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Vitamin E transport, membrane incorporation and cell metabolism: Is α‐tocopherol in lipid rafts an oar in the lifeboat?
Author(s) -
LemaireEwing Stéphanie,
Desrumaux Catherine,
Néel Dominique,
Lagrost Laurent
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
molecular nutrition and food research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.495
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1613-4133
pISSN - 1613-4125
DOI - 10.1002/mnfr.200900445
Subject(s) - lipid raft , tocopherol , vitamin e , phospholipid , chemistry , tocotrienol , metabolism , flippase , membrane , antioxidant , microbiology and biotechnology , lipid metabolism , cell membrane , biochemistry , biology , phosphatidylserine
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 α‐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. α‐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 α‐tocopherol and lipid rafts and the consequences of these interactions on cell metabolism.