Details for: GPAT2

Gene ID: 150763

Gene Type:  Protein-coding  - A gene that serves as a template for producing a messenger RNA (mRNA) molecule, which is then translated into a functional protein.

Symbol: GPAT2

Ensembl ID: ENSG00000186281

Description: glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase 2, mitochondrial

Selected Context(s):  Overall

Cell Significance Landscape

Contexts:

Associated with

Significant Cells

Cell Significance Index (CSI) scores for the chosen context(s)

  • vascular associated smooth muscle cell CL0000359
    CSI 3.13
    rCSI 10.14%
    PRS 99.25
  • pericyte CL0000669
    CSI 2.07
    rCSI 5.5%
    PRS 91.46
  • microcirculation associated smooth muscle cell CL0008035
    CSI 2.03
    rCSI 5.88%
    PRS 99.1

Cell ID: Standard Cell Ontology term used for mapping and comparing cells across experiments. Ensures consistency in analyzing cellular functions across tissues.
Fold Change: Represents the ratio of the current Cell Significance Index to the Cell Significance Index Threshold, indicating how much the gene expression has changed compared to a baseline.
Cell Significance Index: Reflects how strongly a gene is expressed in this specific cell.

Cell ID: Standard Cell Ontology term used for mapping and comparing cells across experiments. Ensures consistency in analyzing cellular functions across tissues.
Fold Change: Represents the ratio of the current Cell Significance Index to the Cell Significance Index Threshold, indicating how much the gene expression has changed compared to a baseline.
Cell Significance Index: Reflects how strongly a gene is expressed in this cell type. Calculated using techniques like effect size estimation and bootstrapping for reliability.

Cell ID: Standard Cell Ontology term used for mapping and comparing cells across experiments. Ensures consistency in analyzing cellular functions across tissues.
Fold Change: Represents the ratio of the current Cell Significance Index to the Cell Significance Index Threshold, indicating how much the gene expression has changed compared to a baseline.
Cell Significance Index: Reflects how strongly a gene is expressed in this cell type. Calculated using techniques like effect size estimation and bootstrapping for reliability.
Network Configuration

Explore relationships of the current gene. Select an Interaction Source: 'ONTOLOGY' for shared pathways (GO/Reactome) or 'STRING' for protein-protein interactions. Further refine by selecting context genes and comparing Cell Significance Index (CSI) scores between baseline and target cell types and their specific contexts.

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  • Node Color (Target Cell CSI, relative to current network):
    • Very High
    • High
    • Medium
    • Low
    • Very Low
    • CSI N/A
  • Node Size: Proportional to Target Cell CSI magnitude
  • STRING PPI Edge
  • Shared Pathway Edge (ONTOLOGY)

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Other Information

This section provides additional information about the gene, including a description generated by an AI language model and details about associated proteins.

