The protein encoded by this gene is a brain fatty acid binding protein. Fatty acid binding proteins (FABPs) are a family of small, highly conserved, cytoplasmic proteins that bind long-chain fatty acids and other hydrophobic ligands. FABPs are thought to play roles in fatty acid uptake, transport, and metabolism.[1]
According to one study, FABP7 binds DHA with the highest affinity among all of the FABPs.[4]
Expression of Fabp7 protein in mouse brains at embryonic day 16 (left) and postnatal day 0 (right). At both stages, Fabp7 is strongly expressed in the ventricular zone and radial glia, where neurogenesis is prominent.
Role in pathology
FABP7 maps onto human chromosome 6q22.31, a schizophrenia linkage region corroborated by a meta-analysis.[5]
As of 2008, two studies have been conducted into FABP7 as a possible risk gene for schizophrenia,[6] with one, that tested for only one SNP, showing negative[7] and another, with seven SNPs,[8] a positive result. The effect of the gene in the latter study was stronger in males. This study also linked FABP7 variation to weak prepulse inhibition in mice; deficit in PPI is an endophenotypic trait observed in schizophrenia patients and their relatives.
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Pu L, Igbavboa U, Wood WG, Roths JB, Kier AB, Spener F, Schroeder F (Aug 1999). "Expression of fatty acid binding proteins is altered in aged mouse brain". Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry. 198 (1–2): 69–78. doi:10.1023/A:1006946027619. PMID10497880.
Balendiran GK, Schnutgen F, Scapin G, Borchers T, Xhong N, Lim K, Godbout R, Spener F, Sacchettini JC (Sep 2000). "Crystal structure and thermodynamic analysis of human brain fatty acid-binding protein". The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 275 (35): 27045–54. doi:10.1074/jbc.M003001200. PMID10854433.
Rademacher M, Zimmerman AW, Rüterjans H, Veerkamp JH, Lücke C (Oct 2002). "Solution structure of fatty acid-binding protein from human brain". Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry. 239 (1–2): 61–8. doi:10.1023/A:1020566909213. PMID12479569.
Wang M, Liu YE, Goldberg ID, Shi YE (Nov 2003). "Induction of mammary gland differentiation in transgenic mice by the fatty acid-binding protein MRG". The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 278 (47): 47319–25. doi:10.1074/jbc.M308131200. PMID12975368.
