The liver fatty acid binding protein - comparison of cavity properties of intracellular lipid-binding proteins

The crystal and solution structures of all of the intracellular lipid binding proteins (iLBPs) reveal a common -barrel framework with only small local perturbations. All existing evidence points to the binding cavity and a poorly delimited portal region as defining the function of each family member. The importance of local structure within the cavity appears to be its influence on binding affinity and specificity for the lipid. The portal region appears to be involved in the regulation of ligand exchange. Within the iLBP family, liver fatty acid binding protein or LFABP, has the unique property of binding two fatty acids within its internalized binding cavity rather than the commonly observed stoichiometry of one. Furthermore, LFABP will bind hydrophobic molecules larger than the ligands which will associate with other iLBPs. The crystal structure of LFABP contains two bound oleate molecules and provides the explanation for its unusual stoichiometry. One of the bound fatty acids is completely internalized and has its carboxylate interacting with an arginine and two serines. The second oleate represents an entirely new binding mode with the carboxylate on the surface of LFABP. The two oleates also interact with each other. Because of this interaction and its inner location, it appears the first oleate must be present before the second more external molecule is bound.     

Diversity of fatty acid-binding protein structure and function: studies with fluorescent ligands

The mammalian fatty acid-binding proteins (FABP) are localized in many distinct cell types. They bind long chain fatty acidsin vitro, however, their functions and mechanisms of actionin vivo remain unknown. The present studies have sought to understand the relationships among these proteins, and to address the possible role of FABP in cellular fatty acid traffic. A series of anthroyloxy-labeled fluorescent fatty acids have been used to examine the physicochemical properties of the fatty acid-binding sites of different members of the FABP family. The fatty acid probes have also been used to study the rate and mechanism of fatty acid transfer from different FABP types to phospholipid membranes. The results of these studies show a number of interesting and potentially important differences between FABP family members. An examination of adipocyte and heart FABP (A- and H-FABP) shows that their fatty acid-binding sites are less hydrophobic than the liver FABP (L-FABP) site, and that the bound ligand experiences less motional constraint within the A- and H-FABP binding sites than within the L-FABP binding site. In keeping with these differences in structural properties, it was found that anthroyloxy-fatty acid transfer from A- and H-FABP to membranes is markedly faster than from L-FABP. Moreover, the mechanism of fatty acid transfer was found to be similar for the highly homologous logous A- and H-FABP, whereby transfer to phospholipid membranes appears to occur via transient collisional interactions between the FABP and membranes. Transfer of fatty acids from L-FABP, in contrast, occurs via an aqueous phase diffusion mechanism. Other studies utilized fluorescent fatty acid and monoacylglycerol derivatives to compare how the two FABP which are present in high abundance in the proximal small intestine interact with the two major products of dietary triacylglycerol hydrolysis. The results showed that whereas L-FABP binds both fatty acid and monoacylglycerol derivatives, intestinal FABP (I-FABP) appears to bind fatty acid but not monoacylglycerol. In summary, studies with fluorescent ligands have demonstrated unique properties for different FABP family members. A number of these differences appear to correlate with the degree of primary sequence homology between the proteins, and suggest functional diversity within the FABP family.Abbreviations FABP Fatty Acid-Binding Protein - L-FABP Liver FABP - H-FABP Heart FABP - A-FABP Adipocyte FABP - I-FABP Intestinal FABP - AOffa n-(9-anthroyloxy)fatty acid - MG Monoacylglycerol - NBD-PE N-(7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazol-4-yl)phosphatidylethanolamine     

The chemical modification of cysteine-69 of rat liver fatty acid-binding protein (FABP): a fluorescence approach to FABP structure and function