## Summary **[GPAT2](/details-gene/150763)** (Glycerol-3-Phosphate Acyltransferase 2) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 2 that encodes a key mitochondrial enzyme. Functionally, **[GPAT2](/details-gene/150763)** is an acyltransferase that catalyzes the initial and rate-limiting step in the de novo synthesis of glycerolipids, including phosphatidic acid and triglycerides. Its activity is crucial for pathways such as glycerophospholipid biosynthesis ([R-HSA-1483206](https://reactome.org/content/detail/R-HSA-1483206)) and triglyceride biosynthesis ([R-HSA-75109](https://reactome.org/content/detail/R-HSA-75109)). **Overall**, expression data indicates that **[GPAT2](/details-gene/150763)** is a significant marker for cells integral to the vasculature, with its highest expression and significance observed in [vascular associated smooth muscle cells](/details-cell/CL0000359) and [pericytes](/details-cell/CL0000669), suggesting a specialized role in maintaining vascular structure and metabolic function. ## Cellular Roles and Expression Landscape The expression profile of **[GPAT2](/details-gene/150763)** points to a specialized function within the circulatory system's structural and support cells. **Overall**, the gene shows the highest significance in cell types associated with blood vessel walls and microvasculature. It is a top marker in [vascular associated smooth muscle cell](/details-cell/CL0000359) (CSI: 3.13), [pericyte](/details-cell/CL0000669) (CSI: 2.07), and [microcirculation associated smooth muscle cell](/details-cell/CL0008035) (CSI: 2.03). This distinct expression pattern suggests that **[GPAT2](/details-gene/150763)**-driven lipid metabolism is a particularly important process in these perivascular cell types. In smooth muscle cells and pericytes, which are critical for regulating blood flow, vascular tone, and angiogenesis, the synthesis of glycerolipids is essential for membrane biogenesis, energy storage, and the production of lipid-based signaling molecules. The high significance of **[GPAT2](/details-gene/150763)** in these cells underscores its potential role as a key metabolic workhorse supporting vascular homeostasis. ## Pathways and Molecular Function The functional annotations for **[GPAT2](/details-gene/150763)** solidly place it within the core machinery of lipid metabolism. As an enzyme with glycerol-3-phosphate O-acyltransferase activity ([GO:0004366](https://www.ebi.ac.uk/QuickGO/term/GO:0004366)), it is localized to the mitochondrial outer membrane ([GO:0005741](https://www.ebi.ac.uk/QuickGO/term/GO:0005741)) where it initiates the synthesis of key lipid precursors. Its involvement is central to several interconnected metabolic processes, including: * **Phosphatidic Acid Biosynthesis:** It participates directly in the phosphatidic acid biosynthetic process ([GO:0006654](https://www.ebi.ac.uk/QuickGO/term/GO:0006654)), a critical branch point for the synthesis of all glycerophospholipids and triglycerides. This is a component of the broader glycerophospholipid biosynthesis pathway ([R-HSA-1483206](https://reactome.org/content/detail/R-HSA-1483206)). * **Triglyceride Synthesis:** The gene is also involved in the triglyceride biosynthetic process ([GO:0019432](https://www.ebi.ac.uk/QuickGO/term/GO:0019432)), which is vital for energy storage. * **piRNA Processing:** Interestingly, **[GPAT2](/details-gene/150763)** is also annotated with a role in piRNA processing ([GO:0034587](https://www.ebi.ac.uk/QuickGO/term/GO:0034587)), suggesting a potential secondary function in regulating gene expression through small non-coding RNAs, which may be distinct from its primary metabolic role. The confluence of these functions is consistent with its high expression in metabolically active structural cells like [pericytes](/details-cell/CL0000669) and smooth muscle cells, which require robust lipid synthesis for maintaining cellular integrity and responding to physiological demands. ## Research Directions The specific enrichment of **[GPAT2](/details-gene/150763)** in perivascular cells, coupled with its fundamental role in lipid metabolism, opens up several avenues for future investigation, particularly concerning vascular biology and pathology. **Proposed Hypotheses:** 1. **[GPAT2](/details-gene/150763)**-mediated lipid synthesis in [pericytes](/details-cell/CL0000669) is essential for maintaining the integrity and stability of the blood-brain barrier and other microvascular beds. Its dysregulation or deficiency could be a contributing factor to pathologies characterized by pericyte loss, such as diabetic retinopathy or neurodegenerative diseases. 2. The dual annotation in lipid metabolism and piRNA processing ([GO:0034587](https://www.ebi.ac.uk/QuickGO/term/GO:0034587)) suggests that **[GPAT2](/details-gene/150763)** may link metabolic state to gene regulation in somatic cells. It could be hypothesized that specific lipid products generated by **[GPAT2](/details-gene/150763)** are involved in the localization or function of the piRNA machinery outside of its canonical role in the germline. **Experimental Approach:** To test the first hypothesis regarding the role of **[GPAT2](/details-gene/150763)** in microvascular stability, a targeted experimental approach could be employed. One could utilize a CRISPR-Cas9 system to generate a specific knockout of **[GPAT2](/details-gene/150763)** in cultured primary human [pericytes](/details-cell/CL0000669). The functional consequences could then be evaluated in an in vitro co-culture model with endothelial cells, assessing key parameters such as endothelial tube formation, vessel barrier permeability (e.g., using a transendothelial electrical resistance assay), and pericyte migration. Comprehensive lipidomic analysis of the knockout [pericytes](/details-cell/CL0000669) would further clarify which specific lipid species are depleted and are therefore potentially critical for their supportive function. **Therapeutic Potential:** Given its role as a key enzyme in an essential metabolic pathway, **[GPAT2](/details-gene/150763)** could represent a potential therapeutic target. In diseases characterized by pathological vascular remodeling or fibrosis, where proliferation of [pericytes](/details-cell/CL0000669) and smooth muscle cells is a key driver, targeted **inhibition** of **[GPAT2](/details-gene/150763)** could serve to limit the metabolic resources available for this growth. However, because it is involved in fundamental lipid synthesis, systemic inhibition would likely lead to significant toxicity. Therefore, any therapeutic strategy would require highly targeted delivery (e.g., via antibody-drug conjugates or lipid nanoparticles) to the specific cell types driving the pathology in the vessel wall.

