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- ***********************
- * Lipocalin signature *
- ***********************
-
- Proteins which transport small hydrophobic molecules such as steroids, bilins,
- retinoids and lipids have been shown [1 to 5] to share limited regions of
- sequence homology as well as a probable common tertiary structure
- architecture. This structure consists of two sets of four antiparallel
- beta-strands arranged in two orthogonally stranded beta-sheets. The name
- 'lipocalin' has been proposed [4] for this protein family. Proteins known to
- belong to this family are listed below (references are only provided for
- recently determined sequences).
-
- - Alpha-1-microglobulin (protein HC), which seems to bind porphyrin.
- - Alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (orosomucoid), which can bind progesterone.
- - Aphrodisin which, in hamsters, functions as an aphrodisiac pheromone.
- - Apolipoprotein D, which probably binds bilin [6].
- - Beta-lactoglobulin, a milk protein whose physiological function appears to
- bind retinol.
- - Complement component C8 gamma chain, which seems to bind retinol [7].
- - Crustacyanin [8], a protein from lobster carapace, which binds astaxanthin,
- a carotenoid.
- - Epididymal-retinoic acid binding protein (E-RABP) [9] involved in sperm
- maturation.
- - Insectacyanin, a moth bilin-binding protein, and a related butterfly bilin-
- binding protein (BBP).
- - Odorant-binding protein (OBP), which binds odorants.
- - Plasma retinol-binding proteins (PRBP).
- - Human pregnancy-associated endometrial alpha-2 globulin.
- - Probasin (PB), a rat prostatic protein.
- - Prostaglandin D synthase (EC 5.3.99.2) (GSH-independent PGD synthetase), a
- lipocalin with enzymatic activity [5].
- - Purpurin, a retinal protein which binds retinol and heparin.
- - Quiescence specific protein p20K from chicken (embryo CH21 protein).
- - Rodent urinary proteins (alpha-2-microglobulin), which may bind pheromones.
- - Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) (p25) (SV-40 induced
- 24p3 protein).
- - Von Ebner's gland protein (VEGP) [10] (also called tear lipocalin), a
- mammalian protein which may be involved in taste recognition.
- - A frog olfactory protein, which may transport odorants.
- - Lizard's epididymal secretory protein IV (LESP IV), which could transport
- small hydrophobic molecules into the epididymal fluid during sperm
- maturation.
-
- There are two small conserved stretches of residues in all these proteins. We
- built a signature pattern around the first which occurs near the end of the
- first beta-barrel.
-
- -Consensus pattern: [DENG]-x-[DENQGSTARK]-x(0,2)-[DENQARK]-[LIVFY]-{CP}-G-{C}-
- W-[FYWLRH]-x-[LIVMTA]
- -Sequences known to belong to this class detected by the pattern: ALL, except
- for rodent alpha-1-acid glycoproteins, kangaroo beta-lactoglobulin, VEGP and
- LESP IV.
- -Other sequence(s) detected in SWISS-PROT: 37.
-
- -Expert(s) to contact by email: Peitsch M.C.
- mcp13936@ggr.co.uk
- Boguski M.S.
- boguski@ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
-
- -Last update: June 1994 / Text revised.
-
- [ 1] Godovac-Zimmermann J.
- Trends Biochem. Sci. 13:64-66(1988).
- [ 2] Ali S., Clark A.J.
- J. Mol. Biol. 199:415-426(1988).
- [ 3] Sawyer L.
- Nature 327:659-659(1987).
- [ 4] Pervaiz S., Brew K.
- FASEB J. 1:209-214(1987).
- [ 5] Peitsch M.C., Boguski M.S.
- Trends Biochem. Sci. 16:363-363(1991).
- [ 6] Peitsch M.C., Boguski M.S.
- New Biol. 2:197-206(1990).
- [ 7] Haefliger J.-A., Peitsch M.C., Jenne D., Tschopp J.
- Mol. Immunol. 28:123-131(1991).
- [ 8] Keen J.N., Caceres I., Eliopoulos E.E., Zagalsky P.F., Findlay J.B.C.
- Eur. J. Biochem. 197:407-417(1991).
- [ 9] Newcomer M.E.
- Structure 1:7-18(1993).
- [10] Schmale H., Holtgreve-Greze H., Christiansen H.
- Nature 343:366-369(1990).
-