Summary Hepatic-FABP was labelled at cysteine-69 with the fluorescent environmentally sensitive reporter group AEDANS. The labelled protein had an emission maximum at 465 nm indicating that cysteine-69 was buried in a non-polar environment. The modified protein was still able to bind ligands such as oleic acid, oleoyl CoA and haem. The affinity of AEDANS-FABP for haem was unaltered as compared with the native protein indicating that cysteine-69 must be remote from the ligand binding site. The binding of oleic acid did not significantly perturb the fluorescence emission spectrum of the fluorescent reporter group suggesting that there are not large conformational changes in the region of cysteine-69 on fatty acid binding. The binding of stoichiometric amounts of oleoyl CoA was accompanied by a small fluorescence enhancement which suggests that fatty acyl CoAs may interact with other regions of the FABP molecule not involved in fatty acid binding.Abbreviations FABP Fatty Acid-Binding Protein - AEDANS 5-[2-(Acetyl)aminoEthyl]Aminonaphthalene-1-Sulphonic Acid - AAEDANS 5-[2-(Iodoacetyl-AminolEthyl] aminonaphthalene-1-Sulphonic Acid - DTNB 5,5Dithiobis-(2-Nitrobenzoic acid)     

Tryptophan insertion mutagenesis of liver fatty acid-binding protein: L28W mutant provides important insights into ligand binding and physiological function

Liver fatty acid-binding protein (FABP) binds a variety of non-polar anionic ligands including fatty acids, fatty acyl CoAs, and bile acids. Previously we prepared charge reversal mutants and demonstrated the importance of lysine residues within the portal region in ligand and membrane binding. We have now prepared several tryptophan-containing mutants within the portal region, and one tryptophan at position 28 (L28W) has proved remarkably effective as an intrinsic probe to further study ligand binding. The fluorescence of the L28W mutant was very sensitive to fatty acid and bile acid binding where a large (up to 4-fold) fluorescence enhancement was obtained. In contrast, the binding of oleoyl CoA reduced tryptophan fluorescence. Positive cooperativity for fatty acid binding was observed while detailed information on the orientation of binding of bile acid derivatives was obtained. The ability of bound oleoyl CoA to reduce the fluorescence of L28W provided an opportunity to demonstrate that fatty acyl CoAs can compete with fatty acids for binding to liver FABP under physiological conditions, further highlighting the role of fatty acyl CoAs in modulating FABP function in the cell.     

Expression, purification, and crystal structure determination of recombinant human epidermal-type fatty acid binding protein.

We describe the crystal structure of human epidermal-type fatty acid binding protein (E-FABP) that was recently found to be highly upregulated in human psoriatic keratinocytes. To characterize E-FABP with respect to ligand-binding properties and tertiary structure, we cloned the respective cDNA, overexpressed the protein in Escherichia coli and purified it to homogeneity by a combination of ion-exchange and size-exclusion chromatographic steps with a yield of 30 mg/L broth. The purified protein revealed a 5-fold higher affinity for stearic acid than for oleic and arachidonic acids. The crystal structure of recombinant human E-FABP was determined to 2.05 A and refined to an R(factor) of 20.7%. The initial residual electron density maps clearly showed the presence of a ligand, which was identified as endogenous bacterial fatty acid. Within a central cavity of 252 A(3), this ligand is bound in a U-shaped conformation, its carboxyl group interacting with tyrosine 131 and arginines 129 and 109, the latter via an ordered water molecule. The E-FABP crystal structure is unique in the FABP family because of the presence of a disulfide bridge between cysteines 120 and 127 that may be physiologically as well as pathophysiologically relevant. Cysteines 67 and 87 are also in close vicinity but in contrast do not form a disulfide bridge. We postulate that this protein belongs to a particular FABP subfamily whose members share common structural as well as functional features.     

Binding of recombinant rat liver fatty acid-binding protein to small anionic phospholipid vesicles results in ligand release: a model for interfacial binding and fatty acid targeting

