Molecular interactions in the mechanism of action of the brain fatty acid binding (FABP) protein

• Grant number: 14/12141-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2014
• End date: December 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biophysics - Molecular Biophysics
• Principal Investigator: Antonio José da Costa Filho
• Grantee: Bianca Pereira Borba
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Here we propose to study the brain fatty acid biding protein (B-FABP) by means of electron paramagnetic resonance (RPE) and site directed spin labeling. B-FABP is a member of cytosolic low molecular weight proteins that are able of reversibly binding fatty acids. B-FABP differs from other members of that family due to its capacity of biding long-chain polyinsaturated fatty acids, such as docohexanoic acid (DA), which is mainly found in the plasma membrane of cells of the brain tissue. We intend to investigate the interactions between B-FABP and fatty acids as well as the interactions between B-FABP and lipid vesicles in order to gain information regarding the conformational changes occurring during those interactions, especially during the protein docking to the membrane model system.