The binding affinity of fatty acid-binding proteins from human, pig and rat liver for different fluorescent fatty acids and other ligands.

1. Two forms of fatty acid-binding proteins (FABPs) were isolated from human, pig and rat liver cytosols by gelfiltration and anion-exchange chromatography. 2. Both forms did not show physicochemical or chemical differences. They had an Mr of about 14.5 kDa for all species. pI Values were 5.8 for both forms of human and pig liver FABP and 6.4 for both forms of rat liver FABP. In contrast to heart FABPs no tryptophan was present in liver FABPs. 3. Liver FABPs show a much higher enhancement of fluorescence at binding of 11-dansylaminoundecanoic acid, 16-anthroyloxy-palmitic acid and 1-pyrene-dodecanoic acid than heart FABPs and additionally a blue shift in excitation and emission wavelengths with the first fatty acid. 4. The bulky side-chain did not affect fatty acid binding since binding constants of liver FABPs were comparable for these fluorescent fatty acids and oleic acid (0.3-0.7 microM). 5. A 1:1 binding stoichiometry was obtained for oleic acid binding with heart and liver FABPs. 6. Liver FABPs have a high binding affinity for C16-C22 saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, palmitoyl-CoA, bromo-substituted fatty acids, POCA, tetradecylglycidic acid and flavaspidic acid. 7. Fatty acid binding could be reduced to less than 50% by arginine modification with 2,3-butadione or by enzymatic degradation of FABPs with trypsin or pronase.