Tissue-specific functions in the fatty acid-binding protein family.
The intracellular fatty acid-binding proteins (FABPs) are abundantly expressed in almost all tissues. They exhibit high affinity binding of a single long-chain fatty acid, with the exception of liver FABP, which binds two fatty acids or other hydrophobic molecules. FABPs have highly similar tertiary structures consisting of a 10-stranded antiparallel β-barrel and an N-terminal helix-turn-helix motif. Research emerging in the last decade has suggested that FABPs have tissue-specific functions that reflect tissue-specific aspects of lipid and fatty acid metabolism. Proposed roles for FABPs include assimilation of dietary lipids in the intestine, targeting of liver lipids to catabolic and anabolic pathways, regulation of lipid storage and lipid-mediated gene expression in adipose tissue and macrophages, fatty acid targeting to β-oxidation pathways in muscle, and maintenance of phospholipid membranes in neural tissues. The regulation of these diverse processes is accompanied by the expression of different and sometimes multiple FABPs in these tissues and may be driven by protein-protein and protein-membrane interactions.
Storch
Judith
J
From the Department of Nutritional Sciences and the Rutgers Center for Lipid Research, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901. Electronic address: storch@aesop.rutgers.edu.
Thumser
Alfred E
AE
Division of Biochemical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7XH, United Kingdom. Electronic address: a.thumser@surrey.ac.uk.
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000378:metabolism*; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D019077:Helix-Turn-Helix Motifs; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism; D009132:Muscles / Q000378:metabolism; D009928:Organ Specificity / Q000502:physiology; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000502:physiology
D004041:Dietary Fats; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins; D005227:Fatty Acids