Molecular biology of the retinol-binding proteins and their genes]

Retinol-binding proteins (RBPs) are a kind of circulating carrier proteins for serum and cellular retinol and retinol acid, which are lipid-soluble vitamins, and are members of hydrophobic binding protein family. Serum RBPs were synthesized primarily in liver, then was released into blood streams, and then to various tissues. Under the interaction with substances such as retinol, pre-albumin and the receptors of cellular surface, they play important roles in storage, metabolism of VitA and transport of VitA to the target cells. Cellular RBPs play the similar function as serum RBPs in intracell. This review introduces action mechanism, tissue localization and developmental expression of retinol-binding proteins. This review also introduces the structure, chromosome mapping and their relationships with reproductive performance of retinol-binding protein genes.