Function of ileal lipid binding proteins

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Fatty acid binding proteins (FABPs) are abundant, small molecular weight soluble proteins found in various tissues. To date, the FABP family has 9 members that bind small hydrophobic compounds. Each FABP has a distinct ligand specificity and is associated with certain tissues. FABPs have similar three dimensional structures despite significant dissimilarity in primary structures which likely contributes to their characteristic ligand preferences. Loss-of-function mutations gave important insights into FABP function in a variety of metabolic processes, but the precise molecular functions of FABPs are still not well understood. These proteins may act as cellular storage depots, intracellular transporters for their respective ligands, and serve as intracellular shuttles between the membrane-bound transporter that internalize their ligands and the cognate nuclear receptors bound to gene promoters.