Interaction of fatty acid binding protein with microsomes: removal of palmitic acid and retinyl esters.

[14C] palmitic acid or [3H] retinyl esters incorporated in microsomal membranes were removed by a cytosolic fraction enriched in fatty acid binding protein. When mouse liver cytosol was fractionated by 70% ammonium sulphate, a precipitate and a soluble fraction were obtained. The soluble fraction containing the fatty acid binding protein was able to remove from microsomal membranes, [14C] palmitic acid or [3H] retinyl esters, whereas the precipitate fraction had no removal capacity. Retinoid analysis indicated that 70% ammonium sulphate soluble fraction was enriched in endogenous retinyl esters with regard to cytosol or 70% ammonium sulphate precipitate fraction.