Lipase member I (also called Phosphatidic acid-specific PLA1β) is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the LIPI gene. Lipase member I functions as a phospholipase that acts specifically on phosphatidic acid, producing lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and a fatty acid. Lysophosphatidic acid is an important signaling molecule, though the significance of this enzyme and its paralog Lipase member H in LPA production remains uncertain.
Medical significance Defects in this gene are a cause of susceptibility to familial hypertrigliceridemia. This gene is also expressed at high levels in Ewing family tumor cells.
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