GNPAT : glyceronephosphate O-acyltransferase
Description
The GNPAT (glyceronephosphate O-acyltransferase) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 1.
The GNPAT gene provides instructions for producing glyceronephosphate O-acyltransferase (GNPAT) or dihydroxyacetonephosphate acyltransferase (DHAPAT), an enzyme located within peroxisomes. Peroxisomes are cellular compartments essential for breaking down various substances and producing lipids for digestion and the nervous system. DHAPAT initiates the production of plasmalogens, a type of lipid found in cell membranes throughout the body, particularly abundant in myelin. The exact functions of plasmalogens are not fully understood, but they are suspected to protect cells from oxidative stress, contribute to lipid-protein interactions, facilitate cell signaling, and influence cell membrane fusion.
Dihydroxyacetonephosphate acyltransferase (DHAPAT) is an enzyme responsible for the initial step in plasmalogen synthesis. Plasmalogens are a specialized type of phospholipid distinguished by an alkyl chain connected to the glycerol backbone through a vinyl ether linkage at the sn-1 position. Their unique structure confers distinct physical properties impacting cell signaling and membrane biology.
GNPAT is also known as DAP-AT, DAPAT, DHAPAT, RCDP2.
