title: Arachidonic acid binds to apolipoprotein D: implications for the protein's function.
abstract: The lipocalin apolipoprotein D (ApoD) is associated in human plasma with lecithin-cholesterol acyl transferase. It has also been found in high concentration in the fluid of gross cystic disease of the mammary gland. Using protein fluorescence quenching, it is shown that ApoD binds arachidonic acid (Ka of 1.6 x 10(8) M-1) and as previously known progesterone (Ka of 2.5 x 10(6) M-1), but neither cholesterol nor any of the other prostanoid molecules examined had measurable affinity. This specific binding of arachidonate, also observable directly, suggests a role for ApoD in the mobilisation of arachidonic acid, and hence prostaglandin synthesis.
authors.affiliation: Edinburgh Centre for Molecular Recognition, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Morais Cabral
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Atkins
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.forename: Y S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: López-Boado
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: López-Otin
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sawyer
mesh_terms: D001053:Apolipoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D053399:Apolipoproteins D; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005348:Fibrocystic Breast Disease / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007700:Kinetics; D008024:Ligands; D007862:Phosphatidylcholine-Sterol O-Acyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011485:Protein Binding; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence
chemical_list: D001053:Apolipoproteins; D053399:Apolipoproteins D; D008024:Ligands; D011453:Prostaglandins; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D011374:Progesterone; D002784:Cholesterol; D007862:Phosphatidylcholine-Sterol O-Acyltransferase