FABP7

Description

The FABP7 (fatty acid binding protein 7) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 6.

FABP7 (also known as brain lipid binding protein, BLBP) is a human gene that encodes a brain fatty acid binding protein. FABPs are a family of small, highly conserved, cytoplasmic proteins that bind long-chain fatty acids and other hydrophobic ligands. FABPs are believed to play roles in fatty acid uptake, transport, and metabolism.

FABP7 is expressed in radial glia during development by the activation of Notch receptors. Reelin has been shown to induce FABP7 expression in neural progenitor cells through Notch-1 activation.

According to one study, FABP7 binds DHA with the highest affinity among all FABPs.

FABP7 maps onto human chromosome 6q22.31, a schizophrenia linkage region corroborated by a meta-analysis. As of 2008, two studies have been conducted investigating FABP7 as a possible risk gene for schizophrenia. One study, testing for only one SNP, showed a negative result, while another study, with seven SNPs, showed a positive result. The effect of the gene in the latter study was stronger in males.

FABP7 is also known as B-FABP, BLBP, FABPB, MRG.

Associated Diseases

• breast cancer
• schizophrenia
• hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin-sickle cell disease syndrome
• glioblastoma
• alpha thalassemia-intellectual disability syndrome type 1
• alpha-thalassemia-myelodysplastic syndrome
• nonpapillary renal cell carcinoma
• primary familial polycythemia due to EPO receptor mutation
• delta-beta-thalassemia
• hemoglobin D disease