A genetic clog in the vitamin A transport machinery.

Zhong, Ming; Sun, Hui · Cell · 2015

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Chou et al. discover a new mode of maternal inheritance by analyzing human mutations in plasma retinol binding protein (RBP). Mechanistically, these mutations simultaneously lower RBP's affinity for vitamin A and greatly increase its affinity for its cell-surface receptor, thus dominantly blocking the transmembrane transport of vitamin A.

Medical subject headings