B-FABP could be involved in the transport of a so far unknown hydrophobic ligand with potential morphogenic activity during CNS development. It is required for the establishment of the radial glial fiber system in developing brain, a system that is necessary for the migration of immature neurons to establish cortical layers (By similarity).
Astrocytes and endothelial cells, two major components of the blood brain barrier, are the major contributors to the transportation of PUFAs from the circulation to brain. There are four classes of lipid transportation proteins involved in lipid synthesis and transportation in adult brain, including fatty acid translocase (FAT/CD36), caveolin-1, fatty acid binding proteins (FABPs) long chain acyl-coA synthase (ACS) and fatty acid transportation proteins (FATPs).
Here we demonstrate that neuronal induction of radial glia formation is the result of sequential signaling through notch1 and erbb receptors. First, notch1 activation by neuronal contact induces the glial expression of the brain lipid binding protein (blbp) and erbb2 genes.