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10 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 14 days ago
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GLTP
glycolipid transfer protein
Chromosome 12 · 12q24.11
NCBI Gene: 51228Ensembl: ENSG00000139433.12HGNC: HGNC:24867UniProt: Q9NZD2
50PubMed Papers
20Diseases
0Drugs
0Pathogenic Variants
FUNCTIONAL ROLE
Transporter
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
regulation of glucosylceramide biosynthetic processintermembrane lipid transfervesicle targeting, rough ER to cis-Golgiidentical protein bindingAbnormality of the skeletal systemneurodegenerative diseasehypertensionessential hypertension
✦AI Summary

GLTP (glycolipid transfer protein) is a small, 24 kDa soluble protein that accelerates the intermembrane transfer of various glycolipids in vitro 1. The protein exhibits strict specificity for glycolipids with beta-linked initial sugar residues to the hydrophobic lipid backbone, encompassing both sphingoid- and glycerol-based glycolipids, but does not transfer phospholipids or cholesterol 12. GLTP functions through a unique conformational architecture termed the 'GLTP fold,' which defines it as the prototypical member of the GLTP superfamily 1. The protein binds glycolipids in a 1:1 stoichiometric ratio and participates in transfer reactions through a glycolipid-GLTP intermediate complex 2. In humans, GLTP is encoded by a single active gene located on chromosome 12 (12q24.11), with gene expression regulated by Sp1 and Sp3 transcription factors and modulated by the bioactive sphingolipid ceramide 34. While GLTP's biochemical properties are well-characterized, its precise biological role remains enigmatic, though evidence suggests involvement in sphingolipid homeostasis and potential roles in cellular stress responses 15.

Sources cited
1
GLTP is a 24 kDa protein that accelerates intermembrane glycolipid transfer with beta-linked sugar specificity and defines the GLTP superfamily
PMID: 17320476
2
GLTP binds glycolipids in 1:1 stoichiometry, transfers various glycosphingolipids but not phospholipids or cholesterol
PMID: 4064224
3
Human GLTP gene expression is regulated by Sp1/Sp3 transcription factors and modulated by ceramide
PMID: 20974858
4
Active human GLTP gene is located on chromosome 12 (12q24.11) with high conservation in mammals
PMID: 18261224
5
GLTP can suppress cell death in plant mutants, suggesting roles beyond simple lipid transfer
PMID: 18657186
Disease Associationsⓘ20
Abnormality of the skeletal systemOpen Targets
0.45Moderate
neurodegenerative diseaseOpen Targets
0.28Weak
hypertensionOpen Targets
0.11Weak
essential hypertensionOpen Targets
0.07Suggestive
cardiovascular diseaseOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
malunion fractureOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
colon carcinomaOpen Targets
0.02Suggestive
colorectal cancerOpen Targets
0.02Suggestive
colorectal carcinomaOpen Targets
0.02Suggestive
non-small cell lung carcinomaOpen Targets
0.02Suggestive
neoplasmOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
nasopharyngeal carcinomaOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
psoriasisOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
cervical cancerOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
metabolic syndromeOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
urinary tract infectionOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
lung cancerOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
gliomaOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
KeloidOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
ataxia telangiectasiaOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
Pathogenic Variants
No pathogenic variants reported on ClinVar for this gene.
View on ClinVar ↗
Related Genes
PLEKHA3Protein interaction90%CPTPProtein interaction63%GLTPD2Shared pathway50%PLEKHA8Shared pathway43%PLTPShared pathway27%CERT1Shared pathway22%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Brain
100%
Lung
65%
Bone Marrow
61%
Heart
53%
Ovary
46%
Liver
39%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
GLTPPLEKHA3CPTPGLTPD2PLEKHA8PLTPCERT1
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
Preparing viewer…
PDB3RZN · 1.10 Å · X-ray
View on RCSB ↗
Constraintⓘ
LOEUFⓘ
1.58LoF Tolerant
pLIⓘ
0.00Tolerant
Observed/Expected LoF1.00 [0.65–1.58]
RankingsWhere GLTP stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #8,817of 20,598
    Most Researched50
  • #15,586of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)1.58
Genes detectedGLTP
Sources retrieved10 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
10▼
1
Glycolipid transfer proteins.
PMID: 17320476
Biochim Biophys Acta · 2007
1.00
2
Human glycolipid transfer protein gene (GLTP) expression is regulated by Sp1 and Sp3: involvement of the bioactive sphingolipid ceramide.
PMID: 20974858
J Biol Chem · 2011
0.90
3
Human glycolipid transfer protein (GLTP) genes: organization, transcriptional status and evolution.
PMID: 18261224
BMC Genomics · 2008
0.80
4
Human GLTP and mutant forms of ACD11 suppress cell death in the Arabidopsis acd11 mutant.
PMID: 18657186
FEBS J · 2008
0.70
5
Glycolipid-binding proteins.
PMID: 4064224
Chem Phys Lipids · 1985
0.60