The adipocyte lipid-binding protein at 1.6-Å resolution: Crystal structures of the apoprotein and with bound saturated and unsaturated fatty acids

Crystals of the adipocyte lipid-binding protein which diffract to near atomic resolution have been obtained in Na/K phosphate buffer/precipitant system. The structures of the apo-form and the protein with bound oleic acid and stearic acid have been determined and refined to 1.6-Å resolution with R-factor around 18%. The conformations of the bound fatty acids are nearly the same. In both cases, the carboxylate group of the ligand interacts directly with Arg¹²⁶ and Tyr¹²⁸, indirectly with Arg¹⁰⁶ through a water molecule. The hydrocarbon tail sticks out of the protein surface through a hydrophobic patch. Saturated and unsaturated fatty acids bind in essentially the same conformation. The remaining space of the binding pocket is filled with well ordered water molecules interacting with most of the polar side chains. Comparisons between the holoand apostructures reveal that the hydrophobic patch on the protein surface formed by a helix and several tight turns might serve as a portal for lipid binding. Since the adipocyte lipid-binding protein is phosphorylated at Tyr¹⁹ by the insulin receptor kinase, the position of this side chain has been re-evaluated using the coordinates of the holo-forms. It appears that the position of Tyr¹⁹ does not change significantly upon the binding of either of the fatty acids.