The fatty acid transport function of fatty acid-binding proteins.
The intracellular fatty acid-binding proteins (FABPs) comprise a family of 14-15 kDa proteins which bind long-chain fatty acids. A role for FABPs in fatty acid transport has been hypothesized for several decades, and the accumulated indirect and correlative evidence is largely supportive of this proposed function. In recent years, a number of experimental approaches which more directly examine the transport function of FABPs have been taken. These include molecular level in vitro modeling of fatty acid transfer mechanisms, whole cell studies of fatty acid uptake and intracellular transfer following genetic manipulation of FABP type and amount, and an examination of cells and tissues from animals engineered to lack expression of specific FABPs. Collectively, data from these studies have provided strong support for defining the FABPs as fatty acid transport proteins. Further studies are necessary to elucidate the fundamental mechanisms by which cellular fatty acid trafficking is modulated by the FABPs.
Storch
J
J
Department of Nutritional Sciences, Cook College, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8525,USA. storch@aesop.rutgers.edu
Thumser
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D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line / Q000187:drug effects; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000378:metabolism; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000378:metabolism; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009154:Mutation; D018996:Myelin P2 Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D020025:Peroxisome Proliferators / Q000494:pharmacology; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D004041:Dietary Fats; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins; D005227:Fatty Acids; D018996:Myelin P2 Protein; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D020025:Peroxisome Proliferators