From Proteopedia

Trichosurin : a Possum Milk Whey Lipocalin Protein

Trichosurin is one of the three predominant lipocalins found in the milk of the brushtail possum Trichosurus vulpecula. The lipocalins are a large family of proteins that diverse in sequence but are structurally homologous. They bind and transport small hydrophobic molecules in a central hydrophobic pocket. The lipocalin family is defined by a common fold : an eight-stranded anti-parallel β-barrel with variable loop regions flanking and enclosing the top and bottom of the barrel, to form a hydrophobic pocket.

Fonction

In the lipocalin family, the internal topology of the hydrophobic pocket is a key factor to understand the type and the selectivity of binding. In fact, the access to the binding pocket is controlled by residues forming a loop between the β-strands at one end of the lipocalin β-barrel. Thus, the function of trichosurin is critical in metatherian lactation. But for the moment, the biochemical and biological functions of the trichosurin are not fully understood. Trichosurin may have a transporter activity for small molecules (http://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/Q29147).

Structural highlights

Forms a homodimer with four subunits.

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References