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

• Published in: Molecular nutrition & food research 2010-05, Vol.54 (5), p.631-640
• Main Authors: Lemaire-Ewing, Stéphanie, Desrumaux, Catherine, Néel, Dominique, Lagrost, Laurent
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: alpha-Tocopherol - metabolism; Antioxidant; Antioxidants - metabolism; ATP-Binding Cassette Sub-Family B Member 2; ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters - metabolism; ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 3; Biological Transport; Cell death; Cell Membrane - metabolism; Food and Nutrition; Humans; Intestinal Absorption; LDL-Receptor Related Proteins - metabolism; Life Sciences; Lipid raft; Liver - metabolism; Liver - secretion; Membrane Microdomains - metabolism; Peptide Fragments - metabolism; Protein Precursors - metabolism; Receptors, LDL - metabolism; Signal transduction; Vitamin E - metabolism; α-Tocopherol
• ISSN: 1613-4125; 1613-4133
• DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.200900445

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 α-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. α-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 α-tocopherol and lipid rafts and the consequences of these interactions on cell metabolism.