Ectonucleotide Pyrophosphatase/Phosphodiesterase 2 (ENPP2)

Autotaxin is a secreted enzyme important for generating the lipid signaling molecule lysophosphatidic acid (LPA). Autotaxin has lysophospholipase D activity that converts lysophosphatidylcholine into LPA. Autotaxin was originally identified as a tumor cell-motility-stimulating factor; later it was shown to be LPA (which signals through Lysophospholipid receptors), the lipid product of the reaction catalyzed by autotaxin, which is responsible for its effects on cell-proliferation. The protein encoded by this gene functions as both a phosphodiesterase, which cleaves phosphodiester bonds at the 5""" end of oligonucleotides, and as a phospholipase, which catalyzes production of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) in extracellular fluids.