近日,于美國加州大學洛杉璣分校任教的南開大學生物系1988屆校友孫暉領(lǐng)導的課題組成功找到了幫助維生素A進入細胞的受體,。這一成果解開了困擾科學家多少年的維生素A代謝之謎,,將有助于開發(fā)治療維生素A缺乏癥、失明等病癥的新方法,。
其研究成果刊登在近日的《科學》雜志上,。中美媒體相繼對其進行了采訪報道。據(jù)悉,,科學家下一步的任務(wù)將是集中研究該受體的調(diào)控機理,,以開發(fā)治療維生素A缺乏癥的新手段。
部分英文原文:
Originally published in Science Express on 25 January 2007
Science 9 February 2007:
Vol. 315. no. 5813, pp. 820 - 825
DOI: 10.1126/science.1136244
A Membrane Receptor for Retinol Binding Protein Mediates Cellular Uptake of Vitamin A
Riki Kawaguchi,1,2 Jiamei Yu,1 Jane Honda,1 Jane Hu,2 Julian Whitelegge,3,4 Peipei Ping,1,5 Patrick Wiita,1 Dean Bok,2,4,6 Hui Sun1,2,4*
Abstract
Vitamin A has diverse biological functions. It is transported in the blood as a complex with retinol binding protein (RBP), but the molecular mechanism by which vitamin A is absorbed by cells from the vitamin A–RBP complex is not clearly understood. We identified in bovine retinal pigment epithelium cells STRA6, a multitransmembrane domain protein, as a specific membrane receptor for RBP. STRA6 binds to RBP with high affinity and has robust vitamin A uptake activity from the vitamin A–RBP complex. It is widely expressed in embryonic development and in adult organ systems. The RBP receptor represents a major physiological mediator of cellular vitamin A uptake.
1 Department of Physiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 650 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
2 Jules Stein Eye Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 100 Stein Plaza, 650 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
3 Pasarow Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Semel Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 760 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA.
4 Brain Research Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
5 Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 650 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
6 Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 650 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
Note added in proof: A recent human genetic study (41) found that mutations in the human STRA6 gene are associated with widespread birth defects in multiple organ systems. This is consistent with the expression of STRA6 and the diverse functions of vitamin A in embryonic development.
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: [email protected]
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