title: Fatty acids in cell signaling: historical perspective and future outlook.
abstract: Fatty acids are not only important metabolic substrates and building blocks of lipids but are also increasingly being recognized for their modulatory roles in a wide variety of cellular processes including gene expression, together referred to as the 'message-modulator' function of fatty acids. Crucial for this latter role is the bioavailability of fatty acids, which is governed by their interaction with soluble proteins capable of binding fatty acids, i.e., plasma albumin and cytoplasmic fatty acid-binding protein (FABPc), and with both the lipid and protein components of biological membranes, including membrane-associated fatty acid-binding proteins such as the transmembrane protein CD36. Manipulating fatty acid availability holds promise as therapeutic approach for chronic diseases that are characterized by a perturbed fatty acid metabolism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: glatz@maastrichtuniversity.nl.
authors.forename: Jan F C
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Glatz
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Joost J F P
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Luiken
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids