Membrane-bound acylglycerophosphatidylinositol O-acyltransferase MBOAT7

MBOAT7 is an acyltransferase that catalyzes the transfer of acyl groups from acyl-CoA donors to lysophosphatidylinositol, producing phosphatidylinositol as part of the phospholipid remodeling pathway (Lands cycle) (UniProt: Q96N66). The enzyme preferentially utilizes arachidonoyl-CoA, thereby regulating free arachidonic acid levels, and participates in hepatic triglyceride metabolism through phosphatidylinositol remodeling.

MBOAT7 is associated with intellectual developmental disorder, autosomal recessive 57 (MRT57), a condition characterized by moderate to severe intellectual disability, delayed psychomotor development, and in some cases seizures and autistic features (UniProt: Q96N66). The protein's role in lipid metabolism and neurodevelopment reflects broader significance in nervous system function.

In Alzheimer's disease, MBOAT7 is downregulated in post-mortem AD brain tissue compared to age-matched controls, with a mean log2 fold-change of −0.456 across subcellular fractions (Chaparral AD proteomics). This reduction may reflect altered phospholipid homeostasis and arachidonic acid metabolism in the AD brain, potentially contributing to neuroinflammatory or neurodegenerative processes.