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Related Concept Videos

Structure of Lipids03:38

Structure of Lipids

Lipids include a diverse group of compounds that are largely nonpolar in nature. This is because they are hydrocarbons that include mostly nonpolar carbon-carbon or carbon-hydrogen bonds. Non-polar molecules are hydrophobic (“water fearing”), or insoluble in water. Lipids perform many different functions in a cell. Cells store energy for long-term use in the form of fats. Lipids also provide insulation from the environment for plants and animals. For example, they help keep aquatic birds and...
Structure of Lipids03:38

Structure of Lipids

Lipids include a diverse group of compounds that are largely nonpolar in nature. This is because they are hydrocarbons that include mostly nonpolar carbon-carbon or carbon-hydrogen bonds. Non-polar molecules are hydrophobic (“water fearing”), or insoluble in water. Lipids perform many different functions in a cell. Cells store energy for long-term use in the form of fats. Lipids also provide insulation from the environment for plants and animals. For example, they help keep aquatic birds and...
Structure of Lipids03:38

Structure of Lipids

Lipids include a diverse group of compounds that are largely nonpolar in nature. This is because they are hydrocarbons that include mostly nonpolar carbon-carbon or carbon-hydrogen bonds. Non-polar molecules are hydrophobic (“water fearing”), or insoluble in water. Lipids perform many different functions in a cell. Cells store energy for long-term use in the form of fats. Lipids also provide insulation from the environment for plants and animals. For example, they help keep aquatic birds and...
Lipid-derived Compounds in the Human Body01:31

Lipid-derived Compounds in the Human Body

Fats and lipids are crucial components in the human body. Some lipid-derived compounds, such as fat-soluble vitamins, eicosanoids, lipoproteins, and glycolipids, also play unique roles to support various  biological processes .
Fat-soluble Vitamins
Fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamins A, D, E, and K, are required in minimal quantities, but their deficiencies can lead to severely abnormal physiological conditions. For example, vitamin A deficiency can cause night blindness, dry skin, delayed...
Formation of Lipopolysaccharides01:19

Formation of Lipopolysaccharides

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are crucial components of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, serving both structural and functional roles. It contributes to membrane stability and protects bacteria from host immune responses. LPS is composed of three major regions—lipid A, a core oligosaccharide, and an O antigen. The biosynthesis and assembly of LPS involve a highly coordinated set of enzymatic reactions and transport mechanisms. Additionally, LPS is recognized as an endotoxin, triggering...
Assembly of the Lipid Bilayer in the ER01:28

Assembly of the Lipid Bilayer in the ER

Biological membranes are more than just a barrier separating cell cytoplasm from the outside environment. They are highly dynamic and help maintain the integrity and physiological stability of the cells as well as membrane-bound organelles. Membranes also play vital roles in cell-to-cell and intracellular communication.
A large chunk of any biological membrane is composed of phospholipids. These lipids have a heterogeneous distribution across different subcellular organelles and even between...

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Enrichment of Bacterial Lipoproteins and Preparation of N-terminal Lipopeptides for Structural Determination by Mass Spectrometry
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Tear lipocalin: structure and function.

Darlene A Dartt1

  • 1Schepens Eye Research Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA. Darlene.dartt@schepens.harvard.edu

The Ocular Surface
|July 28, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Tear lipocalin (TLC) is a key tear protein with broad ligand-binding capabilities. Further research is needed to confirm its functions and receptor presence on the ocular surface.

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Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Ophthalmology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Lipocalins are extracellular proteins with diverse recognition properties, including ligand binding, macromolecular complexation, and cell surface receptor interactions.
  • Tear lipocalin (TLC) is a major component of the tear film, characterized by a large ligand-binding cavity for lipophilic molecules and interactions with other tear proteins like lactoferrin and lysozyme.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the known properties and suggested functions of Tear Lipocalin (TLC) in the ocular environment.
  • To highlight the interaction of TLC with its specific receptor, tear lipocalin-interacting membrane receptor (LIMR), and its proposed mechanism of action via endocytosis.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on lipocalins, specifically Tear Lipocalin (TLC).
  • Analysis of TLC's structural features, ligand-binding capabilities, and interactions with macromolecules and cell surface receptors (LIMR).

Main Results:

  • TLC exhibits extensive binding of lipophilic molecules and interacts with tear proteins and the LIMR receptor, which mediates uptake via endocytosis.
  • Suggested functions for TLC include regulating tear viscosity, lipid transport, viral DNA inactivation, iron chelation, and possessing anti-inflammatory properties.

Conclusions:

  • Tear lipocalin (TLC) plays a significant role in the tear film, with multiple proposed functions.
  • Further investigation is required to elucidate the precise functions of TLC and confirm the presence and role of its receptor (LIMR) on the ocular surface.