Question

In order to move from one place to another in the cell fatty acids need to associate with lipid chaperones. Why are these chaperones required, and what is the name of this group of proteins that are responsible for this trafficking of fatty acids within the cell? What is the main distinguishing feature of these proteins that makes it possible for fatty acids to move within the cell?

Answer 1

The group of proteins that are responsible for the trafficking of fatty acids within the cell are known as Fatty Acid- Binding Protein (FABP). They are the lipid chaperone that coordinate lipid trafficking and responses in cells. FABPs facilitate the transport of lipids to specific compartments in the cell such as to the mitochondrion or peroxisome for oxidation, to the nucleus for lipid mediated transcriptional regulation, to the endoplasmic reticulum for signaling, trafficking and membrane synthesis, to cytoplasmic enzymes for activity regulation and to the cytoplasm for storage as lipid droplets. It can discriminate between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids via molecular mechanisms.

They have stimulatory effect on a number of enzymes of fatty acid metabolism in vitro. In addition to that, the tissue expression, ligand binding properties, ontogeny and regulation of these proteins provide a considerable body of indirect evidence supporting a broad role for the FABP in the intracellular transport and metabolism of long-chain fatty acids.These are the main distinguishing feature of these proteins that makes it possible for fatty acids to move within the cell.