Lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 1 (LPCAT1)

Lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 1 (LPCAT1) is an enzyme that catalyzes the reacylation of lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) to form phosphatidylcholine (PC), a major component of cell membranes, as part of the Lands’ cycle for phospholipid remodeling. LPCAT1 is highly expressed in alveolar type II cells of the lung, where it is critical for the synthesis of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine, the principal phospholipid component of pulmonary surfactant. It has broad biological roles in lipid homeostasis and membrane composition, and its overexpression is associated with the progression of several cancers, likely reflecting increased membrane synthesis in rapidly dividing cells. LPCAT1 is calcium-independent and is regulated by a redox-sensitive mechanism. Although no small-molecule drugs specifically target LPCAT1 in clinical use, it remains a promising therapeutic target in pulmonary and oncological diseases due to its critical regulatory role in lipid metabolism.

Other names

LPCAT1Acyl-CoA:lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 1

Drugs targeting LPCAT1 would be expected to modulate the enzyme’s activity in the reacylation of lysophosphatidylcholine to phosphatidylcholine, altering membrane lipid composition or surfactant homeostasis.