Other Names

MDGI; FABP11; H-FABP; O-FABP; Hfabp; FABP3; Fatty Acid Binding Protein 3, Muscle And Heart; Mammary Derived Growth Inhibitor; Fatty Acid Binding Protein 11; Muscle fatty acid-binding protein; Heart-ty

Research Area

Metabolism

Background

Fatty acid-binding proteins, designated FABPs, are a family of homologous cytoplasmic proteins that are expressed in a highly tissue-specific manner and play an integral role in the balance between lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. FABPs mediate fatty acid (FA) and/or hydrophobic ligand uptake, transport and targeting within their respective tissues. The mechanisms underlying these actions can give rise to both passive diffusional uptake and protein-mediated transmembrane transport of FAs. FABPs are expressed in adipocytes (A-FABP), brain (B-FABP), epidermis (E-FABP, also designated psoriasis-associated FABP or PA-FABP), muscle and heart (H-FABP, also designated mammary-derived growth inhibitor or MDGI), intestine (I-FABP), liver (L-FABP), myelin (M-FABP) and testis (T-FABP). MDGI is highly expressed in the myocardium, skeletal and smooth muscle fibers, lipid and/or steroid synthesizing cells and terminally differentiated epithelia of the respiratory, intestinal and urogenital tracts.