Fatty acid-binding protein

About: Fatty acid-binding protein is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 1721 publications have been published within this topic receiving 81530 citations. The topic is also known as: FABP.

Gender affects liver desaturase expression in a rat model of n-3 fatty acid repletion.

Abstract: Dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are major components of cell membranes and have beneficial effects on human health. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n-3) is the most biologically important n-3 PUFA and can be synthesized from its dietary essential precursor, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA; 18:3n-3). Gender differences in the efficiency of DHA bioconversion have been reported, but underlying molecular mechanisms are unknown. We compared the capacity for DHA synthesis from ALA and the expression of related enzymes in the liver and cerebral cortex between male and female rats. Wistar rats, born with a low-DHA status, were supplied with a suboptimal amount of ALA from weaning to 8 weeks of age. Fatty acid composition was determined by gas chromatography, the mRNA expression of different genes involved in PUFA metabolism was determined by RT-PCR (low-density array) and the expression of proteins was determined by Western blot analysis. At 8 weeks, DHA content was higher (+20 to +40%) in each phospholipid class of female livers compared to male livers. The "Delta4," Delta5 and Delta6 desaturation indexes were 1.2-3 times higher in females than in males. The mRNA expression of Delta5- and Delta6-desaturase genes was 3.8 and 2.5 times greater, respectively, and the Delta5-desaturase protein was higher in female livers (+50%). No gender difference was observed in the cerebral cortex. We conclude that female rats replete their DHA status more readily than males, probably due to a higher expression of liver desaturases. Our results support the hypothesis on hormonal regulation of PUFA metabolism, which should be taken into account for specific nutritional recommendations.

Intestinal fatty acid binding protein gene expression reveals the cephalocaudal patterning during zebrafish gut morphogenesis.

Abstract: Intracellular fatty acid-binding proteins (FABPs) are small and highly conserved cytoplasmic proteins that bind long-chain fatty acids and other hydrophobic ligands. We have examined, as a model for studying intestinal epithelial cell differentiation, the cell-specific and spatio-temporal expression of intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (i-fabp) gene during zebrafish larval development. After molecular cloning of zebrafish I-FABP cDNA, whole-mount in situ hybridization analysis revealed that i-fabp is expressed in the intestinal tube around day 3 postfertilization. By day 4, highest level of i-fabp transcript is encountered in the proximal columnar epithelium. From day 5 onwards, i-fabp is strongly expressed in the anterior intestine and its rostral expansion, slightly expressed in the esophagus mucosa and rectum, while no mRNA could be detected in the posterior intestine. Therefore, the regional differentiation of the intestine precedes first feeding and complete yolk resorption. I-fabp expression in the anterior intestine of the fed larvae is correlated with an intracellular storage of lipid droplets in the enterocytes and the massive synthesis of very low-density lipoprotein particles. In conclusion, the cephalocaudal expression pattern of i-fabp demarcates early during zebrafish gut morphogenesis the anterior fat absorbing to posterior cells of the intestine. This gene could be used as a marker for screening for mutations that affect the events of intestinal epithelial differentiation, cephalocaudal patterning, and asymmetric gut looping morphogenesis.

Changes in mRNA expression of regulatory factors involved in adipocyte differentiation during fatty acid induced adipogenesis in chicken.

Abstract: The adipocyte differentiation process involves a cascade of transcriptional events that culminates in the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARgamma) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-alpha (C/EBPalpha). These adipogenic transcription factors regulate the expression of genes necessary for the development of mature adipocytes in mammals. The current study was undertaken to identify regulatory factors that affect adipogenesis and to analyze species-specific mRNA expression of factors involved in chicken adipocyte differentiation. We developed a system for differentiation of chicken (Gallus gallus) adipocytes in culture using medium containing 500 nM dexamethasone, 0.5 mM 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, 20 microg/mL bovine insulin, 300 microM oleate, and 10% fetal bovine serum. The rapid differentiation of cells to mature adipocytes in this culture system was verified by observed increases in adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (aP2) expression, glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) activity and intracellular triglyceride accumulation. In contrast, cells cultured in a differentiation medium without fatty acids did not differentiate into mature adipocytes. The expression profiles of genes involved in the regulation of adipocyte differentiation, such as PPARgamma, C/EBPalpha, beta, delta, sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 (SREBP-1), fatty acid synthase (FAS), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), and glucose transporters 1 and 8 (GLUT1 and GLUT8) were studied. Rapid increases in PPARgamma and aP2 expression were observed after 9 and 12 h of culture in differentiation medium, respectively. In contrast, the expression patterns of the other adipogenic genes only differed slightly from those previously determined for mammalian adipocytes. These results suggest that exogenous fatty acid is essential for adipocyte differentiation in chickens, and that PPARgamma is possibly a key regulator in the early stages of chicken preadipocyte differentiation.