Mechanism of pH-induced release of retinol from retinol-binding protein

A hypothesis is proposed explaining the mechanism of pH-induced release of retinol from retinol-binding protein (RBP). A number of conservative positively charged side chains located on the retinol-binding face of the RBP molecule are involved in salt bridges with conservative negatively charged groups. At low pH these salt bridges are broken and the retinol-binding face of RBP holds from 8 to 12 positively charged groups, which can ensure a proper orientation of the RBP molecule relative to a negatively charged membrane, facilitating the release of retinol. The disruption of salt bridges and the electrostatic repulsion of positive charges can soften the structure of the molecule near the entrance to the retinol-binding pocket, which can trigger both the release of retinol and the transition of RBP to the molten globule state.