organelles (peroxisomes and mitochondria), there is also need for transport of the fatty acid within the muscle cell this is achieved by fatty acid binding proteins (FABPs). Finally, the fatty acid molecules must be translocated across the mitochondrial membranes into the matrix where their catabolism occurs. To achieve this transfer, the fatty acids must first be activated by formation of a coenzyme A derivative, fatty acyl CoA, in a reaction catalysed by acyl CoA synthetase. 

Intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (lEABP) belongs to a family of 15 IcDa, predominately y -sheet proteins that bind a diverse group of polar lipids [49]. lEABP... 

Several studies have evaluated the effects of oral di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate on various aspects of hepatic lipid metabolism. Feeding di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate (2% of diet) to male Wistar rats for seven days resulted in increased hepatic fatty acid-binding protein as well as in increased microsomal stearoyl-CoA desaturation activity (Kawashima et al., 1983a,b). Feeding the compound at this dose for 14 days resulted in increased levels of hepatic phospholipids and a decline in phosphatidyl-choline phosphatidylethanolamine ratio (Yanagita et al., 1987). Feeding di(2-ethyl-hexyl) adipate (2% of diet) to male NZB mice for five days resulted in induction of fatty acid translocase, fatty acid transporter protein and fatty acid binding protein in the liver (Motojima et al., 1998). 

Haunerland, N. H. and Spener, F., Fatty acid-binding proteins - insights from genetic manipulations. Prog Lipid Res, 2004, 43, 328-349. 

The EFA metabolism is presented in several extensive reviews.9 16 17 Much of the information concerning EFA physiology and biochemistry has been derived from work in hepatocytes and may be of limited relevance to epidermis since a major role of the liver is to convert dietary lipids into energy stores. Meanwhile, keratinocytes are involved in the fatty acid metabolism required both for normal cellular processes and the specialized role in the permeability barrier. Unlike the liver, the epidermis does not possess the capacity to desaturate at the A5 or A6 position, and therefore the skin relies on a supply of AA, LA, and ALA from the bloodstream. There is evidence for a distinct fatty acid binding protein in keratinocyte plasma membranes that is involved in EFA uptake into the skin and also recycling of free fatty acids from the stratum corneum.18 The transport mechanism in epidermis differs from that in hepatocytes since there is preferential uptake of LA over OA, which may function to ensure adequate capture of LA for barrier lipid synthesis.18... 

Veerkamp, J.H., and R.G.H.J. Maatman (1995). Cytoplasmic fatty acid binding proteins their structure and genes. Prog. Lipid Res. 34 17-52. Viru, A. (1994). Molecular cellular mechanisms of training effects. J. Sports Med. Phys. Fitness 34 309-322. 

The FABPs are a family of carrier proteins for fatty acids and other lipophilic substances, such as eicosanoids and retinoids. These proteins are thought to facilitate the transfer of fatty acids between extra- and intracellular membranes. Adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (aP2 FABP4) is expressed in adipocytes and macrophages, and integrates inflammatory and metabolic responses. Studies in aP2-deflcient mice have shown that this lipid chaperone has a significant role in several aspects of the metabolic syndrome, including type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis. FABP has also been introduced as a plasma marker of acute myocardial infarction. 

Ileal lipid-binding protein (ILEPs) and other fatty acid binding proteins (FABPs) were the targets of a CRID/CPCA study by Kurz et al. [14]. ILEP is a cytosolic lipid... 

In schematic diagrams, P strands are usually depicted by broad arrows pointing in the direction of the carboxyl-terminal end to indicate the type of P sheet formed—parallel or antiparallel. More structurally diverse than a helices, P sheets can be relatively flat but most adopt a somewhat twisted shape (Figure 3.40). The P sheet is an important structural element in many proteins. For example, fatty acid-binding proteins, important for lipid metabolism, are built almost entirely from P sheets (Figure 3.41). 

The liver synthesizes two enzymes involved in intra-plasmic lipid metabolism hepatic triglyceride lipase (HTL) and lecithin-cholesterol-acyltransferase (LCAT). The liver is further involved in the modification of circulatory lipoproteins as the site of synthesis for cholesterol-ester transfer protein (CETP). Free fatty acids are in general potentially toxic to the liver cell. Therefore they are immobilized by being bound to the intrinsic hepatic fatty acid-binding protein (hFABP) in the cytosol. The activity of this protein is stimulated by oestrogens and inhibited by testosterone. Peripheral lipoprotein lipase (LPL), which is required for the regulation of lipid metabolism, is synthesized in the endothelial cells (mainly in the fatty tissue and musculature). 

Unesterified fatty acids within cells are commonly bound by fatty acid-binding proteins (FABPs), which belong to a group of small cytosolic proteins that facilitate the Intracellular movement of many lipids. These proteins contain a hydrophobic pocket lined by p sheets (Figure 18-3). A long-chain fatty acid can fit into this pocket and Interact noncovalently with the surrounding protein. 

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