PC-TP/StARD2: Of membranes and metabolism. Review uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • Phosphatidylcholine transfer protein (PC-TP, synonym StARD2) binds phosphatidylcholines, and catalyzes their intermembrane transfer and exchange in vitro. The structure of PC-TP comprises a hydrophobic pocket and a well-defined head group binding site, and its gene expression is regulated by peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-alpha. Recent studies have revealed key regulatory roles for PC-TP in lipid and glucose metabolism. Notably, Pctp(-/-) mice are sensitized to the action of insulin, and exhibit more efficient brown fat-mediated thermogenesis. PC-TP appears to limit access of fatty acids to mitochondria by stimulating the activity of thioesterase superfamily member 2, a newly characterized long-chain fatty acyl-coenzyme A thioesterase. Because PC-TP discriminates between phosphatidylcholines within lipid bilayers, it might function as a sensor that links metabolic regulation to membrane composition.

publication date

  • March 24, 2010

Research

keywords

  • Adipose Tissue, Brown
  • Phosphatidylcholines
  • Phospholipid Transfer Proteins

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC2897958

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 77954309627

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1016/j.tem.2010.02.001

PubMed ID

  • 20338778

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 21

issue

  • 7