| Modification Notes |
LIPH (lipase, member H) is also known as AH, LPD (lipase-related protein), Phospholipase A1 member B or membrane-associated phosphatidic acid-selective phospholipase A1-alpha, and is a 451 amino acid protein. LIPH is a member of the triglyceride lipase family and is highly expressed in colon, prostate, kidney, pancreas, ovary, testis, intestine, lung and pancreas. LIPH is also expressed in hair, primarily localized to stem cell-rich bulge regions of hair follicles. The ability of LIPH to regulate hair growth may be because LIPH produces LPA (lysophosphatidic acid) by hydrolyzing PA (phosphatidic acid). LPA then activates P2Y5, another hair follicle protein, which is thought to be important for hair growth regulation. In cells, LIPH associates with the peripheral membrane and is secreted just outside of it. Genetic defects in the gene encoding LIPH are associated with hypotrichosis and alopecia, both of which affect hair growth, implying that LIPH may be an important enzyme in hair growth regulation. |