A number of intracellular proteins bind to negatively charged phospholipid membranes, and this interfacial binding results in a conformational change that modulates the activity of the protein. Using a fluorescent fatty acid analogue, 11-[5-(dimethylamino)naphthalenesulfonyl]undecanoic acid (DAUDA), it is possible to demonstrate the release of this ligand from recombinant rat liver FABP in the presence of phospholipid vesicles that contain a significant proportion of anionic phospholipids. The ligand release that is observed with anionic phospholipids is sensitive to the ionic strength of the assay conditions and the anionic charge density of the phospholipid at the interface, indicating that nonspecific electrostatic interactions play an important role in the process. The stoichiometric relationship between anionic phospholipid and liver FABP suggests that the liver FABP coats the surface of the phospholipid vesicle. The most likely explanation for ligand release is that interaction of FABP with an anionic membrane interface induces a rapid conformational change, resulting in a reduced affinity of DAUDA for the protein. The nature of this interaction involves both electrostatic and nonpolar interactions as maximal release of liver FABP from phospholipid vesicles with recovery of ligand binding cannot be achieved with high salt and requires the presence of a nonionic detergent. The precise interfacial mechanism that results in the rapid release of ligand from L-FABP remains to be determined, but studies with two mutants, F3W and F18W, suggest the possible involvement of the amino-terminal region of the protein in the process. The conformational change linked to interfacial binding of this protein could provide a mechanism for fatty acid targeting within the cell.     

Structure-guided design,synthesis and in vitro evaluation of a series of pyrazole-based fatty acid binding protein (FABP) 3 ligands

We designed a series of pyrazole-based carboxylic acids as candidate ligands of heart fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP, or FABP3), based on a comparison of the X-ray crystallographic structures of adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (FABP4)–selective inhibitor (BMS309403) complex and FABP3–elaidic acid complex. Some of the synthesized compounds exhibited dual FABP3/4 ligand activity, and some exhibited selectivity for FABP3.     

Fatty-acid-binding protein from the flight muscle of Locusta migratoria: evolutionary variations in fatty acid binding

Intracellular lipid-binding proteins have evolved from a common ancestral gene with the appearance of mitochondrial oxidation, to guarantee, for example, transport of fatty acids through the aqueous cytosol to their site of utilization. The mammalian forms of these lipid carriers are structurally well-characterized and have been categorized, on the basis of sequence similarities and several typical ligand-binding features, into four subfamilies. Only a single complex structure of an invertebrate fatty-acid-binding protein (FABP) has been reported to date, which reveals a unique ligand-binding arrangement yet unknown in vertebrate FABPs. In the present study, the structure of a second invertebrate FABP (locust muscle) complexed with a fatty acid has been determined on the basis of intermolecular NOE connectivities between the protein and the uniformly (13)C-enriched oleate ligand. The resulting ligand conformation, although resembling the closely related mammalian heart- and adipocyte-type FABPs, is characterized by certain binding features that differ significantly from the typical hairpin-turn ligand shapes of the latter forms. This is primarily due to an alanine-to-leucine substitution in locust FABPs that produces a steric hindrance for ligand binding. A comparison with an FABP from tobacco hornworm larvae furthermore demonstrates that certain amino acid substitutions that appear to be specific for invertebrates decidedly influence the binding arrangement inside the protein cavity. Hence, as a result of these evolutionary variations, invertebrate FABPs may display a much greater diversity in intracellular lipid binding than observed for the mammalian transport proteins, thus possibly providing new insights for the design of modified lipid carriers.     

Assay of the binding of fatty acids by proteins: evaluation of the Lipidex 1000 procedure

Summary Fatty acid (FA) binding by fatty acid-binding protein (FABP) is frequently Monitored with the so-called Lipidex 1000 assay, in which protein associated and non-protein bound FA are separated by selectively binding the latter to Lipidex 1000. Careful evaluation of this assay showed that the use of aqueous FA solutions resulted in a Marked decrease (60 to 70%) of FA concentration due to their aspecific binding to the surface of the test-tube used. In addition, solutions of rat heart FABP in the Molar range also showed a concentration decrease up to 80% due to protein binding to the surface of the test-tube. Introduction of detergents, Triton X-100 or Tween 20, limited the FA loss to less than 20% and totally eliminated FABP adsorption. Kinetic parameters for the binding of [1-¹⁴C]oleic acid by purified rat heart FABP, assayed in the presence of Triton X-100, were found to be similar to those assayed in the absence of detergent, when adequate corrections were Made for losses of FA and FABP due to surface adsorption. Use of Tween 20 resulted in a substantial increase of the dissociation constant. The addition of 100 M Triton X-100 to the assay medium considerably facilitates the determination of kinetic parameters of fatty acid-binding by proteins.     

