CRABP2
CRABP2 (cellular retinoic acid binding protein 2, also written CRABP-II) is a small intracellular protein that carries retinoic acid, a form of vitamin A, from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. It regulates how retinoic acid reaches the nuclear retinoic acid receptors. Browse Assay Genie's current range of CRABP2 research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
CRABP2 transports retinoic acid to the nucleus and regulates the access of retinoic acid to the nuclear retinoic acid receptors. It is described as a cytosol-to-nuclear shuttling protein: it binds retinoic acid in the cytoplasm, facilitates binding to its cognate receptor complex and transfers the ligand into the nucleus. In this way CRABP2 acts as an intracellular link between retinoid availability and receptor-driven transcription.
The CRABP2 gene encodes a member of the retinoic acid binding protein family, which also sits within the lipocalin and cytosolic fatty-acid binding protein family. UniProt places the protein in the calycin superfamily and the fatty-acid binding protein (FABP) family, and HGNC classifies the gene in the fatty acid binding protein family. UniProt records the protein in the cytoplasm, endoplasmic reticulum and nucleus, consistent with its shuttling role. Alternatively spliced transcript variants of the gene have been reported, and they encode the same protein. Orthologous genes are named Crabp2 in both mouse and rat.
CRABP2 is involved in the retinoid signalling pathway. The NCBI Gene summary also notes an association between the gene and increased circulating low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Researchers studying retinoic acid biology, nuclear receptor signalling or lipid-binding proteins may therefore use CRABP2 as a reference point when they examine the CRABP2 gene or the CRABP2 protein in cell and tissue models.
CRABP2 is involved in the retinoid signalling pathway and delivers retinoic acid to nuclear receptors, so it is central to studies of vitamin A signalling.
As a cytosol-to-nuclear shuttling protein, CRABP2 offers a model for how small lipophilic ligands move from the cytoplasm into the nucleus.
CRABP2 regulates retinoic acid access to nuclear retinoic acid receptors, making it relevant to work on ligand delivery and receptor complexes.
The gene is associated with increased circulating low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, linking CRABP2 to research on lipid traits and fatty acid binding proteins.
CRABP2 transports retinoic acid to the nucleus and regulates the access of retinoic acid to the nuclear retinoic acid receptors. It shuttles between the cytosol and nucleus, facilitating retinoic acid binding to its receptor complex and transfer of the ligand into the nucleus.
CRABP2 is also written CRABP-II, and its full name is cellular retinoic acid binding protein 2 (UniProt: cellular retinoic acid-binding protein 2). NCBI Gene reports alternatively spliced transcript variants, but they all encode the same protein, so there is a single protein sequence.
Mouse and rat both carry an orthologous gene named Crabp2. In humans, the NCBI Gene summary associates CRABP2 with increased circulating low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Other retinoid-binding proteins, retinoic acid receptors and fatty acid binding protein family members studied alongside CRABP2.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt P29373; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.