Isolation and characterization of an unsaturated fatty acid-binding protein from developing chick neural retina.

An unsaturated fatty acid-binding protein has been isolated from the cytosol fraction of developing chick neural retina. It has a molecular weight of approximately 14,800 and specifically binds not only added radiolabeled arachidonic and oleic acids but has also been found to bind unsaturated fatty acids endogenously. This protein was detected in chick neural retina at all stages examined, from 8 to 16 days of development. It is also present in chick heart, brain, and retinal pigmented epithelium-choroid as well as in adult bovine neural retina. It is distinct from both cellular retinol-binding protein and cellular retinoic acid-binding protein on the bases of binding specificity and isoelectric point.