Genular Protein ID: 3336424815

Symbol: GPAT2_HUMAN

Name: N/A

UniProtKB Accession Codes:

Q6NUI2 Q6P2E4 Q6ZNI3 Q6ZNI5 Q6ZWJ4

Database IDs:

AGR 1 AlphaFoldDB 1 Antibodypedia 1 BRENDA 1 Bgee 1 BioGRID 1 BioGRID-ORCS 1 BioMuta 1 CCDS 3 CDD 1 CTD 1 ChEBI 20 DMDM 1 DNASU 1 DisGeNET 1 EC 2 EMBL 4 Ensembl 4 ExpressionAtlas 1 GO 13 GeneCards 1 GeneTree 1 GenomeRNAi 1 HGNC 1 HPA 1 InParanoid 1 IntAct 1 InterPro 4 KEGG 1 MANE-Select 1 MIM 1 MassIVE 1 NCBI Taxonomy 1 OMA 1 OpenTargets 1 OrthoDB 1 PANTHER 2 PRO 1 PathwayCommons 1 PaxDb 1 PeptideAtlas 1 Pfam 1 PharmGKB 1 Pharos 1 PhosphoSitePlus 1 PhylomeDB 1 Proteomes 1 ProteomicsDB 4 RNAct 1 Reactome 2 RefSeq 8 Rhea 10 SMART 1 SMR 1 STRING 1 SUPFAM 1 TreeFam 1 UCSC 1 UniPathway 1 VEuPathDB 1 eggNOG 1 iPTMnet 1 jPOST 1 neXtProt 1

Citations:

PubMed ID: 14702039

Title: Complete sequencing and characterization of 21,243 full-length human cDNAs.

PubMed ID: 14702039

DOI: 10.1038/ng1285

PubMed ID: 15489334

Title: The status, quality, and expansion of the NIH full-length cDNA project: the Mammalian Gene Collection (MGC).

PubMed ID: 15489334

DOI: 10.1101/gr.2596504

Sequence Information:

  • Length: 795
  • Mass: 87835
  • Checksum: EE8E387A87A9EE21
  • Sequence:
    • MATMLEGRCQ TQPRSSPSGR EASLWSSGFG MKLEAVTPFL GKYRPFVGRC CQTCTPKSWE 
SLFHRSITDL GFCNVILVKE ENTRFRGWLV RRLCYFLWSL EQHIPPCQDV PQKIMESTGV 
QNLLSGRVPG GTGEGQVPDL VKKEVQRILG HIQAPPRPFL VRLFSWALLR FLNCLFLNVQ 
LHKGQMKMVQ KAAQAGLPLV LLSTHKTLLD GILLPFMLLS QGLGVLRVAW DSRACSPALR 
ALLRKLGGLF LPPEASLSLD SSEGLLARAV VQAVIEQLLV SGQPLLIFLE EPPGALGPRL 
SALGQAWVGF VVQAVQVGIV PDALLVPVAV TYDLVPDAPC DIDHASAPLG LWTGALAVLR 
SLWSRWGCSH RICSRVHLAQ PFSLQEYIVS ARSCWGGRQT LEQLLQPIVL GQCTAVPDTE 
KEQEWTPITG PLLALKEEDQ LLVRRLSCHV LSASVGSSAV MSTAIMATLL LFKHQKLLGE 
FSWLTEEILL RGFDVGFSGQ LRSLLQHSLS LLRAHVALLR IRQGDLLVVP QPGPGLTHLA 
QLSAELLPVF LSEAVGACAV RGLLAGRVPP QGPWELQGIL LLSQNELYRQ ILLLMHLLPQ 
DLLLLKPCQS SYCYCQEVLD RLIQCGLLVA EETPGSRPAC DTGRQRLSRK LLWKPSGDFT 
DSDSDDFGEA DGRYFRLSQQ SHCPDFFLFL CRLLSPLLKA FAQAAAFLRQ GQLPDTELGY 
TEQLFQFLQA TAQEEGIFEC ADPKLAISAV WTFRDLGVLQ QTPSPAGPRL HLSPTFASLD 
NQEKLEQFIR QFICS

Genular Protein ID: 3321421529

Symbol: B4DNZ9_HUMAN

Name: N/A

UniProtKB Accession Codes:

B4DNZ9

Database IDs:

ARBA 2 AlphaFoldDB 1 BioGRID-ORCS 1 CTD 1 DNASU 1 DisGeNET 1 EMBL 2 GO 3 InterPro 2 NCBI Taxonomy 1 OrthoDB 1 PANTHER 2 PeptideAtlas 1 Pfam 2 RefSeq 1 SAM 1

Sequence Information:

