Proteins and disease | Structural insight and functional diversity of mammalian fatty acid binding proteins in health and disease

The mammalian Fatty Acid-Binding Protein (FABP) family consists of 9 members, each displaying a β barrel capped by 2 short α-helices. The FABPs exhibit distinct and overlapping tissue expression patterns and bind long chain fatty acids with high affinity. The FABPs use interactions with membranes and proteins to transport fatty acids to sites of utilization, and each FABP displays distinct tissue specific functions. Recently several FABPs have been shown to bind additional lipid ligands, notably endocannabinoids, and to exert systemic functions remote from their tissues of origin. Some FABPs are dysregulated in cancer and inflammatory diseases, offering potential as drug targets and biomarkers.