Rat liver fatty acid binding protein (L-FABP) is derived from the FABP1 gene. FABPs are small intracellular proteins (~13-14 kDa) with a high degree of tissue specificity that bind long chain fatty acids. They are abundantly present in various cell types and seem to play an important role in the intracellular utilization of fatty acids, transport and metabolism. There are at least nine distinct types of FABP, each showing a specific pattern of tissue expression. Due to its small size, FABP leaks rapidly out of ischemically damaged necrotic cells leading to a rise in serum levels. Ischemically damaged tissues are characterized histologically by absence (or low presence) of FABP facilitating recognition of such areas. L-FABP is localized in the liver, kidney and intestinal epithelium.