  • Length: 724
  • Mass: 80383
  • Checksum: CF92274091306DFF
  • Sequence:
    • MATMLEGRCQ TQPRSSPSGR EASLWSSGFG MKLEAVTPFL GKYRPFVGRC CQTCTPKSWE 
SLFHRSITDL GFCNVILVKE ENTRFRGWLV RRLCYFLWSL EQHIPPCQDV PQKIMESTGV 
QNLLSGRVPG GTGEGQVPDL VKKEVQRILG HIQAPPRPFL VRLFSWALLR FLNCLFLNVQ 
LHKGQMKMVQ KAAQAGLPLV LLSTHKTLLD GILLPFMLLS QGLGVLRVAW DSRACSPALR 
ALLRKLGGLF LPPEASLSLD SSEGLLARAV VQAASAPLGL WTGALAVLRS LWSRWGCSHR 
ICSRVHLAQP FSLQEYIVSA RSCWGGRQTL EQLLQPIVLG QCTAVPDTEK EQEWTPITGP 
LLALKEEDQL LVRRLSCHVL SASVGSSAVM STAIMATLLL FKHQKLLGEF SWLTEEILLR 
GFDVGFSGQL RSLLQHSLSL LRAHVALLRI RQGDLLVVPQ PGPGLTHLAQ LSAELLPVFL 
SEAVGACAVR GLLAGRVPPQ GPWELQGILL LSQNELYRQI LLLMHLLPQD LLLLKPCQSS 
YCYCQEVLDR LIQCGLLVAE ETPGSRPACD TGRQRLSRKL LWKPSGDFTD SDSDDFGEAD 
GRYFRLSQQS HCPDFFLFLC RLLSPLLKAF AQAAAFLRQG QLPDTELGYA EQLFQFLQAT 
AQEEGIFECA DPKLAISAVW TFRDLGVLQQ TPSPAGPRLH LSPTFASLDN QEKLEQFIRQ 
FICS

Genular Protein ID: 3140179909

Symbol: E9PE95_HUMAN

Name: N/A

UniProtKB Accession Codes:

E9PE95

Database IDs:

ARBA 2 AlphaFoldDB 1 Antibodypedia 1 Bgee 1 BioGRID-ORCS 1 CTD 1 DNASU 1 DisGeNET 1 EMBL 1 Ensembl 2 ExpressionAtlas 1 GO 3 GeneTree 1 HGNC 1 HOGENOM 1 InterPro 2 MassIVE 1 NCBI Taxonomy 1 OrthoDB 1 PANTHER 2 PeptideAtlas 2 Pfam 2 Proteomes 2 ProteomicsDB 2 RefSeq 1 SAM 1 SMR 1 UCSC 1 VEuPathDB 1

Citations:

PubMed ID: 11237011

Title: Initial sequencing and analysis of the human genome.

PubMed ID: 11237011

DOI: 10.1038/35057062

PubMed ID: 15496913

Title: Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome.

PubMed ID: 15496913

DOI: 10.1038/nature03001

PubMed ID: 15815621

Title: Generation and annotation of the DNA sequences of human chromosomes 2 and 4.

PubMed ID: 15815621

DOI: 10.1038/nature03466

Sequence Information:

  • Length: 724
  • Mass: 80413
  • Checksum: CF92375190207CFE
  • Sequence:
    • MATMLEGRCQ TQPRSSPSGR EASLWSSGFG MKLEAVTPFL GKYRPFVGRC CQTCTPKSWE 
SLFHRSITDL GFCNVILVKE ENTRFRGWLV RRLCYFLWSL EQHIPPCQDV PQKIMESTGV 
QNLLSGRVPG GTGEGQVPDL VKKEVQRILG HIQAPPRPFL VRLFSWALLR FLNCLFLNVQ 
LHKGQMKMVQ KAAQAGLPLV LLSTHKTLLD GILLPFMLLS QGLGVLRVAW DSRACSPALR 
ALLRKLGGLF LPPEASLSLD SSEGLLARAV VQAASAPLGL WTGALAVLRS LWSRWGCSHR 
ICSRVHLAQP FSLQEYIVSA RSCWGGRQTL EQLLQPIVLG QCTAVPDTEK EQEWTPITGP 
LLALKEEDQL LVRRLSCHVL SASVGSSAVM STAIMATLLL FKHQKLLGEF SWLTEEILLR 
GFDVGFSGQL RSLLQHSLSL LRAHVALLRI RQGDLLVVPQ PGPGLTHLAQ LSAELLPVFL 
SEAVGACAVR GLLAGRVPPQ GPWELQGILL LSQNELYRQI LLLMHLLPQD LLLLKPCQSS 
YCYCQEVLDR LIQCGLLVAE ETPGSRPACD TGRQRLSRKL LWKPSGDFTD SDSDDFGEAD 
GRYFRLSQQS HCPDFFLFLC RLLSPLLKAF AQAAAFLRQG QLPDTELGYT EQLFQFLQAT 
AQEEGIFECA DPKLAISAVW TFRDLGVLQQ TPSPAGPRLH LSPTFASLDN QEKLEQFIRQ 
FICS