Amino acid sequence and some ligand binding properties of fatty acid-binding protein from bovine brain

Summary A fatty acid-binding protein (FABP) from the cytosol of bovine brain was purified by Sephadex G-75 filtration and electrofocusing. The purified protein migrated as a single protein band in 15% polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with an apparent molecular mass of 14.7 kDa. To ascertain that the purified protein was a FABP, it was submitted to fatty acid-binding tests. Oleic and palmitic acids bound to brain FABP but this was not the case for palmitoyl CoA. By Scatchard analysis the ligand binding values were: Kd = 0.28 µM, Bmax (mol/mol) = 0.6 for oleic acid and Kd = 0.8 µM, Bmax (mol/mol) = 2.1 for palmitic acid. The complete amino acid sequence of the brain FABP was determined and a microheterogeneity was observed. Sequence comparison with other FABPs of known sequence and the observed microheterogeneity demonstrated the presence in brain of several homologous FABPs closely related to heart FABP.This paper corresponds to a communication at the first international workshop on fatty acid binding proteins (Maastricht, the Netherlands, September 4–5, 1989).     

The involvement of fatty acid binding protein in peroxisomal fatty acid oxidation

Rat liver fatty acid-binding protein (FABP) can function as a fatty acid donor protein for both peroxisomal and mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation, since 14C-labeled palmitic acid bound to FABP is oxidized by both organelles. FABP is, however, not detected in peroxisomes and mitochondria of rat liver by ELISA. Acyl-CoA oxidase activity of isolated peroxisomes was not changed by addition of FABP or flavaspidic acid, an inhibitor of fatty acid binding to FABP, nor by disruption of the peroxisomal membranes. These data indicate that FABP may transfer fatty acids to peroxisomes, but is not involved in the transport of acyl-CoA through the peroxisomal membrane.     

Solution structure and backbone dynamics of human liver fatty acid binding protein: fatty acid binding revisited

Liver fatty acid binding protein (L-FABP), a cytosolic protein most abundant in liver, is associated with intracellular transport of fatty acids, nuclear signaling, and regulation of intracellular lipolysis. Among the members of the intracellular lipid binding protein family, L-FABP is of particular interest as it can i), bind two fatty acid molecules simultaneously and ii), accommodate a variety of bulkier physiological ligands such as bilirubin and fatty acyl CoA. To better understand the promiscuous binding and transport properties of L-FABP, we investigated structure and dynamics of human L-FABP with and without bound ligands by means of heteronuclear NMR. The overall conformation of human L-FABP shows the typical β-clam motif. Binding of two oleic acid (OA) molecules does not alter the protein conformation substantially, but perturbs the chemical shift of certain backbone and side-chain protons that are involved in OA binding according to the structure of the human L-FABP/OA complex. Comparison of the human apo and holo L-FABP structures revealed no evidence for an "open-cap" conformation or a "swivel-back" mechanism of the K90 side chain upon ligand binding, as proposed for rat L-FABP. Instead, we postulate that the lipid binding process in L-FABP is associated with backbone dynamics.     

Liver fatty acid binding protein enhances sterol transfer by membrane interaction

