Biophysical approach to the functional analysis of EgFABP1, a Fatty Acid Binding Protein from Echinococcus granulosus.

JORGE LUIS PÓRFIDO; GABRIELA ALVITE; VALERIA SILVA; GISELA R. FRANCHINI; ADRIANA ESTEVES; BETINA CÓRSICO

Varsovia

Conferencia; 51st International Conference on the Bioscience of Lipids (ICBL).; 2011

ICBL

Two Fatty Acid Binding Proteins (FABPs) have been identified in Echinococcus granulosus: EgFABP1 and EgFABP2. As helminth parasites have a restricted lipid metabolism and must acquire lipids from the host, these proteins are suspected to play an important role in host-parasite interactions. In spite of the vast amount of structural information available regarding this family of proteins, their specific functions have not been established yet. We employed different biophysical techniques in order to analyse EgFABP1 interaction with ligands and membranes. Understanding EgFABPs? binding properties and their interactions with membranes could contribute to determine their relevance in E. granulosus? biology and, more importantly, to the development of therapeutic strategies to control hydatid disease.