Vitamin E transport, membrane incorporation and cell metabolism: Is alpha-tocopherol in lipid rafts an oar in the lifeboat?

Stéphanie Lemaire-Ewing, Catherine Desrumaux, Dominique Néel, Laurent Lagrost

Journal: Molecular nutrition & food research 2010;54(5):631-40

PMID: 20166147

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Abstract

Vitamin E is composed of closely related compounds, including tocopherols and tocotrienols. Studies of the last decade provide strong support for a specific role of alpha-tocopherol in cell signalling and the regulation of gene expression. It produces significant effects on inflammation, cell proliferation and apoptosis that are not shared by other vitamin E isomers with similar antioxidant properties. The different behaviours of vitamin E isomers might relate, at least in part, to the specific effects they exert at the plasma membrane. alpha-Tocopherol is not randomly distributed throughout the phospholipid bilayer of biological membranes, and as compared with other isomers, it shows a propensity to associate with lipid rafts. Distinct aspects of vitamin E transport and metabolism is discussed with emphasis on the interaction between alpha-tocopherol and lipid rafts and the consequences of these interactions on cell metabolism.

Address: INSERM UMR866, Dijon, France.

DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.200900445

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MeSH Terms: ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 2, ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 3, ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters, Antioxidants, Biological Transport, Cell Membrane, Humans, Intestinal Absorption, LDL-Receptor Related Proteins, Liver, Membrane Microdomains, Peptide Fragments, Protein Precursors, Receptors, LDL, Vitamin E, alpha-Tocopherol