Fatty acid binding proteins: same structure but different binding mechanisms? Molecular dynamics simulations of intestinal fatty acid binding protein.

ABSTRACT: Fatty acid binding proteins (FABPs) carry fatty acids (FAs) and other lipids in the cellular environment, and are thus involved in processes such as FA uptake, transport, and oxidation. These proteins bind either one or two ligands in a binding site, which appears to be inaccessible from the bulk. Thus, the entry of the substrate necessitates a conformational change, whose nature is still unknown. A possible description of the ligand binding process is given by the portal hypothesis, which suggests that the FA enters the protein through a dynamic area known as the portal region. On the other hand, recent simulations of the adipocyte lipid binding protein (ALBP) suggested a different entry site (the alternative portal). In this article, we discuss molecular dynamics simulations of the apo-i

SUBMITTER: Friedman R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1367305 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature