Retinol binding protein

• retinol AKA


  vitamin A
• retinol is

  • a lipid alcohol
  • synthesised in the liver
  • transported to vitamin A dependent tissues by retinol binding protein
• retinol binding protein has Mr=21000
• retinol is an active form of vitamin A
• vitamin A function

  • anti-oxidant
  • steroid hormone
  • vital component of night vision
• retinol is derived from beta-carotenes synthesised by

  plants
• retinol is stored in the liver as retinol palmitate
• retinol binding protein is a beta domain protein (has up-down-up beta barrel)
• how many strands does retinol binding protein have

  8
• retinol binding site is lined with hydrophobic residues to hold retinol in its binding site