Fatty Acid Transport Protein 4 (FATP4)

SLC27A4 encodes a member of a family of fatty acid transport proteins, which are involved in translocation of long-chain fatty acids cross the plasma membrane. This protein is expressed at high levels on the apical side of mature enterocytes in the small intestine, and appears to be the principal fatty acid transporter in enterocytes. Clinical studies suggest this gene as a candidate gene for the insulin resistance syndrome. Furthermore, overexpression of FATP4 in 293 cells facilitated uptake of long chain fatty acids with the same specificity as enterocytes, while reduction of FATP4 expression in primary enterocytes by antisense oligonucleotides inhibited fatty acid uptake by 50%. These results suggested that FATP4 is the principal fatty acid transporter in enterocytes and may constitute a novel target for antiobesity therapy.