Phosphatidylcholine transfer protein (PCTP)

Phosphatidylcholine transfer protein (PCTP), encoded by the PCTP gene in humans, is a soluble intracellular protein primarily responsible for shuttling phosphatidylcholine between membranes in the cytosol[1][4]. It belongs to the START domain superfamily of lipid transfer proteins, characterized by a specific pocket able to bind a single phosphatidylcholine molecule with high specificity. PCTP interacts with select enzymes (e.g., ACOT13) and transcription factors (e.g., PAX3), modulating fatty acid and glucose metabolism, particularly in metabolically active tissues such as liver and brown adipose tissue[1]. Though proposed functions include roles in bile and surfactant lipid secretion, knockout studies in mice indicate these are not essential in vivo, but suggest important influences on lipid and energy homeostasis. There are no reported human disorders caused by PCTP deficiency, nor are there approved drugs targeting this protein, but it remains of scientific interest for metabolic disease research[1][2][4][7].

Other names

StAR-related lipid transfer domain protein 2 (STARD2)PC-TPPCTP

Not applicable for drugs due to the absence of approved or investigational molecules specifically targeting PCTP. Hypothetically, modulation of PCTP activity could influence intracellular phospholipid shuttling and downstream lipid regulatory pathways, but this remains investigational.