Open AccessIdentification of a Membrane Receptor for Retinol‐Binding Protein Functioning in the Cellular Uptake of Retinal
Author(s) -
Wolf George
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
nutrition reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.958
H-Index - 150
eISSN - 1753-4887
pISSN - 0029-6643
DOI - 10.1111/j.1753-4887.2007.tb00316.x
Subject(s) - retinol binding protein , retinol , retinoic acid , transmembrane protein , receptor , membrane protein , retinal , retinoic acid receptor , microbiology and biotechnology , cell surface receptor , binding protein , transport protein , biochemistry , retinal pigment epithelium , biology , chemistry , membrane , gene , vitamin
Retinol‐binding protein (RBP) is the transport protein that carries retinol in the circulation from the liver to its target tissues. The existence of a cell‐surface receptor on the target cells, which mediates the uptake of retinol from RBP, has been known since 1975. Recently, it was identified as an integral transmem‐brane protein named STRA6 that is inducible by retinoic acid in certain cancer cells. The receptor was found to be highly specific for RBP, with high affinity, and to be localized in all tissues known to require retinol for their function, particularly the pigment epithelium of the eye.