Pancreatic lipase related protein 2 (or PLRP2) is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the PNLIPRP2 gene. PLRP2 is a digestive enzyme and lipase that is found in pancreatic juice. Nonsense mutations in PNLIPRP2 (eg: W358X) are very common in certain ethnic groups, with allele frequencies as high as 30-50%, and notably the allele in the reference genome is a non-coding allele. PLRP2 is part of the pancreatic lipase family.
Function Like many lipases, one of PLRP2's main functions is to break down triglycerides. However, it is distinct from other lipases found in humans by being able to act on galactosylglycerides, making it a galactolipase. Since the primary digestive lipase, pancreatic lipase, is not expressed in newborn human babies, it is thought that PLRP2 may play a role in their digestion of lipids.
Like pancreatic lipase, PLRP2 is secreted by pancreatic acinar cells into an enzyme-rich fluid called pancreatic juice. This fluid is released into the first part of the small intestines (the duodenum) in response to eating, which triggers nerve signaling and the release of hormones like cholecystokinin.
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