Proteins sharing PNPLA domain, a new family of enzymes regulating lipid metabolism

Proteins sharing PNPLA domain, a new family of enzymes regulating lipid metabolism Genome sequencing technologies led to tremendous breakthrough in biology uncovering numerous genes unknown so for and thus opening the field of deep investigations to understand their associated biological functions As a matter of fact, functional genomics have been progressively replacing sequence genomics with as a main objective to yield insight into cellular physiology Recently, an emerging group of genes coding for proteins bearing a common domain termed potatin (PNPLA domain) have been discovered Members of this new enzymatic family displaying lipase and transacylase properties appeared to hove major roles in the regulation of lipid metabolism. The aim of this review is to make an overview on the latest discoveries concerning this new family of proteins and their relationship with lipid metabolism, physiology of mammals and their potential involvement in human pathology