title: Vitamin E transport, membrane incorporation and cell metabolism: Is alpha-tocopherol in lipid rafts an oar in the lifeboat?
abstract: Vitamin E is composed of closely related compounds, including tocopherols and tocotrienols. Studies of the last decade provide strong support for a specific role of alpha-tocopherol in cell signalling and the regulation of gene expression. It produces significant effects on inflammation, cell proliferation and apoptosis that are not shared by other vitamin E isomers with similar antioxidant properties. The different behaviours of vitamin E isomers might relate, at least in part, to the specific effects they exert at the plasma membrane. alpha-Tocopherol is not randomly distributed throughout the phospholipid bilayer of biological membranes, and as compared with other isomers, it shows a propensity to associate with lipid rafts. Distinct aspects of vitamin E transport and metabolism is discussed with emphasis on the interaction between alpha-tocopherol and lipid rafts and the consequences of these interactions on cell metabolism.
authors.affiliation: INSERM UMR866, Dijon, France.
authors.forename: Stéphanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lemaire-Ewing
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Desrumaux
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Néel
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lagrost
mesh_terms: D000071181:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 2; D000071450:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 3; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000378:metabolism; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001692:Biological Transport; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D026502:LDL-Receptor Related Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D021962:Membrane Microdomains / Q000378:metabolism; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000378:metabolism; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000378:metabolism; D011973:Receptors, LDL / Q000378:metabolism; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000378:metabolism*; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000071181:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 2; D000071450:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 3; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D000975:Antioxidants; D026502:LDL-Receptor Related Proteins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011498:Protein Precursors; D011973:Receptors, LDL; C073119:TAP1 protein, human; C405036:thyrotropin-releasing hormone-associated peptide 3, human; D014810:Vitamin E; C071692:TAP2 protein, human; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol