The orchestra of lipid-transfer proteins at the crossroads between metabolism and signaling

• Published in: Progress in lipid research Vol. 61; pp. 30 - 39
• Main Authors: Chiapparino, Antonella, Maeda, Kenji, Turei, Denes, Saez-Rodriguez, Julio, Gavin, Anne-Claude
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2016
• Subjects: Animals; Biological membranes; Biomolecular networks; Carrier Proteins - physiology; Cell Membrane - physiology; Endoplasmic Reticulum - physiology; Golgi Apparatus - physiology; Humans; Lipid Metabolism; Lipid-binding domains; Lipid-transfer proteins; Membrane contact sites; Metabolism; Non-vesicular lipid trafficking; Organelles; Protein Transport; Signal Transduction; Signaling lipid; Systems biology; Transport; GLTP; Biomolecular networks; GPL; PS; PITP; GM2A; SCP2; Signaling lipid; OSBP; Biological membranes; TSPO; Non-vesicular lipid trafficking; ML; GEF; Metabolism; Membrane contact sites; ER; Organelles; GLs; GLTPD1; Lipid-transfer proteins; PITPNM1; GAP; TGN; CERT; Transport; LTD; PPARD; NPC; CETP; RARΑ; LTP; FFAT; NLS; StAR; SL; OSBPL9; FABP; PLEKHA8; PC; VAPA; Lipid-binding domains; Systems biology; PIP; PH; PI; START; MCS; OSBPL1A; PM
• DOI: 10.1016/j.plipres.2015.10.004
• ISSN: 0163-7827

Within the eukaryotic cell, more than 1000 species of lipids define a series of membranes essential for cell function. Tightly controlled systems of lipid transport underlie the proper spatiotemporal distribution of membrane lipids, the coordination of spatially separated lipid metabolic pathways, and lipid signaling mediated by soluble proteins that may be localized some distance away from membranes. Alongside the well-established vesicular transport of lipids, non-vesicular transport mediated by a group of proteins referred to as lipid-transfer proteins (LTPs) is emerging as a key mechanism of lipid transport in a broad range of biological processes. More than a hundred LTPs exist in humans and these can be divided into at least ten protein families. LTPs are widely distributed in tissues, organelles and membrane contact sites (MCSs), as well as in the extracellular space. They all possess a soluble and globular domain that encapsulates a lipid monomer and they specifically bind and transport a wide range of lipids. Here, we present the most recent discoveries in the functions and physiological roles of LTPs, which have expanded the playground of lipids into the aqueous spaces of cells.