SLC27 family of fatty acid transporters (version 2019.4) in the IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology Database

Abstract

Fatty acid transporter proteins (FATPs) are a family (SLC27) of six transporters (FATP1-6). They have at least one, and possibly six [4, 11], transmembrane segments, and are predicted on the basis of structural similarities to form dimers. SLC27 members have several structural domains: integral membrane associated domain, peripheral membrane associated domain, FATP signature, intracellular AMP binding motif, dimerization domain, lipocalin motif, and an ER localization domain (identified in FATP4 only) [2, 8, 9]. These transporters are unusual in that they appear to express intrinsic very long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase (EC 6.2.1.- , EC 6.2.1.7) enzyme activity. Within the cell, these transporters may associate with plasma and peroxisomal membranes. FATP1-4 and -6 transport long- and very long-chain fatty acids, while FATP5 transports long-chain fatty acids as well as bile acids [7, 11].