Premium
The role of Lipid transfer proteins in membrane trafficking and signal transduction
Author(s) -
Lev Sima,
Kim SoHui,
Kedan Amir,
Selitrennik Michael,
Keinan Omer
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.27.1_supplement.336.1
Subject(s) - plant lipid transfer proteins , signal transduction , microbiology and biotechnology , lipid metabolism , lipid signaling , intracellular , biology , membrane protein , transduction (biophysics) , in vitro , lipid droplet , biochemistry , receptor , chemistry , membrane , gene
Lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) were initially discovered as soluble factors that accelerate the transfer of different lipid species between membranes in vitro. Since then, many LTPs have been isolated, cloned, crystallized and extensively studied for over 30 years. The mechanisms by which LTPs transfer lipids between bilayers in vitro have been established by numerous studies. Yet, their actual functions in intact cells remain largely controversial. Extensive studies on LTPs from plants, yeast and mammals suggest that LTPs regulate multiple cellular processes including vesicular trafficking, signal transduction and lipid metabolism. Our studies on certain LTPs with different lipid‐transfer specificity demonstrated their influence on intracellular lipid distribution; shed light on their mechanisms of action in intact cells, and their coordinated lipid transfer activity. Furthermore, our studies on the Nir2 protein, a large protein consisting of an N‐terminal phsphatidylinositol (PI)‐transfer domain, demonstrate its regulatory role in membrane trafficking events and signal transduction cascades. We will discuss our recent findings and describe our general view on LTPs and their mode of action in intact cells.