ABSTRACT
B. Functions of lipocalins Although the availability of sequence information through protein or gene sequence analysis has enabled rapid of the lipocalin superfamily, progress in the elucidation of the physiological functions of these proteins has been frustratingly slow, This can be largely attributed to the fact that except in a few cases, such as RBP, prostaglandin Dz (PGD2) synthetase (PGDS), MUP, insecticyanin, and crustacycin, natural ligands for many of the members are not known. Identification of the biologically relevant ligands for these proteins is, however, an obvious necessary first step toward elucidating their diverse roles. These putative functions could form the basis of a subfamily classification.
