Retinoid-binding proteins: similar protein architectures bind similar ligands via completely different ways.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Retinoids are a class of compounds that are chemically related to vitamin A, which is an essential nutrient that plays a key role in vision, cell growth and differentiation. In vivo, retinoids must bind with specific proteins to perform their necessary functions. Plasma retinol-binding protein (RBP) and epididymal retinoic acid binding protein (ERABP) carry retinoids in bodily fluids, while cellular retinol-binding proteins (CRBPs) and cellular retinoic acid-binding proteins (CRABPs) carry retinoids within cells. Interestingly, although all of these transport proteins possess similar structures, the modes of binding for the different retinoid ligands with their carrier proteins are different.

Methodology/principal findings

In this work, we analyzed the various ret

SUBMITTER: Zhang YR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3344936 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature