Identification of glycine N-acyltransferase-like 2 (GLYATL2) as a transferase that produces N-acyl glycines in humans.

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Waluk DP, Schultz N, Hunt MC

Identification of glycine N-acyltransferase-like 2 (GLYATL2) as a transferase that produces N-acyl glycines in humans.

FASEB J. 2010 Aug;24(8):2795-803. doi: 10.1096/fj.09-148551. Epub 2010 Mar 19.

PubMed ID

20305126 [ View in PubMed

]

Abstract

The discovery of glycine conjugates of long-chain fatty acids (N-acyl glycines) in the brain and other non-neuronal tissues has led to the identification of an emerging class of bioactive lipids. The biological activities of N-acyl glycines include antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative effects, and activation of G-protein-coupled receptors. However, despite the fact that N-acyl glycines are emerging as a distinct lipid signaling family, pathways for their production are not fully elucidated. Here we report on the characterization of human glycine N-acyltransferase-like 2 (hGLYATL2), a member of a gene family of 4 putative glycine conjugating enzymes, and show that it synthesizes various N-acyl glycines. Recombinantly expressed hGLYATL2 efficiently conjugated oleoyl-CoA, arachidonoyl-CoA, and other medium- and long-chain acyl-CoAs to glycine. The enzyme was specific for glycine as an acceptor molecule, and preferentially produced N-oleoyl glycine. The hGLYATL2 enzyme is localized to the endoplasmic reticulum, and the mRNA shows highest expression in salivary gland and trachea, but is also detected in spinal cord and skin fibroblasts. The expression pattern and the identification of high levels of N-acyl glycines in skin and lung may indicate a role for N-acyl glycines in barrier function/immune response and the potential role of hGLYATL2 in this regard is discussed.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drug Targets

Drug	Target	Kind	Organism	Pharmacological Action	Actions
Glycine	Glycine N-acyltransferase-like protein 2	Protein	Humans	Unknown	Substrate	Details

Polypeptides

Name	UniProt ID
Glycine N-acyltransferase-like protein 2	Q8WU03	Details