Obp2a, an odorant-binding protein, has diverse functions. It may be involved in lipid-related processes as it can bind and export fatty acids in yeast cells [4]. In the skin, it protects epidermal keratinocytes against cytotoxic small hydrophobic molecules and regulates epidermal barrier function [2]. It also seems to play a role in the olfactory system of locusts, being co-localized with IR8a in sensilla chaetica on the palps and involved in aldehyde detection [3].

In prostate cancer, tumor-derived OBP2A promotes castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Knockdown of OBP2A significantly inhibits CRPC and metastatic CRPC development, and treatment with its binding ligand α-pinene suppresses CRPC development [1]. In a three-dimensional epidermal equivalent model, silencing of OBP2A impairs epidermal barrier function, disrupts keratinocyte lipid metabolism, and induces endoplasmic reticulum stress [2].

In summary, Obp2a has crucial functions in protecting the skin from harmful molecules and in the development of castration-resistant prostate cancer. Gene knockdown models in both cancer cells and skin-equivalent models have been valuable in revealing these functions, highlighting its significance in skin-related and cancer-related biological processes.

References:

1. Jeong, Ji-Hak, Zhong, Shangwei, Li, Fuzhuo, Dhillon, Jasreman, Luo, Jun-Li. 2022. Tumor-derived OBP2A promotes prostate cancer castration resistance. In The Journal of experimental medicine, 220, . doi:10.1084/jem.20211546. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36547668/

2. Nakanishi, Shinobu, Hasegawa, Tatsuya, Maeno, Katsuyuki, Motoyama, Akira, Denda, Mitsuhiro. 2024. OBP2A regulates epidermal barrier function and protects against cytotoxic small hydrophobic molecules. In iScience, 27, 111093. doi:10.1016/j.isci.2024.111093. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39502293/

3. Zhang, Liwei, Li, Hongwei, Zhang, Long. 2017. Two Olfactory Pathways to Detect Aldehydes on Locust Mouthpart. In International journal of biological sciences, 13, 759-771. doi:10.7150/ijbs.19820. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28656001/

4. Ekim Kocabey, Aslihan, Schneiter, Roger. 2024. Human lipocalins bind and export fatty acids through the secretory pathway of yeast cells. In Frontiers in microbiology, 14, 1309024. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2023.1309024. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38328584/