lipocalin-1, -3, -4, -13 and similar proteins; Lipocalin-1 (LCN1, also known as tear lipocalin, von ebner's gland protein, or tear specific prealbumin), the main lipid carrier in human tears, is critical to functions involving lipids in protection of the ocular surface. Its large ligand pocket accommodates a range of ligands including alkyl alcohols, glycolipids, phospholipids, cholesterol, steroids, and siderophores. Lipocalin-3 (LCN3, also known as vomeronasal secretory protein 1) and lipocalin-4 (LCN4, also known as vomeronasal secretory protein 2) are involved in transport of lipophilic molecules, and are possibly pheromone-carriers. Lipocalin-13 (LCN13, also known as odorant binding protein 2A) may bind and transport small hydrophobic volatile molecules with a higher affinity for aldehydes and large fatty acids. Another member of this family is late lactation protein B (LLPB), a milk protein produced during the late phase of lactation, which may be involved in transporting a small ligand released during the hydrolysis of milk fat. This group belongs to the lipocalin/cytosolic fatty-acid binding protein family which have a large beta-barrel ligand-binding cavity. Lipocalins are mainly low molecular weight extracellular proteins that bind principally small hydrophobic ligands, and form covalent or non-covalent complexes with soluble macromolecules, as well as membrane bound-receptors. They participate in processes such as ligand transport, modulation of cell growth and metabolism, regulation of immune response, smell reception, tissue development and animal behavior. Cytosolic fatty-acid binding proteins, also bind hydrophobic ligands in a non-covalent, reversible manner, and have been implicated in intracellular uptake, transport and storage of hydrophobic ligands, regulation of lipid metabolism and sequestration of excess toxic fatty acids, as well as in signaling, gene expression, inflammation, cell growth and proliferation, and cancer development.

                        10        20        30        40        50        60        70        80
                ....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|
gi 6754516   28 EEDKLSGVWFIKATVSQRREVEGE-TLVAFPIKFTCPEEGTLELRHTLASKGECINVGIRLQRTEEPGQYSAFWGHTLFY 106
Cdd:cd19414   1 EEEDVSGTWYLKAMVVDKEFPEKRrPRKVSPVTVTALEGGNLEAKFTFMINGRCEEVKIVLEKTDEPGKYTAFSGKKVVY 80

                        90       100       110       120       130       140
                ....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*..
gi 6754516  107 IYDLPVKDHYIIYCESHPFQKISQFGYLIGKYPEENQDTLEVFKEFIQHKGFLQEKIGVPEQRDRCI 173
Cdd:cd19414  81 IQETSVKDHYILYCEGELHGMTFRMAKLVGRDPEENPEALEEFKKFVQRKGLNEENIVIPEQSETCV 147

lipocalin-1, -3, -4, -13 and similar proteins; Lipocalin-1 (LCN1, also known as tear lipocalin, von ebner's gland protein, or tear specific prealbumin), the main lipid carrier in human tears, is critical to functions involving lipids in protection of the ocular surface. Its large ligand pocket accommodates a range of ligands including alkyl alcohols, glycolipids, phospholipids, cholesterol, steroids, and siderophores. Lipocalin-3 (LCN3, also known as vomeronasal secretory protein 1) and lipocalin-4 (LCN4, also known as vomeronasal secretory protein 2) are involved in transport of lipophilic molecules, and are possibly pheromone-carriers. Lipocalin-13 (LCN13, also known as odorant binding protein 2A) may bind and transport small hydrophobic volatile molecules with a higher affinity for aldehydes and large fatty acids. Another member of this family is late lactation protein B (LLPB), a milk protein produced during the late phase of lactation, which may be involved in transporting a small ligand released during the hydrolysis of milk fat. This group belongs to the lipocalin/cytosolic fatty-acid binding protein family which have a large beta-barrel ligand-binding cavity. Lipocalins are mainly low molecular weight extracellular proteins that bind principally small hydrophobic ligands, and form covalent or non-covalent complexes with soluble macromolecules, as well as membrane bound-receptors. They participate in processes such as ligand transport, modulation of cell growth and metabolism, regulation of immune response, smell reception, tissue development and animal behavior. Cytosolic fatty-acid binding proteins, also bind hydrophobic ligands in a non-covalent, reversible manner, and have been implicated in intracellular uptake, transport and storage of hydrophobic ligands, regulation of lipid metabolism and sequestration of excess toxic fatty acids, as well as in signaling, gene expression, inflammation, cell growth and proliferation, and cancer development.

