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General Comment |
NCBI Summary:
This locus was identified as encoding a gene that when mutated or lost caused the lissencephaly associated with Miller-Dieker lissencephaly syndrome. This gene encodes the non-catalytic alpha subunit of the intracellular Ib isoform of platelet-activating factor acteylhydrolase, a heterotrimeric enzyme that specifically catalyzes the removal of the acetyl group at the SN-2 position of platelet-activating factor (identified as 1-O-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glyceryl-3-phosphorylcholine). Two other isoforms of intracellular platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase exist: one composed of multiple subunits, the other, a single subunit. In addition, a single-subunit isoform of this enzyme is found in serum. [provided by RefSeq, Apr 2009]
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Comment |
The involvement of platelet activating factor in ovulation. Abisogun AO et al. (1989) Follicle rupture during ovulation is associated with inflammation-like changes. Because platelet activating factor (PAF) participates in the inflammatory process, the effect of a PAF-specific antagonist, BN52021, on the ovulatory response was tested in rats. BN52021, administered locally, inhibited follicle rupture in rats stimulated to ovulate with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). In addition to suppressing rupture of the follicles, this antagonist suppressed the hCG-stimulated increase in ovarian collagenolysis and vascular permeability. The inhibition of ovulation of BN52021 could be reversed by simultaneous administration of PAF. Furthermore, PAF partially reversed the blockage of ovulation by inhibitors of eicosanoid synthesis. Collectively, these results suggest the involvement of PAF in ovulation. Its role seems to be closely related to the metabolism of arachidonic acid. Thus, modulation of PAF action may serve as an additional target for regulation of reproduction via its action on ovulation.//////////////////
Role of PAFAH1B1 in human spermatogenesis, fertilization and early embryonic development. Yao GD et al. (2015) Spermatogenesis, fertilization and subsequent embryonic development are complex processes that require tight regulation. The PAFAH1B1 gene plays important roles in these reproductive events in mice, but its expression and roles in human reproduction have not been investigated. Expression analysis of testicular tissue by reverse transcription quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry revealed varied expression levels among samples of different spermatogenic abilities (as assessed by the Johnsen score), with protein expression restricted to spermatogonia, spermatocytes and spermatids. Immunofluorescence on spermatozoa showed expression over the acrosome and midpiece regions of ejaculated samples, whereas a high proportion of percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration-derived spermatozoa showed expression restricted to the midpiece. Analysis for PAFAH1B1 mRNA also revealed different expression levels among unfertilized oocytes, zygotes, cleavage stage embryos and blastocysts, with protein localized at the membrane level in oocytes and zygotes, and gradually distributing within the cytoplasm of cleavage stage embryos and blastocysts. Interestingly, microinjection of PAFAH1B1 siRNA into zygotes significantly (P = 0.024) increased fragmentation formation rates in subsequent embryonic development stages. Altogether, these are the first results to support a role for PAFAH1B1 in human spermatogenesis and early embryonic development.//////////////////
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Mutations |
2 mutations
Species: D. melanogaster
Mutation name: None
type: null mutation
fertility: subfertile
Comment: Lissencephaly-1 controls germline stem cell self-renewal through modulating bone morphogenetic protein signaling and niche adhesion. Chen S et al. In the Drosophila ovary, bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling activated by the niche promotes germline stem cell (GSC) self-renewal and proliferation, whereas E-cadherin-mediated cell adhesion anchors GSCs in the niche for their continuous self-renewal. Here we show that Lissencephaly-1 (Lis1) regulates BMP signaling and E-cadherin-mediated adhesion between GSCs and their niche and thereby controls GSC self-renewal. Lis1 mutant GSCs are lost faster than control GSCs because of differentiation but not because of cell death, indicating that Lis1 controls GSC self-renewal. The Lis1 mutant GSCs exhibit reduced BMP signaling activity, and Lis1 interacts genetically with the BMP pathway components in the regulation of GSC maintenance. Mechanistically, Lis1 binds directly to and stabilizes the SMAD protein Mothers against decapentaplegic (Mad), facilitates its phosphorylation, and thereby regulates BMP signaling. Finally, the Lis1 mutant GSCs accumulate less E-cadherin in the stem cell-niche junction than do their wild-type counterparts. Germline-specific expression of an activated BMP receptor thickveins (Tkv) or E-cadherin can partially rescue the loss phenotype of Lis1 mutant GSCs. Therefore, this study has revealed a role of Lis1 in the control of Drosophila ovarian GSC self-renewal, at least partly by regulating niche signal transduction and niche adhesion. It has been known that Lis1 controls neural precursor/stem cell proliferation in the developing mammalian brain; this study further suggests that Lis1, which is widely expressed in adult mammalian tissues, could regulate adult tissue stem cells through modulating niche signaling and adhesion.
Species: human
Mutation name:
type: naturally occurring
fertility: subfertile
Comment: Identification of the G994T polymorphism in exon 9 of plasma platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase gene as a risk factor for polycystic ovary syndrome. Fan P et al. (2010) Low-grade chronic inflammation and greater risks of cardiovascular diseases are often present in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Platelet-activating factor (PAF) acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH) hydrolyzes and inactivates PAF and PAF-like oxidized phospholipids that are potent lipid mediators involved in inflammation and atherosclerosis. Deficiency of this enzyme is caused by a missense mutation (G994 --> T) in exon 9 of the plasma PAF-AH gene. The aim of the study was to investigate a possible association of this polymorphism with the risk of PCOS and to evaluate the effects of the genotype on the activity and distribution of PAFAH in Chinese patients. A total of 661 subjects (346 patients with PCOS and 315 healthy control women) from a population of Chinese Han nationality in Chengdu area were included in this study. PAFAH G994T genotype was studied using PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Total plasma PAF-AH, high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-associated PAF-AH (H-PAF-AH) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-associated PAF-AH (L-PAF-AH) activities were measured by the trichloroacetic acid precipitation procedure using [(3)H-acetyl] PAF and PAF C-16 as a substrate. The prevalence of the mutant genotype (GT + TT) was significantly more frequent in patients with PCOS than in control subjects (12.7 versus 6.0%, P = 0.003). Genotype (GT + TT) remained a significant predictor for PCOS (P = 0.020) in prognostic models including age, body mass index, insulin resistance index, triglyceride, HDL and LDL as covariates. There was a significant difference in plasma PAF-AH, L-PAF-AH and H-PAF-AH activities between GG and GT genotypes in both the patient and control groups. The ratio of L-PAF-AH to H-PAF-AH activities was significantly higher after adjustment for multiple variables in patients with GT genotype compared with patients with GG genotype (P = 0.003). There were no significant differences in clinical, biochemical and metabolic parameters according to PAFAH G994T genotyping in patients with PCOS and control women. The G994T polymorphism in PAFAH gene may be one of the genetic determinants for PCOS in Chinese Han women.//////////////////
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