title: Biological functions of phosphatidylinositol transfer proteins.
abstract: Phosphatidylinositol/phosphatidylcholine transfer proteins (PITPs) are ubiquitous and highly conserved proteins that are believed to regulate lipid-mediated signaling events. Their ubiquity and conservation notwithstanding, PITPs remain remarkably uninvestigated. Little is known about the coupling of specific PITPs to explicit cellular functions or the mechanisms by which PITPs interface with appropriate cellular functions. The available information indicates a role for these proteins in regulating the interface between lipid metabolism and membrane trafficking in yeast, signaling in plant development, the trafficking of specialized luminal cargo in mammalian enterocytes, and neurological function in mammals. Herein, we review recent advances in PITP biology and discuss as yet unresolved issues in this field.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Medicine, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 27599-7090, USA.
authors.forename: Sheri M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Routt
authors.forename: Vytas A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Bankaitis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D049294:Phospholipid Transfer Proteins; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D049294:Phospholipid Transfer Proteins