Lysophosphatidic acid receptor 6, also known as LPA
6, P2RY5 and GPR87, is a
protein
Proteins are large biomolecules and macromolecules that comprise one or more long chains of amino acid residues. Proteins perform a vast array of functions within organisms, including catalysing metabolic reactions, DNA replication, res ...
that in humans is encoded by the ''LPAR6''
gene
In biology, the word gene (from , ; "... Wilhelm Johannsen coined the word gene to describe the Mendelian units of heredity..." meaning ''generation'' or ''birth'' or ''gender'') can have several different meanings. The Mendelian gene is a b ...
.
LPA
6 is a
G protein-coupled receptor
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), also known as seven-(pass)-transmembrane domain receptors, 7TM receptors, heptahelical receptors, serpentine receptors, and G protein-linked receptors (GPLR), form a large group of evolutionarily-related p ...
that binds the
lipid signaling molecule
lysophosphatidic acid
Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a phospholipid derivative that can act as a signaling molecule.
Function
LPA acts as a potent mitogen due to its activation of three high-affinity G-protein-coupled receptors called LPAR1, LPAR2, and LPAR3 (a ...
(LPA).
The protein encoded by this gene belongs to the family of G-protein coupled receptors, that are preferentially activated by
adenosine and
uridine
Uridine (symbol U or Urd) is a glycosylated pyrimidine analog containing uracil attached to a ribose ring (or more specifically, a ribofuranose) via a β-N1-glycosidic bond. The analog is one of the five standard nucleosides which make up nucle ...
nucleotides. This gene aligns with an internal
intron of the
retinoblastoma susceptibility gene in the reverse orientation.
Role in hair growth/loss
In February 2008, researchers at the
University of Bonn
The Rhenish Friedrich Wilhelm University of Bonn (german: Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn) is a public research university located in Bonn, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It was founded in its present form as the ( en, Rhine ...
announced they have found the genetic basis of two distinct forms of inherited hair loss, opening a broad path to
treatments for baldness. They found that mutations in the gene P2RY5 causes a rare, inherited form of
hair loss
Hair loss, also known as alopecia or baldness, refers to a loss of hair from part of the head or body. Typically at least the head is involved. The severity of hair loss can vary from a small area to the entire body. Inflammation or scar ...
called
hypotrichosis simplex. It is the first
receptor
Receptor may refer to:
* Sensory receptor, in physiology, any structure which, on receiving environmental stimuli, produces an informative nerve impulse
*Receptor (biochemistry), in biochemistry, a protein molecule that receives and responds to a ...
in humans known to play a role in hair growth. The fact that any receptor plays a specific role in hair growth was previously unknown to scientists, and with this new knowledge a focus on finding more of these genes may be able to lead to therapies for many different types of hair loss.
In 2013, it was found that mutations in ''LPAR6'' give rise to the
Cornish Rex
The Cornish Rex is a breed of domestic cat. The Cornish Rex has no hair except for down. Most breeds of cat have three different types of hair in their coats: the outer fur or "guard hairs", a middle layer called the " awn hair"; and the down ...
cat breed, which has a form of
ectodermal dysplasia
Ectodermal dysplasia (ED) is a group of genetic syndromes all deriving from abnormalities of the ectodermal structures.James, William; Berger, Timothy; Elston, Dirk (2005). ''Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: Clinical Dermatology''. (10th ed.). S ...
characterised by short woolly hair which is susceptible to loss.
See also
*
Lysophospholipid receptor
The lysophospholipid receptor (LPL-R) group are members of the G protein-coupled receptor family of integral membrane proteins that are important for lipid signaling. In humans, there are eight LPL receptors, each encoded by a separate gene. Th ...
*
P2Y receptor
References
Further reading
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External links
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G protein-coupled receptors
{{transmembranereceptor-stub