ELOVL5

This gene belongs to the ELO family. It is highly expressed in the adrenal gland and testis, and encodes a multi-pass membrane protein that is localized in the endoplasmic reticulum. This protein is involved in the elongation of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. Mutations in this gene have been associated with spinocerebellar ataxia-38 (SCA38). Alternatively spliced transcript variants have been found for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Sep 2014]

Full Name

ELOVL Fatty Acid Elongase 5

Research Area

Catalyzes the first and rate-limiting reaction of the four reactions that constitute the long-chain fatty acids elongation cycle. This endoplasmic reticulum-bound enzymatic process allows the addition of 2 carbons to the chain of long- and very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) per cycle. Condensing enzyme that acts specifically toward polyunsaturated acyl-CoA with the higher activity toward C18:3(n-6) acyl-CoA. May participate in the production of monounsaturated and of polyunsaturated VLCFAs of different chain lengths that are involved in multiple biological processes as precursors of membrane lipids and lipid mediators (By similarity) (PubMed:10970790, PubMed:20937905).

In conditions where the essential linoleic and alpha linoleic fatty acids are lacking it is also involved in the synthesis of Mead acid from oleic acid (By similarity).

Biological Process

Alpha-linolenic acid metabolic process Source: Reactome
Fatty acid elongation, monounsaturated fatty acid Source: UniProtKB
Fatty acid elongation, polyunsaturated fatty acid Source: UniProtKB
Fatty acid elongation, saturated fatty acid Source: GO_Central
Linoleic acid metabolic process Source: Reactome
Long-chain fatty-acyl-CoA biosynthetic process Source: Reactome
Positive regulation of fatty acid biosynthetic process Source: BHF-UCL
Sphingolipid biosynthetic process Source: GO_Central
Unsaturated fatty acid biosynthetic process Source: UniProtKB-UniRule
Very long-chain fatty acid biosynthetic process Source: UniProtKB

Cellular Location

Endoplasmic reticulum membrane; Dendrite. In Purkinje cells, the protein localizes to the soma and proximal portion of the dendritic tree.

Involvement in disease

Spinocerebellar ataxia 38 (SCA38):
A form of spinocerebellar ataxia, a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of cerebellar disorders. Patients show progressive incoordination of gait and often poor coordination of hands, speech and eye movements, due to degeneration of the cerebellum with variable involvement of the brainstem and spinal cord. SCA38 is an autosomal dominant form characterized by adult-onset of slowly progressive gait ataxia accompanied by nystagmus. Brain MRI shows cerebellar atrophy.