Among the large family of fatty acid binding proteins, the liver L-FABP is unique in that it not only binds fatty acids but also interacts with sterols to enhance sterol transfer between membranes. Nevertheless, the mechanism whereby L-FABP potentiates intermembrane sterol transfer is unknown. Both fluorescence and dialysis data indicate L-FABP mediated sterol transfer between L-cell fibroblast plasma membranes occurs by a direct membrane effect: First, dansylated-L-FABP (DNS-L-FABP) is bound to L-cell fibroblast plasma membranes as indicated by increased DNS-L-FABP steady state polarization and phase resolved limiting anisotropy. Second, coumarin-L-FABP (CPM-L-FABP) fluorescence lifetimes were significantly increased upon interaction with plasma membranes. Third, dialysis studies with³H-cholesterol loaded plasma membranes showed that L-FABP added to the donor compartment of the dialysis cell stimulated³H-cholesterol transfer whether or not the dialysis membrane was permeable to L-FABP. However, L-FABP mediated intermembrane sterol transfer did require a sterol binding site on L-FABP. Chemically blocking the ligand binding site also inhibited L-FABP activity in intermembrane sterol transfer. Finally, L-FABP did not act either as an aqueous carrier or in membrane fusion. The fact that L-FABP interacted with plasma membrane vesicles and required a sterol binding site was consistent with a mode of action whereby L-FABP binds to the membrane prior to releasing sterol from the bilayer.Abbreviations ³H-CHO [1,2-³H(N)]-cholesterol - ANTS 8-aminonaphthalene-1,3,6-trisulfonic acid - CF carboxyfluorescein - CHO cholesterol - CPM (coumarin maleimide) 7-diethylamino-3-(4-maleimidylphenyl)-4-methylcoumarin - cPNA cisparinaric acid - DHE (dehydroergosterol) ^5,7,9(11),22-ergostatetraen-3-ol - DMF dimethyl formamide - DMPOPOP 1,4-bis[4-methyl-5-phenyl-2-oxazolyl]benzene - DNS (dansyl chloride) 5-dimethylaminonaphthalene-1-sulfonylchloride - DPX p-xylene-bis-pyridinium bromide - FBS fetal bovine serum - fluorescamine 4-phenylspiro[furan-2(3H), 1 phthalan]-3,3-dione - L-FABP liver fatty acid binding protein - NPG p-nitrophenylglyoxal - PIPES piperazine-N,N-bis(2-ethanesulfonic acid) - POPC 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine - SUV small unilamellar vesicle(s) - TNM tetranitromethane This work was supported in part by the National Institutes of Health United States Public Health Service (GM31651 and DK41402) and the American Heart Association (Postdoctoral Fellowship to JKW). The helpful assistance of Dr. Scott M. Colles and Mr. Daniel R. Prows in isolating L-FABP was much appreciated.     

Two fatty acid‐binding proteins expressed in the intestine interact differently with endocannabinoids

Two different members of the fatty acid‐binding protein (FABP) family are found in enterocyte cells of the gastrointestinal system, namely liver‐type and intestinal fatty acid‐binding proteins (LFABP and IFABP, also called FABP1 and FABP2, respectively). Striking phenotypic differences have been observed in knockout mice for either protein, for example, high fat‐fed IFABP‐null mice remained lean, whereas LFABP‐null mice were obese, correlating with differences in food intake. This finding prompted us to investigate the role each protein plays in directing the specificity of binding to ligands involved in appetite regulation, such as fatty acid ethanolamides and related endocannabinoids. We determined the binding affinities for nine structurally related ligands using a fluorescence competition assay, revealing tighter binding to IFABP than LFABP for all ligands tested. We found that the head group of the ligand had more impact on binding affinity than the alkyl chain, with the strongest binding observed for the carboxyl group, followed by the amide, and then the glycerol ester. These trends were confirmed using two‐dimensional ¹H–¹⁵N nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to monitor chemical shift perturbation of the protein backbone resonances upon titration with ligand. Interestingly, the NMR data revealed that different residues of IFABP were involved in the coordination of endocannabinoids than those implicated for fatty acids, whereas the same residues of LFABP were involved for both classes of ligand. In addition, we identified residues that are uniquely affected by binding of all types of ligand to IFABP, suggesting a rationale for its tighter binding affinity compared with LFABP.     

Significance of cytoplasmic fatty acid-binding protein for the ischemic heart

Ischemia of the heart is accompanied by the tissue accumulation of long-chain fatty acids and their metabolic derivatives such as -hydroxy fatty acids and fatty acyl-CoA and acyl-L-carnitine esters. These substances might be detrimental for proper myocardial function. Previously, it has been suggested that intracellular lipid binding proteins like cytoplasmic fatty acid-binding protein (FABP) and acyl-CoA binding protein (ACBP) may bind these accumulating fatty acyl moieties to prevent their elevated levels from potentially harmful actions. In addition, the suggestion has been made that the abundantly present FABP may scavenge free radicals which are generated during reperfusion of the ischemic heart. However, these protective actions are challenged by the continuous physico-chemical partition of fatty acyl moieties between FABP and membrane structures and by the rapid release of FABP from ischemic and reperfused cardiac muscle. Careful evaluation of the available literature data reveals that at present no definite conclusion can be drawn about the potential protective effect of FABP on the ischemic and reperfused heart. Biochem123: 167–173, 1993)Abbreviations FABP Fatty Acid-Binding Protein - ACBP Acyl-CoA Binding Protein - MDGI Mammary-Derived Growth Inhibitor - CK Creatine Kinase - LDH Lactate Dehydrogenase     

