Modelling intracellular fatty acid transport: possible mechanistic role of cytoplasmic fatty acid-binding protein

• Published in: Prostaglandins, leukotrienes and essential fatty acids Vol. 57; no. 1; pp. 11 - 16
• Main Authors: Vork, M.M., Glatz, J.F.C., Van der Vusse, G.J.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.07.1997; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Biological Transport; Carrier Proteins - metabolism; Cell Membrane - metabolism; Cell physiology; Cytoplasm - metabolism; Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins; Fatty Acids - metabolism; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Membrane and intracellular transports; Models, Biological; Molecular and cellular biology; Myelin P2 Protein - metabolism; Neoplasm Proteins; Binding protein; Intracellular transport; Lipids; Fatty acids; Modeling; Computer aid
• ISSN: 0952-3278; 1532-2823
• DOI: 10.1016/S0952-3278(97)90486-5

A computer model is presented in which the role of cytoplasmic fatty acid-binding protein (FABP) in the intracellular translocation of fatty acids (FA) from one membrane to an opposite membrane is studied. The model consists of a cubical space, in which FABP and FA are allowed to diffuse at random. The amount of FA released from the donor membrane and reaching an opposite acceptor membrane is calculated in a variety of conditions. The data provided by the various simulations suggest that FABP can play a significant role in intracellular FA transport only if FABP is able to take up FA directly from FA containing membranes and to directly deliver FA to an acceptor membrane, thus preventing the unfavourable thermodynamical situation in which FA must solubilize in an aqueous environment prior to binding to FABP.