Pla2g4a - phospholipase A2, group IVA (cytosolic, calcium-dependent)

The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the phospholipase A2 group IV family. This enzyme hydrolyzes membrane phospholipids, thereby releasing the polyunsaturated fatty acid, arachidonic acid. Arachidonic acid is further metabolized into eicosanoids such as leukotrienes, thromboxanes and prostaglandins, that play important roles in regulating diverse biological processes such as inflammatory responses, membrane and actin dynamics, and tumorigenesis. A rise in intracellular calcium levels results in binding of calcium to the C2 domain of this protein, and triggers the translocation from the cytosol to intracellular membranes, including the Golgi apparatus. Disruption of this gene in mice led to decreased levels of eicosonaoids and platelet-activating factor, decreased allergic symptoms, and impaired reproductive ability in females. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants encoding different isoforms. [provided by RefSeq, Mar 2015]