This gene encodes a serine hydrolase of the AB hydrolase superfamily that catalyzes the conversion of monoacylglycerides to free fatty acids and glycerol. The encoded protein plays a critical role in several physiological processes including pain and nociperception through hydrolysis of the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol. Expression of this gene may play a role in cancer tumorigenesis and metastasis. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding multiple isoforms have been observed for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Feb 2012]
Forensic Context
A study in humans identified the MGLL as a marker of hematopoietic stem cell types, where it was highly expressed and interacted with various myocardial infarction-related genes, suggesting it may be a key gene in acute myocardial infarction [Song et al. DOI:10.3389/fpubh.2022.894129]. Another human study in burn patients found the MGLL gene, associated with lipolysis, was increased in an adipocyte sub-population in late-stage adipose tissue samples analyzed via single-nuclei RNA sequencing [Knuth et al. DOI:10.1097/SLA.0000000000005880]. A study in mice demonstrated that the MGLL exhibits a time-dependent expression pattern during skin-incised wound healing, with its immunoreactivity detected in neutrophils, macrophages, and myofibroblasts [Ma et al. DOI:10.1007/s00414-011-0567-4].