Abstract 2244 Intracellular lipid-binding proteins: From structure to function and back

A multitude of hydrophobic lipids are present within the cell. Their distribution between the aqueous milieu of the cytosol and amphipathic membranes, and between different organellar membranes, is remarkably variant. In addition to their direct involvement as substrates and intermediates for energy storage and utilization, lipids play key roles in determining membrane physical-chemical properties as well as in regulating gene expression and intracellular signal transduction pathways. Intracellular lipid-binding proteins (LBPs) are thought to participate in establishing and maintaining the spatial and compositional variabilities in membrane structure and in regulating the activities of lipid involvement in metabolism, cell signaling, and gene regulation.