InterPro domain: IPR026058

Lipin family consists of lipin proteins, which are magnesium-dependent phosphatidate phosphatase enzymes that provide diacylglycerol for synthesis of triacylglycerol and phospholipids. Mammalian lipin proteins also exhibit transcriptional coactivator activity [ 1 ].

Common polymorphisms in human LPIN1 and LPIN2 genes are associated with traits underlying common metabolic diseases, including increased adiposity, hypertension, insulin sensitivity, and response to commonly used antidiabetic drugs [ 2 ].

Saccharomyces cerevisiae lipin, PAH1, controls transcription of phospholipid biosynthetic genes and nuclear structure by regulating the amount of membrane present at the nuclear envelope. PAH is also involved in plasmid maintenance, in respiration and in cell proliferation [ 2 , 3 , 4 ].

1. Lipins: multifunctional lipid metabolism proteins. Annu. Rev. Nutr. 30, 257-72
2. A gene, SMP2, involved in plasmid maintenance and respiration in Saccharomyces cerevisiae encodes a highly charged protein. Mol. Gen. Genet. 236, 283-8
3. The yeast lipin Smp2 couples phospholipid biosynthesis to nuclear membrane growth. EMBO J. 24, 1931-41
4. Control of phospholipid synthesis by phosphorylation of the yeast lipin Pah1p/Smp2p Mg2+-dependent phosphatidate phosphatase. J. Biol. Chem. 281, 34537-48