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Novel classes of fatty acid and retinol binding protein from nematodes

  • University of Glasgow
Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Abstract

Parasitic nematodes have recently been found to produce proteins which represent two new classes of fatty acid and retinoid binding protein. The first is the nematode polyprotein allergens/antigens (NPAs) which, as their name suggests, are synthesised as large polyproteins which are subsequently cleaved at regularly spaced sites to form multiple copies of a fatty acid binding protein of approximately 14.5 kDa. Binding studies using molecular environment-sensitive fluorescent ligands have shown that the binding site is highly unusual, producing blue-shifting in fluorescence to an unprecedented degree, suggesting a remarkably non-polar environment and isolation from solvent water. Computer-based structural predictions and biophysical observations have identified the NPAs as highly helical proteins which might form a four helix bundle, so constitute a new class of lipid binding protein from animals. The second class, like the NPAs, binds both fatty acids and retinol, but with a higher affinity for the latter. These are also highly helical but are structurally distinct from the NPAs. The biological function of these new classes of protein are discussed in the context of both the metabolic requirements of the parasites and the possible role of the proteins in control of the immune and inflammatory environment of the tissue sites parasitised.

Publication Information

Output type

Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Original language

English

Pages from-to (Number of pages)

Pages 67-75

Journal (Volume, Issue Number)

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry (Volume 192, Issue 1-2)

Publication milestones

  • Published - 28/02/1999

Publication status

Published - 28/02/1999

ISSN

0300-8177

External Publication IDs

  • handle.net: 10547/622689
  • Scopus: 0032905439

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