Role of fatty acid-binding protein in cardiac fatty acid oxidation

Summary Although abundant in most biological tissues and chemically well characterized, the fatty acid-binding protein (FABP) was until recently in search of a function. Because of its strong affinity for long chain fatty acids and its cytoplasmic origin, this protein was repeatedly claimed in the literature to be the transcytoplasmic fatty acid carrier. However, techniques to visualize and quantify the movements of molecules in the cytoplasm are still in their infancy. Consequently the carrier function of FABP remains somewhat speculative. However, FABP binds not only fatty acids but also their CoA and carnitine derivatives, two typical molecules of mitochondrial origin. Moreover, it has been demonstrated and confirmed that FABP is not exclusively cytoplasmic, but also mitochondrial. A function for FABP in the mitochondrial metabolism of fatty acids plus CoA and carnitine derivatives would therefore be anticpated. Using spin-labelling techniques, we present here evidence that FABP is a powerful regulator of acylcarnitine flux entering the mitochondrial -oxidative system. In this perspective FABP appears to be an active link between the cytoplasm and the mitochondria, regulating the energy made available to the cell. This active participation of FABP is shown to be the consequence of its gradient-like distribution in the cardiac cell, and also of the coexistence of multispecies of this protein produced by self-aggregation.     

Ligand specificity and conformational stability of human fatty acid-binding proteins.

Fatty acid binding proteins (FABPs) are small cytosolic proteins with virtually identical backbone structures that facilitate the solubility and intracellular transport of fatty acids. At least eight different types of FABP occur, each with a specific tissue distribution and possibly with a distinct function. To define the functional characteristics of all eight human FABPs, viz. heart (H), brain (B), myelin (M), adipocyte (A), epidermal (E), intestinal (I), liver (L) and ileal lipid-binding protein (I-LBP), we studied their ligand specificity, their conformational stability and their immunological crossreactivity. Additionally, binding of bile acids to I-LBP was studied. The FABP types showed differences in fatty acid binding affinity. Generally, the affinity for palmitic acid was lower than for oleic and arachidonic acid. All FABP types, except E-FABP, I-FABP and I-LBP interacted with 1-anilinonaphtalene-8-sulphonic acid (ANS). Only L-FABP, I-FABP and M-FABP showed binding of 11-((5-dimethylaminonaphtalene-1-sulfonyl)amino)undecanoic acid (DAUDA). I-LBP showed increasing binding of bile acids in the order taurine-conjugated>glycine-conjugated>unconjugated bile acids. A hydroxylgroup of bile acids at position 7 decreased and at position 12 increased the binding affinity to I-LBP. The fatty acid-binding affinity and the conformation of FABP types were differentially affected in the presence of urea. Our results demonstrate significant differences in ligand binding, conformational stability and surface properties between different FABP types which may point to a specific function in certain cells and tissues. The preference of I-LBP (but not L-FABP) for conjugated bile acids is in accordance with a specific role in bile acid reabsorption in the ileum.     

Function and regulation of hepatic and intestinal fatty acid binding proteins

Two structurally different fatty acid binding proteins (FABP) have been isolated from rat liver and small intestinal epithelium. hFABP is a 14 184 Da protein found in abundance in both liver and small intestine, whereas gFABP (15 063 Da) is abundantly present only in small intestine. This review discusses studies which have provided insight into the physiological functions of these proteins. These include analyses of endogenous and exogenous ligand binding to FABP in vitro; examination of the modulating effect of FABP preparations on enzyme activities in vitro; exploration of relationships between alterations in cytosolic FABP content in response to hormonal, pharmacological, and dietary manipulations and changes in the rates of cellular fatty acid uptake and utilization; and studies of hFABP turnover and the mechanisms of FABP regulation. These experiments provide compelling evidence for a broad role of the FABPs in the transport, utilization and cellular economy of free fatty acids in the liver and small intestine, and also in protecting several aspects of cellular function against the modulatory effects of fatty acids, fatty acyl-CoA esters, and other ligands. Studies of FABP regulation also suggest a role in long-term rather than short-term modulation of hepatic fatty acid metabolism and indicate that hFABP and gFABP may perform different functions in the small intestine.     

