Reaction: phosphatidylcholine + retinol—[cellular-retinol-binding-protein] = 2-acylglycerophosphocholine + retinyl-ester—[cellular-retinol-binding-protein]
Glossary: phosphatidylcholine = lecithin
Other name(s): lecithin—retinol acyltransferase; phosphatidylcholine:retinol-(cellular-retinol-binding-protein) O-acyltransferase; lecithin:retinol acyltransferase; lecithin-retinol acyltransferase; retinyl ester synthase; LRAT; lecithin retinol acyl transferase
Systematic name: phosphatidylcholine:retinol—[cellular-retinol-binding-protein] O-acyltransferase
Comments: A key enzyme in retinoid metabolism, catalysing the transfer of an acyl group from the sn-1 position of phosphatidylcholine to retinol, forming retinyl esters which are then stored. Recognizes the substrate both in free form and when bound to cellular-retinol-binding-protein, but has higher affinity for the bound form. Can also esterify 11-cis-retinol.
Links to other databases: BRENDA, EXPASY, KEGG, Metacyc, PDB, CAS registry number: 117444-03-8
References:
1. MacDonald, P.N. and Ong, D.E. Evidence for a lecithin-retinol acyltransferase activity in the rat small intestine. J. Biol. Chem. 263 (1988) 12478-12482. [PMID: 3410848]
2. Saari, J.C. and Bredberg, D.L. Lecithin:retinol acyltransferase in retinal pigment epithelial microsomes. J. Biol. Chem. 264 (1989) 8636. [PMID: 2722792]
3. Saari, J.C., Bredberg, D.L. and Farrell, D.F. Retinol esterification in bovine retinal pigment epithelium: reversibility of lecithin:retinol acyltransferase. Biochem. J. 291 (1993) 697-700. [PMID: 8489497]
4. Mata, N.L. and Tsin, A.T. Distribution of 11-cis LRAT, 11-cis RD and 11-cis REH in bovine retinal pigment epithelium membranes. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1394 (1998) 16-22. [PMID: 9767084]
5. Ruiz, A., Winston, A., Lim, Y.H., Gilbert, B.A., Rando, R.R. and Bok, D. Molecular and biochemical characterization of lecithin retinol acyltransferase. J. Biol. Chem. 274 (1999) 3834-3841. [PMID: 9920938]