This gene encodes a member of the lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase protein family. The encoded protein is an enzyme which catalyzes the conversion of glycerol-3-phosphate to lysophosphatidic acid in the synthesis of triacylglycerol. Multiple alternatively spliced variants, encoding the same protein, have been identified. [provided by RefSeq, Jan 2012]
Forensic Context
A study in humans demonstrated that the mRNA marker GPAT3, containing a coding region InDel (rs35602893), was consistently detected in all vaginal secretion samples and identified as a new candidate marker for this body fluid, though it also showed cross-reactivity with some menstrual blood and venous blood samples [Wang et al. DOI:10.1016/j.fsigen.2023.102979]. The integrated assay successfully utilized such markers for body fluid identification and for associating specific fluids with individual DNA donors in mixed samples. A study in humans demonstrated that the GPAT3 gene, involved in lipid metabolic processes, was downregulated in the subcutaneous adipose tissue of heavier monozygotic co-twins compared to their leaner siblings within BMI-discordant pairs [Muniandy et al. DOI:10.1038/ijo.2017.95].