Expression of rat intestinal fatty acid binding protein in E. coli and its subsequent structural analysis: a model system for studying the molecular details of fatty acid-protein interaction

A prokaryotic expression vector containing the rec A promoter and a translational enhancer element from the gene 10 leader of bacteriophage T7 was used to direct efficient synthesis of rat intestinal fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP) in E. coli. Expression of I-FABP in E. coli has no apparent, deleterious effects on the organism. High levels of expression of I-FABP mRNA in supE⁺ strains of E. coli, such as JM101, is associated with suppression of termination at its UGA stop codon. This can be eliminated by using a sup-Estrain as MG1655 and by site-directed mutagenesis of the cDNA to create an in frame UAA stop codon. E. coli-derived rat I-FABP lacks its initiator Met residues. It has been crystallized with and without bound palmitate. High resolution x-ray crystallographic studies of the 131 residue apo- and holo-proteins have revealed the following. I-FABP contains 10 anti-parallel -strands organized into two orthogonally situated -sheets. The overall conformation of the protein resembles that of a clam — hence the term -clam. The bound ligand is located in the interior of the protein. Its carboxylate group forms part of a unique five member hydrogen bonding network consisting of two ordered solvent molecules as well as the side chains of Arg¹⁰⁶ and Gln¹¹⁵. The hydrocarbon chain of the bound C16:0 fatty acid has a distinctive bent conformation with a slight left-handed helical twist. This conformation is maintained by interactions with the side chains of a number of hydrophobic and aromatic amino acids. Apo-I-FABP has a similar overall conformation to holo-I-FABP indicating that the -clam structure is stable even without bound ligand. The space occupied by bound ligand in the core of the holo-protein is occupied by additional ordered solvent molecules in the apo-protein. Differences in the side chain orientations pf several residues located over a potential opening to the cores of the apo- and holo-proteins suggest that solvent may play an important role in the binding mechanism. Comparison of the C coordinates of apo- and holo-I-FABP with those of other proteins indicates it is a member of a superfamily that currently includes (i) 10 mammalian intracellular lipid binding proteins, (ii) the photoactive yellow protein from the purple photoautotrophic bacterium Ectothiorhodospira halophila and (iii) a group of extracellular lipid binding proteins from a diverse number of phyla that have a common barrel consisting of 8 anti-parallel -strands stacked in two nearly orthogonal sheets. In summary, E. coli-derived I-FABP not only represents a useful model for assessing the atomic details of fatty acid-protein interactions and the mechanisms which regulate acquisition and release of this type of ligand, but also structure/function relationships in other superfamily members.Abbreviations I-FABP Intestinal Fatty Acid Binding Protein - r.m.s root mean square     

Interaction of rat liver microsomes containing saturated or unsaturated fatty acids with fatty acid binding protein: Peroxidation effect

In the studies described here rat liver microsomes containing labeled palmitic, stearic, oleic or linoleic acids were incubated with fatty acid binding protein (FABP) and the rate of removal of¹⁴C-labeled fatty acids from the membrane by the soluble protein was measured using a model system. More unsaturated than saturated fatty acids were removed from native liver microsomes incubated with similar amounts of FABP. Thein vitro peroxidation of microsomal membranes mediated by ascorbate-Fe⁺⁺, modified its fatty acid composition with a considerable decrease of the peroxidizability index. These changes in the microsomes facilitated the removal of oleic and linoeic acids by FABP, but the removal of palmitic and stearic acids was not modified. This effect is proposed to result from a perturbation of membrane structure following peroxidation with release of free fatty acids from susceptible domains.Abbreviations BSA bovine serum albumin - FABP fatty acid binding protein