Effects of D-myo-inositol on the transfer function of phosphatidyl linositol transfer protein alpha

The lipid metabolite D‐myo‐inositol‐1‐phosphate is shown to increase the phospholipid transfer activity of phosphatidylinositol transfer protein α from liposomal and liver microsomal membranes. Dose‐response curves indicated substantial enhancements of transfer in the low mM range that upon normalization were independent of membrane composition or the identity of the transferred phospholipid. The unnormalized effect is potentiated by anionic membrane surface charge and substantial membrane phosphatidylethanolamine content consistent with alterations of the protein's membrane binding affinity and alterations of surface electrostatic interactions as contributing factors.