Lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 2 (LPCAT2)

Lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 2 (LPCAT2) is an enzyme belonging to the lysophospholipid acyltransferase family involved in the remodeling of cell membranes through glycerophospholipid metabolism and the biosynthesis of platelet-activating factor (PAF)[2][1]. LPCAT2 catalyzes the acylation of lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) to generate phosphatidylcholine (PC), and can also convert 1-acyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphate (lysophosphatidic acid/LPA) into phosphatidic acid (PA)[2]. In inflammatory cells, LPCAT2’s activity is enhanced by acute inflammatory stimuli, shifting its function from mainly acyltransferase under resting conditions to increasing acetyltransferase activity and the production of proinflammatory mediators such as PAF during inflammation[2]. LPCAT2 has a unique and essential role in regulating cytokine gene expression and secretion by macrophages in response to ligands for Toll-like receptors TLR4 and TLR2, and facilitates translocation to membrane lipid rafts and physical association with TLR4 upon stimulation with bacterial ligands like lipopolysaccharide (LPS)[3][1]. It also regulates protein S-acylation (such as of scavenger receptor CD36), impacting immune signaling pathways, and has been implicated in disease mechanisms of sepsis, atherosclerosis, and other inflammatory disorders[3][1].

Other names

Lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 2LPCAT2AGPAT11AYTL1LPC acyltransferase 2LPCAT-2LysoPC acyltransferase 21-AGP acyltransferase 111-AGPAT 11Acetyl-CoA:lyso-PAF acetyltransferaseLyso-PAF acetyltransferaseLysoPAFATLPAAT-alphaFLJ20481LPLAT91-acylglycerol-3-phosphate O-acyltransferase 111-acylglycerophosphocholine O-acyltransferase1-alkenylglycerophosphocholine O-acyltransferase1-alkylglycerophosphocholine O-acetyltransferaseLysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase alphalysophospholipid acyltransferase 9Acyltransferase-like 1

Inhibition reduces inflammatory cytokine gene expression in response to TLR4 and TLR2 ligands. Potentially modulates Toll-like receptor signaling via membrane lipid rafts. Alters protein S-acylation and membrane association of proteins (e.g., CD36) involved in inflammation.