Fatty acid transport protein 1 (FATP1) and Cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36)-mediated fatty acid transport pathway (FATP1/CD36 pathway)

The Fatty acid transport protein 1 (FATP1) and Cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36)-mediated fatty acid transport pathway is a specialized system for the uptake of long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs) into high-energy-demand tissues like brown adipose tissue (BAT) and skeletal muscle (UniProt: Q6PCB7, P16671). FATP1, a member of the SLC27 family, and CD36, a scavenger receptor, function as gatekeepers that facilitate the movement of fatty acids across the plasma membrane (PubMed: 24606900). This process is highly dynamic and is regulated by hormonal signals such as insulin and metabolic triggers like muscle contraction or cold exposure (PubMed: 15677334). In brown adipose tissue, the pathway is essential for providing the lipid fuel required for non-shivering thermogenesis, while in skeletal muscle, it supports mitochondrial beta-oxidation (PubMed: 24606900). Dysregulation of this pathway is a hallmark of metabolic diseases, where impaired fatty acid flux contributes to insulin resistance, obesity, and type 2 diabetes (PubMed: 11733223). Therapeutic targeting of these transporters aims to restore metabolic balance, with drugs like thiazolidinediones modulating CD36 expression to improve insulin sensitivity. However, pharmacological intervention must be carefully managed to avoid unintended consequences such as ectopic lipid accumulation in non-target tissues.

Other names

SLC27A1/CD36 pathwayFatty acid translocase/Fatty acid transport protein 1 pathwayLCFA transport pathway in brown adipose tissue and skeletal muscle

Facilitation of long-chain fatty acid transport across the plasma membrane into metabolically active tissues via protein-mediated translocation and activation.