GPAT2 Antibody

Structure and Physiological Properties of GPAT2

GPAT2 is a 795-amino-acid protein with a molecular weight of 87.8 kDa, localized to the mitochondrial outer membrane . Key features include:

GPAT2 belongs to the GPAT/DAPAT protein family and catalyzes the acylation of glycerol-3-phosphate using arachidonoyl-CoA as a preferred substrate, contributing to triacylglycerol (TAG) synthesis and membrane lipid composition .

Applications of GPAT2 Antibody

GPAT2 Antibody is utilized in diverse experimental approaches to study GPAT2 expression and function. Below are key applications and technical specifications:

Common Applications

• Immunofluorescence (IF): Visualizing mitochondrial GPAT2 localization .

• Western Blot (WB): Quantifying GPAT2 protein levels in cell lysates .

• Immunohistochemistry (IHC): Detecting GPAT2 in tumor tissues (e.g., breast, prostate cancers) .

• Immunocytochemistry (ICC): Analyzing subcellular distribution in cultured cells .

Research Findings and Functional Insights

GPAT2 Antibody has enabled critical discoveries in cancer biology, lipid metabolism, and germ cell development.

Role in Cancer

GPAT2 is classified as a cancer-testis antigen, overexpressed in aggressive tumors (e.g., breast, lung, melanoma) while restricted to testis under physiological conditions . Key findings:

• Tumor Proliferation: GPAT2 knockdown in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells reduced proliferation (50% decrease) and migration (30% reduction) .

• Apoptosis Resistance: Overexpression increased resistance to staurosporine-induced apoptosis (2-fold survival) .

• Histological Correlation: High GPAT2 expression in breast cancer correlated with advanced histological grades .

Lipid Metabolism and Membrane Dynamics

GPAT2 modulates lipid composition, influencing cell membrane properties:

• Arachidonic Acid (AA) Sequestration: GPAT2 channels AA into TAGs, preventing apoptosis in spermatogenic cells .

• Membrane Roughness: GPAT2-expressing cells exhibit rougher topography and reduced membrane permeability compared to silenced cells .

piRNA Biogenesis and Epigenetic Regulation

GPAT2 associates with piRNA metabolism in germ cells, though its acyltransferase activity is not directly involved . Co-expression analysis in testis linked GPAT2 to:

• Cell Cycle Regulation

• DNA Integrity Maintenance

• Epigenetic Modulation .

Epigenetic Regulation

GPAT2 expression is silenced in somatic tissues and reactivated in cancers via DNA hypomethylation. Treatment with 5-Aza-2′-deoxycytidine induced GPAT2 expression in human cell lines, confirming epigenetic control .

Challenges and Considerations

• Antibody Specificity: Cross-reactivity with other GPAT isoforms (e.g., GPAT1) must be validated, particularly in mitochondrial studies .

• Compensation Mechanisms: AGPAT11 overexpression may compensate for GPAT2 loss in lipid metabolism .

Therapeutic Implications

GPAT2’s role in tumor survival and lipid remodeling positions it as a potential therapeutic target:

• Cancer Therapy: Inhibiting GPAT2 could reduce tumorigenicity and enhance chemotherapy efficacy .

• Metabolic Disorders: Modulating GPAT2 activity may address obesity-related conditions like hepatic steatosis .