Phospholipid transfer proteins in mammalian lung

Proteins that catalyze the transfer of phospholipids between membranes are known to occur in the mammalian lung and may play roles in the pulmonary surfactant system. These roles may include 1) packaging of newly synthesized as well as recycled surfactant phospholipid into lamellar bodies, the intracellular storage form of surfactant phospholipid, 2) extracellular movement of phospholipid between the compartments in the alveolar subphase, and 3) delivery of phospholipid to membrane sites during signal transduction events. The nature and distribution of these proteins are discussed as they relate to the pulmonary surfactant system.