METHOD TO MODULATE THE FACILITATED UPTAKE OF FREE FATTY ACIDS INTO CELLS BY A PLASMA MEMBRANE FATTY ACID BINDING PROTEIN

摘要

In the following description there is described a previously unreported major 500 A3 hydrophobic cleft in a plasma membrane fatty acid binding peptide that has the appropriate size and configuration to bind free fatty acids (FFA) and other hydrophobic ligands of up to 27 carbons in chain length. By blocking the 401 amino acid long peptide, or the FFA binding site within the peptide, one may modulate the facilitated transport of FFA through the cell membrane, and thus effectively control or treat obesity in a patient undergoing such treatment.