                        10        20        30        40        50        60        70        80
                ....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|
gi 6754516   28 EEDKLSGVWFIKATVSQRREVEGE-TLVAFPIKFTCPEEGTLELRHTLASKGECINVGIRLQRTEEPGQYSAFWGHTLFY 106
Cdd:cd19414   1 EEEDVSGTWYLKAMVVDKEFPEKRrPRKVSPVTVTALEGGNLEAKFTFMINGRCEEVKIVLEKTDEPGKYTAFSGKKVVY 80

                        90       100       110       120       130       140
                ....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*..
gi 6754516  107 IYDLPVKDHYIIYCESHPFQKISQFGYLIGKYPEENQDTLEVFKEFIQHKGFLQEKIGVPEQRDRCI 173
Cdd:cd19414  81 IQETSVKDHYILYCEGELHGMTFRMAKLVGRDPEENPEALEEFKKFVQRKGLNEENIVIPEQSETCV 147

lipocalin-1, -3, -4, -13 and similar proteins; Lipocalin-1 (LCN1, also known as tear lipocalin, von ebner's gland protein, or tear specific prealbumin), the main lipid carrier in human tears, is critical to functions involving lipids in protection of the ocular surface. Its large ligand pocket accommodates a range of ligands including alkyl alcohols, glycolipids, phospholipids, cholesterol, steroids, and siderophores. Lipocalin-3 (LCN3, also known as vomeronasal secretory protein 1) and lipocalin-4 (LCN4, also known as vomeronasal secretory protein 2) are involved in transport of lipophilic molecules, and are possibly pheromone-carriers. Lipocalin-13 (LCN13, also known as odorant binding protein 2A) may bind and transport small hydrophobic volatile molecules with a higher affinity for aldehydes and large fatty acids. Another member of this family is late lactation protein B (LLPB), a milk protein produced during the late phase of lactation, which may be involved in transporting a small ligand released during the hydrolysis of milk fat. This group belongs to the lipocalin/cytosolic fatty-acid binding protein family which have a large beta-barrel ligand-binding cavity. Lipocalins are mainly low molecular weight extracellular proteins that bind principally small hydrophobic ligands, and form covalent or non-covalent complexes with soluble macromolecules, as well as membrane bound-receptors. They participate in processes such as ligand transport, modulation of cell growth and metabolism, regulation of immune response, smell reception, tissue development and animal behavior. Cytosolic fatty-acid binding proteins, also bind hydrophobic ligands in a non-covalent, reversible manner, and have been implicated in intracellular uptake, transport and storage of hydrophobic ligands, regulation of lipid metabolism and sequestration of excess toxic fatty acids, as well as in signaling, gene expression, inflammation, cell growth and proliferation, and cancer development.

                        10        20        30        40        50        60        70        80
                ....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|
gi 6754516   28 EEDKLSGVWFIKATVSQRREVEGE-TLVAFPIKFTCPEEGTLELRHTLASKGECINVGIRLQRTEEPGQYSAFWGHTLFY 106
Cdd:cd19414   1 EEEDVSGTWYLKAMVVDKEFPEKRrPRKVSPVTVTALEGGNLEAKFTFMINGRCEEVKIVLEKTDEPGKYTAFSGKKVVY 80

                        90       100       110       120       130       140
                ....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*..
gi 6754516  107 IYDLPVKDHYIIYCESHPFQKISQFGYLIGKYPEENQDTLEVFKEFIQHKGFLQEKIGVPEQRDRCI 173
Cdd:cd19414  81 IQETSVKDHYILYCEGELHGMTFRMAKLVGRDPEENPEALEEFKKFVQRKGLNEENIVIPEQSETCV 147

lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase; Lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (L-PGDS; EC:5.3.99.2) is a secreted enzyme and the second most abundant protein in human cerebrospinal fluid. L-PGDS acts as both, an enzyme and as a lipid transporter, converting prostaglandin H2 to prostaglandin D2 and serving as a carrier for hydrophobic ligands including retinoids, hemoglobin metabolites, thyroid hormones, gangliosides, and fatty acids. L-PGDS belongs to the lipocalin/cytosolic fatty-acid binding protein family which has a large beta-barrel ligand-binding cavity. Lipocalins are mainly low molecular weight extracellular proteins that bind principally small hydrophobic ligands, and form covalent or non-covalent complexes with soluble macromolecules, as well as membrane bound-receptors. They participate in processes such as ligand transport, modulation of cell growth and metabolism, regulation of immune response, smell reception, tissue development and animal behavior. Cytosolic fatty-acid binding proteins, also bind hydrophobic ligands in a non-covalent, reversible manner, and have been implicated in intracellular uptake, transport and storage of hydrophobic ligands, regulation of lipid metabolism and sequestration of excess toxic fatty acids, as well as in signaling, gene expression, inflammation, cell growth and proliferation, and cancer development.

                        10        20        30        40        50        60        70        80
                ....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|
gi 6754516   64 EEGTLELRHTLASKGECINVGIRLQRTEEPGQY---SAFWGHTlfyiYDLPVKD---------HYIIYCESHPFQKISqf 131
Cdd:cd19419  44 TDGNLNLTMTFLKKNGCETRTYLYEKTEQPGRFtykSPRWGSD----HDVRVVEtnydeyalvHTIKTKGNEEFTMVT-- 117

                        90       100       110       120
                ....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|...
gi 6754516  132 gyLIGKYPEENQDTLEVFKEFIQHKGFLQEKIGVPEQRDRCIP 174
Cdd:cd19419 118 --LYSRTQTLRPELKEKFRQFAKAQGFTEENIVTLPQTDECPP 158

major urinary proteins (MUPs) and similar proteins; Mouse urine contains major urinary proteins (MUPs) which bind low molecular weight hydrophobic organic compounds such as urinary volatile pheromones such as the male-specific 2-sec-butyl-4,5-dihydrothiazole (SB2HT) which hastens puberty in female mice. The association between MUPs and these volatiles slows the release of the volatiles into the air from urine marks. MUPs may also act as pheromones themselves. MUPs, expressed in the nasal and vomeronasal mucosa, may be important for delivering urinary volatiles to receptors in the vomeronasal organ. This group includes MUPs encoded by central genes in the MUP cluster, as well as those encoded by peripheral genes such as Darcin/Mup20 which binds most of the male pheromone SB2HT in urine and was the first MUP shown to have male pheromonal activity in its own right. This group includes rat MUPs (also called alpha-2U globulins) and other lipocalins such as major horse allergen Equ c 1 and boar salivary lipocalin, a pheromone-binding protein specifically expressed in the submaxillary glands of the boar. It belongs to the lipocalin/cytosolic fatty-acid binding protein family which have a large beta-barrel ligand-binding cavity. Lipocalins are mainly low molecular weight extracellular proteins that bind principally small hydrophobic ligands, and form covalent or non-covalent complexes with soluble macromolecules, as well as membrane bound-receptors. They participate in processes such as ligand transport, modulation of cell growth and metabolism, regulation of immune response, smell reception, tissue development and animal behavior. Cytosolic fatty-acid binding proteins, also bind hydrophobic ligands in a non-covalent, reversible manner, and have been implicated in intracellular uptake, transport and storage of hydrophobic ligands, regulation of lipid metabolism and sequestration of excess toxic fatty acids, as well as in signaling, gene expression, inflammation, cell growth and proliferation, and cancer development.

                        10        20        30        40        50        60        70        80
                ....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|
gi 6754516   31 KLSGVWFIKATVSQRREV--EGETLVAFpIKFTCPEEGTLELRHTLASKGECINVGIRLQRTEEPGQYS-AFWGHTLFYI 107
Cdd:cd19428  10 KINGEWYSILLASDKREKieENGSMRVF-VEHIHVLENSLAFKFHTKVNGECTELNLVADKTEKAGEYSvTYDGYNTFTI 88

                        90       100       110       120       130       140
                ....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*....|....*.
gi 6754516  108 YDLPVKDHYIIYCESHPFQKISQFGYLIGKYPEENQDTLEVFKEFIQHKGFLQEKIGVPEQRDRCI 173
Cdd:cd19428  89 LETDYDNYIMFHLINFKNGETFQLMELYGREPDVSSDIKERFVKLCEEHGIIKENIIDLTKTDRCL 154