TTPA : alpha tocopherol transfer protein
Description
The TTPA (alpha tocopherol transfer protein) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 8.
The TTPA gene instructs the body to make the alpha-tocopherol transfer protein (αTTP), which is primarily found in the liver and brain. αTTP manages the distribution of dietary vitamin E (α-tocopherol) to various cells and tissues throughout the body. Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant, safeguarding cells against damage caused by unstable molecules called free radicals. Typically, dietary vitamin E is absorbed in the intestine and transported to the liver within molecules called chylomicrons. Chylomicrons, formed after a meal, carry fat-soluble vitamins (like vitamin E), dietary fats, and cholesterol from the intestine to the liver. In the liver, αTTP transfers vitamin E from chylomicrons to very low-density lipoproteins (VLDLs), which then carry fat, fat-soluble vitamins, and cholesterol from the liver to other tissues. VLDLs are then released into the bloodstream, enabling the delivery of vitamin E to various parts of the body. αTTP is also believed to transport vitamin E to nerve cells (neurons) within the brain.
TTPA protein binds to alpha-tocopherol, which is another name for vitamin E. This binding enhances the transfer of vitamin E across different cell membranes, and it also promotes the release of vitamin E from liver cells. TTPA also interacts with two other molecules: phosphatidylinositol 3,4-bisphosphate and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate. When TTPA binds to these molecules, its shape changes. This change in shape is crucial for the release of the bound alpha-tocopherol.
TTPA is also known as ATTP, AVED, TTP1, alphaTTP.
